Reeflo Snapper noise - how to quiet

jthomps123 · 02/03/2009, 11:07 AM

I just recently tested out a 'new' Reeflo Snapper purchased here on RC.

A quick dry run with no plumbing installed it gives off a good hum - much louder than what i was expected - (Much louder than my Quiet One 4000).

When i hard plumbed it to my 50 gal sump with PVC it transfered the hum/vibration all the way to the tank (which was only half filled). It was quite a loud hum/vibration. It certainly seems unacceptable considering the 'silent' reviews everyone gives it.

The motor itself seems to be quite silent. Would using soft plumbing (if so what kind) help with the noise, as well as placing it on some sort of sound and vibration material? Do the pumps need a 'break-in' period before they quiet down?

Thanks for any input.

Harry_Fish · 02/03/2009, 11:13 AM

I have a Pan World 150 PS that also is a bit louder than
I had expected, I used Spa-Flex from the pump to the tank.

My sump is in the basement and I do not hear it at the tank.

Hope this helps.

BigJay · 02/03/2009, 11:27 AM

Put the pump on top of a mouse pad or a piece of foam insulation from home depot. That should be enough to absorb the vibration and help it run more quiet.

indydog1 · 02/03/2009, 12:05 PM

do both of the aboved mentioned and you will smile happily.

Gregz263 · 02/03/2009, 05:45 PM

I would look a little closer to try to find the cause of the vibration. My Snapper is smooth and quiet, don't even notice it running. Did you feed it with a 2" feed pipe?

jthomps123 · 02/03/2009, 06:04 PM

Yes I fed it with 2". How would you recommend finding the cause? Opening it up?

Gregz263 · 02/04/2009, 07:13 AM

I would start by calling reeflo and explaining what is going on. They are always willing to help.
"Toll Free Phone # 877-378-6798 M-F 8am-5pm"
Give them a call and let us know how you make out.

jthomps123 · 02/04/2009, 03:52 PM

Good call Greg! Its going back to Reeflo tommorow. Its still under warranty! They 'warranty the pump, not the buyer'.

The guys and gals at Reeflo were extremely helpful and pleasant. Will be doing business with them again.

I hope to get back a quiet Snapper!

Jason

ant1k · 02/04/2009, 04:21 PM

just out of curiosity, what kind of motor comes with the snapper, a AO smith or baldor, because my dart has an AO smith and I can hear it through a 2" redwood wall and at 6ft away from the tank. i wish i had known about this before i purchased it.

BigJay · 02/04/2009, 04:51 PM

I'm pretty sure that it is:

Regular Snapper = AO Smith
Snapper Gold = Baldor

Gregz263 · 02/04/2009, 05:06 PM

Glad I could help Jason. I can't say enough good about Chris and the rest of the crew at Reeflo. And they make an awsome pump. The only pump I buy anymore, good American quality.

seawandrr · 02/04/2009, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jthomps123

When i hard plumbed it to my 50 gal sump with PVC it transfered the hum/vibration all the way to the tank (which was only half filled). It was quite a loud hum/vibration. It certainly seems unacceptable considering the 'silent' reviews everyone gives it.

When you tested it plumbed to the tank, that was only 1/2 full, was this with water in the circuit? or dry again?

These pumps are always quite a bit noisier when spun up dry. The water quiets them down quite a bit. And yes, spa-flex keeps any vibrations from being transferred to the tank.

jthomps123 · 02/19/2009, 10:20 AM

Just got back my 'repaired' Snapper from Reeflo. It sounds exactly the same as it did before. I guess I will try spa-flex to attach it because hard plumbed with PVC is absolutely unacceptable.

I guess I just had too high expectations in the quietness of this pump.

I just dont understand how some have said this pump is 'silent'. Mine is nowhere near silent. I just plugged it in at my office, set it on bubble-wrap and can hear it 'whirrrring' at least 25 ft away.

sdfish · 02/19/2009, 11:34 AM

cant imagine its louder then a quiet one. i have a quiet one 9000 in my garage and can hear it through 2 insulater walls in my living room sounds like a diesel running in my garage

Jay180reef · 02/19/2009, 11:53 AM

Ya, should I be worried about my Barracuda being too loud? I can just barely hear it humming in my bedroom two floors above the garage. It's hooked up with spa flex and it's sitting on a little square of carpet.

jthomps123 · 02/19/2009, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jay180reef
Ya, should I be worried about my Barracuda being too loud? I can just barely hear it humming in my bedroom two floors above the garage. It's hooked up with spa flex and it's sitting on a little square of carpet.

Wow i dont feel so bad anymore! I might decide to run 2x QuietOne 4000's as returns because the ones I have seem to be VERY quiet.

billdogg · 02/19/2009, 01:10 PM

i have mine connected with short sections of vinyl tubing to reduce the transmission of vibrations - unless you touch it you don't even know its running

ReefEnabler · 02/19/2009, 02:45 PM

I have three reeflo pumps

snapper
dart
barracuda

by snapper and barracuda are both very very silent.

the dart does make some humming noise, placing it above a foam pad helped.

I think there are just going to be minor differences of the acoustical properties of these pumps.

02/03/2009, 11:07 AM	#1
jthomps123 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: East NC Posts: 249	Reeflo Snapper noise - how to quiet I just recently tested out a 'new' Reeflo Snapper purchased here on RC. A quick dry run with no plumbing installed it gives off a good hum - much louder than what i was expected - (Much louder than my Quiet One 4000). When i hard plumbed it to my 50 gal sump with PVC it transfered the hum/vibration all the way to the tank (which was only half filled). It was quite a loud hum/vibration. It certainly seems unacceptable considering the 'silent' reviews everyone gives it. The motor itself seems to be quite silent. Would using soft plumbing (if so what kind) help with the noise, as well as placing it on some sort of sound and vibration material? Do the pumps need a 'break-in' period before they quiet down? Thanks for any input.

02/03/2009, 11:27 AM	#3
BigJay Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Southlake, Texas Posts: 1,872	Put the pump on top of a mouse pad or a piece of foam insulation from home depot. That should be enough to absorb the vibration and help it run more quiet. __________________ PBITAWA

02/03/2009, 12:05 PM	#4
indydog1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: round lake, il Posts: 1,590	do both of the aboved mentioned and you will smile happily. __________________ Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself Current Tank Info: 210 gal

02/04/2009, 04:51 PM	#10
BigJay Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Southlake, Texas Posts: 1,872	I'm pretty sure that it is: Regular Snapper = AO Smith Snapper Gold = Baldor __________________ PBITAWA

02/19/2009, 11:34 AM	#14
sdfish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Posts: 367	cant imagine its louder then a quiet one. i have a quiet one 9000 in my garage and can hear it through 2 insulater walls in my living room sounds like a diesel running in my garage __________________ The fish made me do it.... Current Tank Info: in wall 170g starphire 48x24x36, 75 gallon sump w/dsb, MRC MR6 skimmer custom (in the works), 3-250watt MH 14k, 2-110 vho actinics, Aquacontroller jr, 1200gph closed loop, 2000gph return

02/03/2009, 11:13 AM	#2
Harry_Fish Moved On Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Liverpool, NY Posts: 1,461	I have a Pan World 150 PS that also is a bit louder than I had expected, I used Spa-Flex from the pump to the tank. My sump is in the basement and I do not hear it at the tank. Hope this helps.

02/03/2009, 05:45 PM	#5
Gregz263 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: South East, CT Posts: 308	I would look a little closer to try to find the cause of the vibration. My Snapper is smooth and quiet, don't even notice it running. Did you feed it with a 2" feed pipe?

02/03/2009, 06:04 PM	#6
jthomps123 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: East NC Posts: 249	Yes I fed it with 2". How would you recommend finding the cause? Opening it up?

02/04/2009, 07:13 AM	#7
Gregz263 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: South East, CT Posts: 308	I would start by calling reeflo and explaining what is going on. They are always willing to help. "Toll Free Phone # 877-378-6798 M-F 8am-5pm" Give them a call and let us know how you make out.

02/04/2009, 03:52 PM	#8
jthomps123 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: East NC Posts: 249	Good call Greg! Its going back to Reeflo tommorow. Its still under warranty! They 'warranty the pump, not the buyer'. The guys and gals at Reeflo were extremely helpful and pleasant. Will be doing business with them again. I hope to get back a quiet Snapper! Jason

02/04/2009, 04:21 PM	#9
ant1k Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 98	just out of curiosity, what kind of motor comes with the snapper, a AO smith or baldor, because my dart has an AO smith and I can hear it through a 2" redwood wall and at 6ft away from the tank. i wish i had known about this before i purchased it.

02/04/2009, 05:06 PM	#11
Gregz263 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: South East, CT Posts: 308	Glad I could help Jason. I can't say enough good about Chris and the rest of the crew at Reeflo. And they make an awsome pump. The only pump I buy anymore, good American quality.

02/19/2009, 10:20 AM	#13
jthomps123 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: East NC Posts: 249	Just got back my 'repaired' Snapper from Reeflo. It sounds exactly the same as it did before. I guess I will try spa-flex to attach it because hard plumbed with PVC is absolutely unacceptable. I guess I just had too high expectations in the quietness of this pump. I just dont understand how some have said this pump is 'silent'. Mine is nowhere near silent. I just plugged it in at my office, set it on bubble-wrap and can hear it 'whirrrring' at least 25 ft away.

02/19/2009, 11:53 AM	#15
Jay180reef Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Calgary Posts: 431	Ya, should I be worried about my Barracuda being too loud? I can just barely hear it humming in my bedroom two floors above the garage. It's hooked up with spa flex and it's sitting on a little square of carpet. __________________ Jay Current Tank Info: 180G reef, 2x45G sumps, 45G fuge, MH lights w/T5s, ReefOcto skmr, Barracuda pump, Magnum powerheads

02/19/2009, 01:10 PM	#17
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	i have mine connected with short sections of vinyl tubing to reduce the transmission of vibrations - unless you touch it you don't even know its running __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

02/19/2009, 02:45 PM	#18
ReefEnabler Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 3,760	I have three reeflo pumps snapper dart barracuda by snapper and barracuda are both very very silent. the dart does make some humming noise, placing it above a foam pad helped. I think there are just going to be minor differences of the acoustical properties of these pumps. __________________ - Ryan B "that is enough skimmate to ruin lives." - GSMguy Current Tank Info: 220g Display, 70g sump, 35g frag, 50g fuge, 2x250w MH, 1x400w MH, 2x80w T5, 2x140w VHO Actinic