Noisy, vibrating return

bristle · 12/03/2008, 09:31 PM

I hard plumbed my Rio 10HF return with a simple U over the back wall of the aquarium. It's pretty darn noisy and the tube vibrates quite a bit. What kind of flexible tubing can I use to make it stop? I have a coupler and a union cemented in already before I could put some flexible tubing. Does this matter?

Thanks.

bristle · 12/03/2008, 09:33 PM

What I mean is that I have a coupler and a union cemented to the outlet already. Any additional plumbing would have to go after this.

bristle · 12/05/2008, 10:40 AM

Any ideas?

runningstix · 12/05/2008, 10:43 AM

I would say start by getting a mousepad cutting it into sections and placing it between any surface that touches.

Such as two pipes touching or pvc resting on glass and so on.

This took out a ton of noise from vibration in my setup. Worth a shot?

AZDesertRat · 12/05/2008, 11:55 AM

You need a couple of barbed adapters and some clear braid reinforced vinyl tubing. Even a short piece, maybe a foot will break up the vibration and sound transmission. Hopefully you used threaded PVC fittings? If not just cut the pipe and install PVC female adapters for the barbed adapters to screw into.

bristle · 12/05/2008, 11:55 AM

I put folded paper towels where it rests on the lip to reduce vibrations there. It sits on 4 rubber suction cups in the sump. Other than that, it doesn't touch anything else. The pipes vibrate quite a bit.

AZDesertRat · 12/05/2008, 12:07 PM

You need the clear vinyl tube to stop the vibrations. I usually install a union right on the pump then into a thread x thread ball valve and into a barbed adapter and short piece of clear tubing then back to PVC at the display tank.

bristle · 12/05/2008, 12:22 PM

Thanks. I'll go to home depot and see what I can rummage up.

Reefbox · 12/05/2008, 12:36 PM

Does the pump have rubber/silicone feet or suction cups on the bottom.

bristle · 12/05/2008, 12:43 PM

Suction cups, but it sits on a plastic platform.

bristle · 12/06/2008, 06:12 PM

So I went to the hardware store and got 7 items. 2 c-clamps, 1 braided vinyl tubing, 2 male threaded tube adapters, 2 female threaded adapters (hard pvc). I've cut out roughly 18" of tubing and replaced it with the vinyl. I'm just waiting for it to dry to see if it has made a difference. It used to sound like an air pump...

bristle · 12/06/2008, 06:51 PM

Much quieter, but I had to put teflon tape on the threaded adapters because they were leaking. Thanks!

12/03/2008, 09:31 PM	#1
bristle Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 570	Noisy, vibrating return I hard plumbed my Rio 10HF return with a simple U over the back wall of the aquarium. It's pretty darn noisy and the tube vibrates quite a bit. What kind of flexible tubing can I use to make it stop? I have a coupler and a union cemented in already before I could put some flexible tubing. Does this matter? Thanks.

12/05/2008, 10:43 AM	#4
runningstix Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 1,544	I would say start by getting a mousepad cutting it into sections and placing it between any surface that touches. Such as two pipes touching or pvc resting on glass and so on. This took out a ton of noise from vibration in my setup. Worth a shot? __________________ Go Buckeyes! Current Tank Info: tankless

12/05/2008, 12:36 PM	#9
Reefbox Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Butler, PA Posts: 1,045	Does the pump have rubber/silicone feet or suction cups on the bottom. __________________ Jason

12/03/2008, 09:33 PM	#2
bristle Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 570	What I mean is that I have a coupler and a union cemented to the outlet already. Any additional plumbing would have to go after this.

12/05/2008, 10:40 AM	#3
bristle Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 570	Any ideas?

12/05/2008, 11:55 AM	#5
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	You need a couple of barbed adapters and some clear braid reinforced vinyl tubing. Even a short piece, maybe a foot will break up the vibration and sound transmission. Hopefully you used threaded PVC fittings? If not just cut the pipe and install PVC female adapters for the barbed adapters to screw into.

12/05/2008, 12:07 PM	#7
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	You need the clear vinyl tube to stop the vibrations. I usually install a union right on the pump then into a thread x thread ball valve and into a barbed adapter and short piece of clear tubing then back to PVC at the display tank.

12/05/2008, 12:22 PM	#8
bristle Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 570	Thanks. I'll go to home depot and see what I can rummage up.

12/05/2008, 12:43 PM	#10
bristle Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 570	Suction cups, but it sits on a plastic platform.

12/06/2008, 06:12 PM	#11
bristle Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 570	So I went to the hardware store and got 7 items. 2 c-clamps, 1 braided vinyl tubing, 2 male threaded tube adapters, 2 female threaded adapters (hard pvc). I've cut out roughly 18" of tubing and replaced it with the vinyl. I'm just waiting for it to dry to see if it has made a difference. It used to sound like an air pump...

12/06/2008, 06:51 PM	#12
bristle Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 570	Much quieter, but I had to put teflon tape on the threaded adapters because they were leaking. Thanks!