The Makings of a Silent Reef

Ambition · 07/19/2012, 02:58 PM

For those of you with silent reef tanks, how do you get them to be silent? My last set up was pretty noisy, and I am hoping to get my new tank to be as silent as I can. Please share how you have a silent tank! Well, doesn't need to be dead silent, but close to it would be nice. TIA!

pop0tart · 07/19/2012, 03:15 PM

If it makes noise, put it in the sump. Keep your sump in an enclosed space. If necessary, research a sound-deadening lining for said enclosed space if it still makes too much noise. Use a skimmer that is known to be on the quiet end of the spectrum.

BigOldReef · 07/19/2012, 03:26 PM

There are so many things that cause noise, and it depends how sensitive you are to noise.

My old tank was so quiet that when I added a Calc Reactor I could hear the CO2 bubble hit the pump from the next room over. I found this unbearable, punched a hole in the wall and moved all the filtration equipment outside.

Noise usually comes from pumps, overflows and fans. So you have to buy quiet pumps, build silent overflows, try to avoid running chillers to get a silent operation.

But without knowing what areas your noise is originating from it's hard to give you advice as to what to change or avoid.

Ambition · 07/19/2012, 03:31 PM

I had noise from my overflows themselves, the drain into the sump, and the return pump (Mag 12) would make noise if it was bumped from where it usually was... This is an entirely new build so hoping to get as quiet as I can from the start. I shouldn't need a chiller on the tank being it is in the basement in MN.

KSzegi · 07/19/2012, 03:47 PM

when I upgraded my tank silence was my goal too .... one thing that I did that made a huge difference was that I went with a 'bean animal overflow' ..... and switched from a mag pump to a water blaster ...... the pump and overflow are dead silent.

autodave · 07/19/2012, 04:14 PM

For me, Beananimal overflow,ATB Flowstar return pump,Tunze Nanostreams for in tank circulation, SWC160 skimmer. All are really quiet.

thrux · 07/19/2012, 06:01 PM

I had the same problem on my build with a mag 7 pump.

Switched to an eheim, noise went away. I also found that sitting the pump on a piece of filter pad helped as well. also helps that im using leds, durso overflow, and only an ats and fuge.

07/19/2012, 02:58 PM	#1
Ambition Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 1,138	The Makings of a Silent Reef For those of you with silent reef tanks, how do you get them to be silent? My last set up was pretty noisy, and I am hoping to get my new tank to be as silent as I can. Please share how you have a silent tank! Well, doesn't need to be dead silent, but close to it would be nice. TIA! __________________ Kyle A day off? That's an illusion. Current Tank Info: 460+ Gallons in the making

07/19/2012, 03:26 PM	#3
BigOldReef Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 517	There are so many things that cause noise, and it depends how sensitive you are to noise. My old tank was so quiet that when I added a Calc Reactor I could hear the CO2 bubble hit the pump from the next room over. I found this unbearable, punched a hole in the wall and moved all the filtration equipment outside. Noise usually comes from pumps, overflows and fans. So you have to buy quiet pumps, build silent overflows, try to avoid running chillers to get a silent operation. But without knowing what areas your noise is originating from it's hard to give you advice as to what to change or avoid. __________________ 400g Reef - Geothermal cooling. 1100g Total System Volume. Deltec Skimmer. 5' Fluidized Filter. Ozone. Finicky Apex. 25+ years of reefkeeping experience- Hence I have done it all wrong at least 3x. Current Tank Info: 400g Display Tank

07/19/2012, 03:31 PM	#4
Ambition Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 1,138	I had noise from my overflows themselves, the drain into the sump, and the return pump (Mag 12) would make noise if it was bumped from where it usually was... This is an entirely new build so hoping to get as quiet as I can from the start. I shouldn't need a chiller on the tank being it is in the basement in MN. __________________ Kyle A day off? That's an illusion. Current Tank Info: 460+ Gallons in the making

07/19/2012, 03:15 PM	#2
pop0tart Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Central PA Posts: 128	If it makes noise, put it in the sump. Keep your sump in an enclosed space. If necessary, research a sound-deadening lining for said enclosed space if it still makes too much noise. Use a skimmer that is known to be on the quiet end of the spectrum.

07/19/2012, 03:47 PM	#5
KSzegi Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 278	when I upgraded my tank silence was my goal too .... one thing that I did that made a huge difference was that I went with a 'bean animal overflow' ..... and switched from a mag pump to a water blaster ...... the pump and overflow are dead silent.

07/19/2012, 04:14 PM	#6
autodave Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Menifee,Ca. Posts: 484	For me, Beananimal overflow,ATB Flowstar return pump,Tunze Nanostreams for in tank circulation, SWC160 skimmer. All are really quiet.

07/19/2012, 06:01 PM	#7
thrux Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Orlando Posts: 23	I had the same problem on my build with a mag 7 pump. Switched to an eheim, noise went away. I also found that sitting the pump on a piece of filter pad helped as well. also helps that im using leds, durso overflow, and only an ats and fuge.