Reducing the noise on air pumps

[Willyleigh]

I just bought an air pump and have plugged it in, 20mins later I have switched it off, its too noisy, the pump is not making the noise, the pipe and air stone is, it there a good way to quieten it down?

[Chrona]

A finer airstone will help. What do you mean by the piping is noisy?

[xoolooxunny]

Maybe you could get a bigger air stone?:confused: Otherwise, you can get a line splitter with turn off valves on it, and turn it down a little bit that way. That's how I did it.

[Willyleigh]

What do you mean by the piping is noisy?

Dunno, but it makes no sense :P

[Chrona]

Dunno, but it makes no sense :P

lol

uh.....ok

Try lifting the tubing up so it doesn't touch anything. The pump could be causing the tubing to vibrate, and rattle against an surface it touches.

[Willyleigh]

The pump itself doesn't seem to be making much noise but the sound is coming out of the end of the air tube.

[Chrona]

The pump itself doesn't seem to be making much noise but the sound is coming out of the end of the air tube.

I would just say get a finer airstone then. Smaller bubbles = less noise. Unless the tubing is leaking on the end...

[jeffs99dime]

get another air pump that is quiet

[gm72]

Willyleigh is saying the pump isn't the culprit, it is the end of the tubing. My questions: Is it the bubbles themselves that are making the noise that is bothering you? Are you sure your tubing is secure? Is the pump leaking anywhere? I think Chrona has it, different air stone and make sure the tubing isn't vibrating against something, unless the noise is coming from somewhere else. I still don't understand fully, I guess.

[roulfi004]

Most pumps, if not all, emit a humming noise (excluding any normal bubble noises, that are usually very faint). That said good brand pumps shouldnt be annoyingly loud, only a faint humming.

I'm using a SERA air pump and its not too loud. I was easily able to sleep next to the aquarium when my room was painted (i hate that smell!)

Are you using a 1 way security valve in the tube? If not, you might want to; it will save you alot of accidents. Not sure if it affects the noise. I thought it does when i installed mine, but not 100% sure.

Pinpoint the source of the noise:
Mess around with the tubing and check if the position of the pump is affecting the noise. Remove the stone from the aquarium and operate the pump. Try to recognize the noise u're looking for better.
If the sound is something like a or hissing (small bubbles) or bubbling (bigger bubbles) in the aquarium, mess around with the stone or replace it with another design
Make sure the vibration of the pump is not leading something else to vibrate and make the noise.

If all that doesnt work, put some cotton in your ears :hmm3grin2orange:

[A340]

Try an internal airpump such as the Hydor ARIO. Not much to vibrate on them and produces very fine bubbles.

[Lady Hobbs]

Some pumps are just plain noisy like some filters are noisy. I have a Whisper 60 that runs 3 airstones to 3 tanks and sleep 18 inches from it. I have an Aqua that's the pits! Vibrates and hums to high heaven. I finally put it under the tank in the cabinet to stop the noise. Now it sounds like a lawnmover running in a garage.

[crackatinny]

Are you talking about the noise when the bubbles break the water surface, if so reduce the airflow or add more airstones.

How deep is the tank?

[Drumachine09]

Just incase someone has a noisy PUMP, here is a simple souliton


Get a canning jar, the type that looks like this:
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

Make sure your air pump can fit. Cut a wide slit from the edge of the metal lid so your power cord can get our without you having to cut a hole the size of a plug. Then in the middle, punch a hole a little smaller than the air tube. You should then be able to suspend your air pump inside the jar without the jar touching anything. It keeps it really quiet. You want shall i post a DIY?

[Chrona]

You could also just duct tape the air pump cord to the back frame of your stand so it hangs there XD

[Drumachine09]

You could also just duct tape the air pump cord to the back frame of your stand so it hangs there XD


BUT! It doesnt provide the quietness of it being encased in glass.

[crackatinny]

BUT! It doesnt provide the quietness of it being encased in glass.

Wouldnt it get hot, I thought they had to breath?

[Drumachine09]

Wouldnt it get hot, I thought they had to breath?


They can breathe through the little openings for the electrical cord. It shouldnt be airtight by any means.

[Lady Hobbs]

I also read on noisy pumps to make sure they are above the tank. I hung mine on the wall above the tank and it vibrated against the wall. I've hooked it directly to the bubblers, I've used gage valves, I've blocked one side of the airline totally and hooked one side up to 2 different stones.......blah! I poked a lot more bubbles in my bubbler thinking that might help. Not. I put it on the floor and tossed a towel on top of it.

It is determined to sound like a riding tractor.

[Willyleigh]

I sorted it!! I found that the pump came with a variable reducer so I can vary the flow, if I want it quiet I just turn it down, to make more air some out I just turn it the other way and more comes out, I also now have the bubbles coming from the hole in the top of a terracotta pot, it looks good.

[Drumachine09]

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

Just incase anyone has a pump that it, itself, is noisy.

[gm72]

I have found that the Rena pumps are very quiet.