How to Reduce Noises Created By Aquarium Pumps

innovation 2How to Reduce Noises Created By Aquarium Pumps

 

An aquarium pump can cause some serious noise pollution. The continuous noise of gurgling, bubbling, trickling and splashing creates nuisance, especially when the purpose of the aquarium is to create a calm environment and de-stress you.

 

The main components of an aquarium pump that cause noise and the possible solutions to reduce the noise caused by them are:

 

  1. Airstone: It is also known as bubble bar or bubble wall. Its main use is to aerate the aquarium and act as a decorative accessory. It pressurizes normal air through an air hose that escapes as bubbles. The oxygen in the bubbles replaces the carbon dioxide in water. The constant humming noise of the pump and the bubbling of air bubbles can be very annoying. If the pump is placed on a hard surface, it creates even more noise. The noise is proportional to the volume of air pumped. You can silence the air pump by hanging it with elastic. You can also replace the aquarium pump with an oxydator, which is completely silent.

 

  1. Airlift: Its working principle is similar to that of airstone. It acts as an aquarium pump by bringing water to the surface. It makes an irritating humming noise. You can silence the aquarium pump by suspending it with elastic or you can even use a small power head in its place.

 

  1. Powerhead and Canister Filter: Both of these are used to pump water through various filtration devices and through the aquarium tank. These tools contain rotating mechanical parts. Rotating causes vibration and this can cause noise. The amount of noise depends on the aquarium pump volume, quality, and attrition of moving parts. The best solution is to keep your aquarium pump clean and regularly replace worn out parts such as bushings and shafts. Powerheads can be silenced by avoiding their contact with the surface of glass.

 

  1. Filter and Aquarium Pump Outlet: Once the water flows out of the filter, it must return to the tank. Either this can happen straight away or through some device, that stirs the surface of water for aeration. The amount of noise produced depends on the height difference between the water surface and the filter outlet. The dripping and trickling noises are difficult to avoid. You can install a sponge under the biowheel to break the fall of the drops.

 

  1. Sump Overflow Pumping: A sump is used for filtration. It produces a gurgling sound when air is sucked into the siphon. You can either use multiple canister filters or simply avoid the use of sumps to get rid of the noise.