silence a skimmer

[jhuggins]

I once read a really great thread about the different ways to quiet a skimmer. Does someone know where that is? I would really like to make something myself. IF I could buy something I would do that to. Thanks

[BruiseAndy]

What type of skimmer?
What is the noise you're hearing?

[jhuggins]

I have the cpr bakpack. It has the rio 400 on it. It comes with the end cap that makes it very quiet but it doesn't allow allot of air in. If I take it off I will have much much more skimmer water. Obviously I want to take out as much of the bad stuff as possible. I have heard of people getting the plastic regulaters from the hospital for air lines. I just wanted to know what it was called.

[jiterati]

I had a cpr backpack, it was always noisy. Some people say the rio are noisier than the MaxiJet 1200. I never tried the rio, I used a MaxiJet 1200 but I still thought it was noisy. I'm in the process of setting up a Aquamedic T1000 with an Ocean Runner pump. I'm hoping it will be quieter.

[jhuggins]

If you don't have the air tube on or if it is closed it is very quiet. It is just when you want lots of bubbles it makes lots of noise.

[jiterati]

Well yeah but if the airtube is closed no air is getting in an no bubbles are created, at that point it isn't skimming it's just acting as another power head. You may be able to find some sort of air line silencer that will quiet it down and let air through but I don't know of any (I tried a couple but I didn't look very hard.)

[fishrock]

what about the little airline filters you get with the charcoal and wadding?
adam

[jiterati]

Dunno, try them and let me know. If it works I might try it! =)

[RandyStacyE]

THIS (E=mc2) is what you need. Anything containing wadding etc... will block air flow. Check out the video on that page too, it's no joke ... it works. jhuggins is correct, if the valve is mostly closed then you've drastically reduced the amount of air the pump can pull.

[pperez]

I don't think i need an error message. Can you relink that please, lol.

Thanks.

[RandyStacyE]

Bummer ... I'll fix it. Here's the link:
http://www.randystacye.com/diy_venturi_silencer.htm

[coyoteseven]

I just took an old pill bottle, drilled a hole in the bottom and stuck the line from the pump in then drilled a hole in the cap and stuck a short piece of airline in it... silence is golden. Or in this case, orange. :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v87/coyoteseven/DIY/FinishedSkimmer01.jpg

A 35mm film canister will probably work just as well.

[RandyStacyE]

I believe the Rio 400 is rated for approx 144 gph ... I'd bet just about any container will silence that pump. A pill bottle ... that's a good idea ... now all I have to do is eat all my Vicodin :)

[RandyStacyE]

A 35mm film canister should work too.

[Keelay]

I'll vouch for Randy's silencer. I made one very similar. Actually closer to Coyote's, but I was inspired by Randy's muffler concept. Because noise sucks! ...or in this case sucking noise. :)