Noisy new setup

[Nemo's Dada]

I just finished plumbing and setting up a new 40g tank with sump/fuge. The thing is really noisy. Mostly it's noise from the water entering the overflow and the water from the drain pipe entering the sump. It also sounds like the protein slimmer (AquaC EV-120) is making a rather loud humming noise as well.

Any suggestions on quieting the beast a little??

Thanks in advance.

Bill

[SeanT]

1. Have the drain pipe entering the sump below the sumps waterline.
2. Do a search for "stockman mod" to quiet your overflow.

hth,
Sean

[clystubb]

Try soundproofing your stand with some dynomat.

[Nemo's Dada]

Hey guys thanks for the tips!

clystubb: What is a dynomat?

Bill

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

sound absorbing material used for car stereos in trunk.
find where you buy car stereo equipment

[clystubb]

Dynomat is what car audio specialists use to line the panels of a car to reduce noise. It can be very expensive. Luckily I live only a few miles from the factory that manufactures it. I just did a little digging through there dumpster. You could probably just use any kind of thick foam.

[danthemanj]

run a search on the net for durso standpipes

[blmeier7]

Like Dan suggested, the Durso standpipe will eliminate the noise from your current standpipe. Here is the link http://www.dursostandpipes.com/

I built a durso standpipe this last weekend and now it is almost silent.

[logman17]

Bill -
I had silmilar problems recently.

DEFINATELY do as the others have recommended and use a Durso, whisper quiet IMO

For the humming on the EV, try placing the skimmer and pump (if it's external) on foam mouse pad. It quieted mine down a bunch.

[cateyes]

can you do something like that if your bulkhead is on the back glass???
thanks,,,lisa

[danielcherian]

Originally posted by cateyes
can you do something like that if your bulkhead is on the back glass???
thanks,,,lisa

You should still be able to make a Durso Standpipe in your situation, but would need an elbow of some sort.

[danielcherian]

The link posted doesn't really show you how to make a Durso Standpipe, so try this one out at Midwest Customs (http://www.midwestcustomaquariums.com/dursostandpipe.html)

[clystubb]

The mouse pad is a really good idea. I have been brainstorming for a while as to what i could use.

[Nemo's Dada]

Thanks for all the tips everyone. I forgot to mention that I had a standpipe. The noise was a combination of the standpipe being too short, the return pump was too powerful and I didn't have the return pipe submerged below the waterline in the sump.

Now I raised the standpipe, put a ball valve right above the pump to cut back on the return rate and I added an extension on the return pipe so that it was below the waterline.

Now MUCH more quiet!!! :) I still have a humming noise from the pump that has to be addressed. I think I'm going to try the mousepad suggestion, thanks logman.

Bill

[BeanAnimal]

Dynomat is used to absorb low frequency energy (vibration due to bass and road noise). It is rather expensive and not very effective on the frequencies we are dealing with. It may work ok on pipes because it is flexible, but foam pipe insulation would be a better bet. For the stand insulation, melamine foam panels would work a lot better. Owens corning ridgid panels could also be used, but they need to be covered as they are compressed fiberglass. The best stuff for soundproofing (not sound shaping) is the black foam used in aircraft soundproofing. It is kinda spendy, but it is great stuff.

Bean
(other hobby is DIY high end audio and home theater)