any ideas for soundproofing a tank?

[Sean Smith]

does anyone have any ideas for minimising noise from a tank and the accompanying plant machinery?

[Johnny]

What is making the noise? What type skimmer are you using etc...

[Zack]

yeah, is water going somewhere like in powerheads?

[Pineapple House]

Hmm...am I the only one who pays attention to people signatures? :roll:

100 gallon FOWLR; HOB skimmer; canister filter for Rowa Phos, carbon and water flow; 3600 lph of powerheads; no sump
The skimmer can make some noise, but usually that's perfectly normal. It might be the fact that the skimmers water is splashing down into the tank the tank sitself, which is making some extra noise. Usually this problem can be solved by:
A) Raising the water in the tank (be carefull when doing so)
B) Turn the skimmer on only for the day/night.

I leave my skimmer on only during the night, and leave it off during the day. Since it does get around 90 gallon per hour (or so I think), during the night it would have cycled about 1080 gallons in about 12 hours, which is quite good.

The powerhead might also be making quite some noise. The only comment I need to make is, Did you assemble them correctly? Most pwerheads will make some noise which is normal, but exesive loud screaching noises will usually come from when something is out of place inside the powerhead itself.

PH =)

[Zack]

Hmm...am I the only one who pays attention to people signatures? :roll:

[quote]100 gallon FOWLR; HOB skimmer; canister filter for Rowa Phos, carbon and water flow; 3600 lph of powerheads; no sump

No I think we were both asking where the noise was coming from! :roll:

[Johnny]

I also have a HOB skimmer and a powerhead both of which are very quiet so I was asking which one the noise is coming from? If it is the skimmer the problem could be solved by one of the small air line mufflers. I have tried to run my CPR BAK- PAK without it and it is very loud compared to having it in place. If it uses an air stone the stone may need to be replaced. If the power head is making the noise it may be to close to the water surface and could be sucking air.

[matrixnyc]

Are you trying to soundproof the inside of you cabinet stand?

[Sean Smith]

You all raise pertinent points.... I have had the Christmas period to live with the tank. I must first say that I do accept that a certain level of noise level is unavoidable and normal. One of my particular problems is that my lounge is an echo chamber since it is largely bereft of soft furnishing (wooden floors etc). This situation may be improved when we get some curtains (I’m sure you will all appreciate my priorities here – tank before upholstery!) :lol:

The skimmer is an Aqua Medic turboflotor – no air stone. Four sources of noise in order of loudest first 1) the falling water returning to the tank, 2) the noise of the water chamber itself and 3) an open chamber where the water gathers before returning to the tank 4) the air intake (which has a muffler). I have attached some pipes to the outlet so the water exits closer the tank water surface. This helps a little bit; but I don’t think that I can do too much about the other noises. I have taken to running the skimmer for the majority of the day/night but switching it off when all the family is in the lounge in the evening. The wife finds this acceptable fortunately.

The canister is comparatively quiet but because it sits in a cupboard in the stand – the back of which is half-open to the bare wall behind – there is another echo chamber to amplify the sound. I was wondering whether to put some sound deadening material inside and behind the cabinet to soak up some noise. So Matrix, yes I am trying to do some soundproofing.

The powerheads make a droning low-level background hum – a sort of deep low vibration of a noise that permeates the room and because of the low frequency resonates. It does not seem to make a difference if I switch two off and keep one running… the noise has the same pentration. No whirring or whining just a hum.

[Irisservice]

Sean can you show us a photo of the setup?

[Sean Smith]

Alas Irisservice I do not have a scanner/digital camera... but I will plan to get some pictures in the next week or so.