Loud Air Pump - Newbie Needs Advice !

[augustaranger]

Help!!! I purchased a Hagen Elite 803 air pump for up to 20 gallon tanks. I was going to use it on a 10 gal. I bought for my daughter and for a little 1.5 gal. we have. When I powered up the air pump it was very LOUD. Too loud for her bedroom. Please advise me what air pump to get and please, make it a quiet one. Thanks!

PS- Are air pumps overrated like filters? I really need a very quiet air pump, so would a pump rated for 10 gallons be just as good (and maybe quieter) than one rated for 20 gallons? Thanks again!

 

[n3ont3tra]

Try putting the air pump on a piece of thick cloth (fold it) or a piece of foam. That'll help reduce noise.

 

[augustaranger]

Thanks for the suggestion, but this thing is really LOUD. It sounds like it could power a jackhammer...

 

[n3ont3tra]

Is it on metal? They really shouldn't be too loud. If you pick it up is it still loud? Mine is only loud when it vibrates agains the metal, I put a washcloth under it...

 

[Tolak]

Try the washcloth idea, a piece of bubble wrap works well also. Usually if you pad the underside, and put them in a covered shoebox the noise is diminished.

 

[augustaranger]

I had it on the carpeted floor. No extra room to box the thing. I've heard that Rena? and Tetra make really quiet ones. Anybody have any experience with them? Also would a 10 g. air pump be less noisy than a 20 g. model?

 

[chibi]

A model that's for smaller tanks would definitely be quieter because it's not pumping as much air. You can find quiet air pumps on the market but they're usually the more expensive ones. Hagen makes really loud cheap ones. Rena's has quiet ones for about $15. Tetratec makes quiet ones too but they're for larger tanks and are about $50.

 

[Tolak]

Rena, Tetratec, they all make noise. Run a longer air line & stick it in a closet.

Like anything else, you get what you pay for. I got sick of the little noisy pumps a while back, got one large pump to do the whole fishroom & then some. It's as loud as one of the old pumps, without a doubt quieter than having 8 of them running. Cost is about the same as 8 pumps, uses less electricity & works better, much more air pressure. I'm bleeding off about half of the air, it will knock the water out of the tank. Have to plan ahead for future expansion.

 

[ihasanzongi]

i'v had the some problem..i just took a kitchen sponge and put it under the pump and put a wash cloth inside of a juice jug and put the pump in there, i just cut out a flap to put the pump in.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Unless you're using it to power a filter, or have a highly stocked tank and/or high oxygen requiring fish however, you should be able to do without one.

 

[Underwurlde]

Do not wrap up ANY electrical equipment in cloth.

This kind of 'advise' is VERY dangerous:
1) It will over heat because it is now not vented correctly and indeed is insulated (like putting a coat on, trapping heat).
2) If is DOES overheat, there is instant tinder in the form of a nice dry dishwasher cloth to set alight to.

Can we all think before 'advising' please?

If the pump is on a desk top, then any solid material will act like a diaphragm and amplify any vibration i.e. nosie (think of a tuning fork after striking it & putting it on a table top). Stop this effect by putting the pump on (not IN) a piece of foam. Alternatively, put the pump inside a well ventillated, spacious box or cupboard.

Andy

 

[n3ont3tra]

I don't think anybody suggested wrapping it in a washcloth...

 

[Underwurlde]

Fair enough, but I just didn't want anybody actually doing that, so my tone had to be one of THOU SHALT NOT, otherwise.....

Andy

 

[andywg]

Rena, Tetratec, they all make noise. Run a longer air line & stick it in a closet.

This is great advice. I have a huge pond air pump to run a couple of protein skimmers so I stuck it in the loft and run the airline down through electrical trunking to the room below.

 

[Tolak]

Hanging them by a string helps too, and I don't think they will light up this way.