Noise Polution

[Frank77]

Is there any conventional wisdom when it comes to noise in aquariums?
 
After reading an article on how noise pollution affects marine life, I was wondering.....What about pet fish?
 
My concern was my air pump. I have moved it off the dresser where my tank is, so it doesn't create vibrations in the tank. I assume bubbling sounds and such from the filter and air stone are more natural sounds, fish could expect in the wild, but I was wondering if the constant drone of an air pump bothers fish.

 

[Akasha72]

well I know one thing... in March I got a new neighbour in the flat below me and he's really noisy. My fish react quite dramaticly when he's slamming doors so they are bothered by it. I've no idea about the sounds of filters though ... I would think they'd get used to it. In fact my fish jump if the power goes off so they seem more bothered by it stopping than it running all the time 

 

[Frank77]

I recall from biology class that fish have rows of "sensors" along the length of their bodies, sensitive to vibrations. I don't know if it's all fish.

 

[TallTree01]

My fish definitely don't loud noises. Whenever a door, window or the tank lid shuts suddenly or someone is running around near the tank they get a bit scaredy. They do get used to it though with time. Now my fish have learned to associate large amounts of activity with feeding time so sometimes they get excited with noise.

 

[Baccus]

I suspect that the noise of airstones and filters would become white noise to the fish, much like if you live near a trainline or airport, overtime you just stop "hearing" background noise. It may also depend on each fishes individual kilohertz hearing range, some fish (well most fish) pick up low frequencies better than high. So its possible that noises created by things we have in our tanks are literally out of a fishes hearing rang. However vibration which is the basics of sound could cause issues.
 
I think what can be far more intrusive to fish is the electromagnetic fields generated by hidden wires in our walls. I recall reading somewhere how a person had observed constant sickly fish and other issues with their tank in one place (which happened to have a lot of wires behind the walls) and moved the tank to another place without hidden wires and the fishes health improved.

 

[Akasha72]

that's interesting Baccus, I had heard of electromagnetic fields making humans ill but never animals but I suppose it does make sense. I live far too close to an electric pylon and my health has declined rapidly since moving here. The health of my neighbours isn't great either so there might be something in the theory

 

[Baccus]

Electrical pylons have a lot to answer for in terms of health, I recall reading some where about the higher instances of cancer in cattle that graze daily year round underneath electrical pylons.
Then there is the whole radio waves issue that is suspected of being the underlying cause of empty hive syndrome with bees.
Yes Humans definantly have a lot to answer for in what we have subjected the planet and all its inhabitants too.

 

[Frank77]

I've heard of people near electrical pylons getting sick.
 
It's safe to say there are some forms of pollution, all around us, a lot of people don't think about.