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The war on noisy tanks

B

Bill the fish

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18 Apr 2025
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up north
So in another thread I explain my brief findings over getting QUIET aquarium filters (internal). But here I'm interested in countering noisy tanks, In my own couple of cases I've had trouble with a fluval 70 litre and a betta 30. As soon as I put the lids on the very faint hum from the filter gets amplified to an annoying level. I cured both by cutting thin pieces (3mm thick) of rubber or neoprene roughly 25mm long, and 4 mm wide and rubber glueing them strategically around the top of the glass. This rubber isolates the lid from the glass thus stopping the transfer of vibration noise from the pump travelling through the glass.
On another issue the cables from the pump, lights etc resting against the glass once again transfered the hum/ vibration from the pump and caused an intrusive hum, reposition cables or putting rubber insulation pieces between the cableing and glass stopped the noise.

One other tip used by an American friend refers to HOB filters, he reduces the noise from the water returning to the tank by using a piece of an old coke bottle to extrend the return ramp to just uder the surface of the water which again cuts noise levels.
 
So the latest results of my experiments, Isolating internal pumps / filters from the glass walls by suckering them to a piece of acrylic first, and the acrylic in turn being suckered to the glass, this reduces transmitted noise and vibration even more.
Where cables / pipes from pumps / filters rest on the glass can also cause noise and vibration transmission. A piece of foam between the cables / pipes and the glass again reduces transmission.
Finally I noticed that plastic tank covers / tops can actually amplify noise, humming, vibration from pumps and filters. ( My fluval 70 is noticably louder when the feeding cover is closed) I first appled a thin strip of 3mm foam strip around the top edge of the glass walls, this also reduced noise even more.
But I've also glued square pieces of foam matting 3 and 4 mm thick to the inside of the tank lids and this has greatly reduced the booming noise from the lid.

Apperently the new Fluval HOB filter has also addressed the noise/ hum/ vibration that the older HOBS suffered from by drilling dozens of holes in the new models lid ( as well as making it tighter fitting)
 
Other things I have seen to reduce external filter/pump noise (not applicable in your case) is:
  • A short length of silicone hose in filter pipes. Or use all silicone hose.
  • Placing filter on rubber pad on a small piece of paving stone.
  • Placing filter in a box made from lead plaster board. This is plaster board with a 2mm lead layer, expensive but works well. Using silicone exit pipes.
  • Placing filter in a box of 18mm ply board, using silicone exit pipes.
  • All electrical leads into tank passed through a foam sleeve where it touches the tank.
  • My noise case, was filter pipe touching the wall behind the tank causing excessive hum from the wall. Pulling tank forward/messing with pipes stopped that. Also putting a piece of pipe insulating foam under the "U" bend where filter pipes went into the tank lowered the noise.
 
Last edited:
ian_m said:
Other things I have seen to reduce external filter/pump noise (not applicable in your case) is:
  • A short length of silicone hose in filter pipes. Or use all silicone hose.
  • Placing filter on rubber pad on a small piece of paving stone.
  • Placing filter in a box made from lead plaster board. This is plaster board with a 2mm lead layer, expensive but works well. Using silicone exit pipes.
  • Placing filter in a box of 18mm ply board, using silicone exit pipes.
  • All electrical leads into tank passed through a foam sleeve where it touches the tank.
  • My noise case, was filter pipe touching the wall behind the tank causing excessive hum from the wall. Pulling tank forward/messing with pipes stopped that. Also putting a piece of pipe insulating foam under the "U" bend where filter pipes went into the tank lowered the noise.
Click to expand...
Excellent advice on External kit, very useful indeed thank you. I would love to use external filtration but no one makes them 1 Small enough, 2 Quiet enough, 3 Affordable. But your advice gives me some ideas.
 
My setup is so quiet, hardly notice it, juwel 120, I did have airstone but it was quite noisy,
I thought if I put a small pump like a hygger on side of tank it would make some bubbles but less noisy ?
 
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