Quieting a Noisy Closed Loop Pump

[spaulr]

I'm at my wits end, and so is my girlfriend. The noise of my closed loop pump is driving her mad! And likewise, she is driving me mad. I've done a few things to reduce the noise of the pump, but its just not enough.

PanWorld 50PX-X 1110gph pump. It was recommended because it was quiet?! I can only imagine what a "loud" pump is like. Attached picture better explains situation. It's an older pic, but situation is the same.

It sits on a shelf in my stand. The shelf rests on rubber pads before being connected to the stand. The pump sits on rubber pads before getting bolted to the stand. The stand is an open back. I can't find the link, but some one used salt water specific foam from MCmaster carr on the inside of their stand...

Any other ideas? Has anyone made a quiet box to put around an external pump to help with noise? Enclosed the back of their stand - problems with gas exchange?

 

[spaulr]

One more thing... I have a 40 gallon tank intent on keeping lps, shrooms, and zoos - 1-2 fish. I will definitely consider getting rid of the closed loop and going to 2 power heads. Any ideas on this as well? Tunze nano streams?

Oh, hope everyone has a great new year!!

 

[Anonymous]

Have you tried removing the bolts to see how loud it is? I just installed one of these for a customer on their tank and it's pretty quiet. The intake is hard plumbed and the rest of the output is hard plumbed except for perhaps three inches of reinforced vinyl tubing connected to barbs on two outputs.

I'm guessing because you have it bolted (why?) and the hard connections throughout is the reason you're getting vibration.

 

[spaulr]

Phish-

Thanks for the advice. I removed the bolts. Yup, that definitely helps, but its still has a high pitched whirr sound. When I turn it off the return, skimmer, and canopy fans are almost silent. I think it probably has to do with the fact that the pump is on a shelf (poor DIY design) and my apt is pretty small.

I think that I'm going to remove the pan world pump, block the intake of the closed loop, and put in 2 nano streams.

 

[Anonymous]

Try putting the pump on the floor and/or using flexible pipe to connect it.
Putting the pump on the floor will not decrease flow.

 

[jumpincactus]

I use a Sequence Dart 3600 gph for my CL and it is in my living room and it is in my experience the quietest pumps I have seen. Also make sure like others mentioned,,,,, no hard connections and put a couple of computer mosue pads under it.

 

[spaulr]

Thanks all for your help. I already have 2 mouse pads under the pump. I tried a few more things and the pump still emits a very strong whirr. The biggest problem is that the apt has high ceilings which angle back over the tank. The sound travels out the back of the stand and reflects off the ceiling ending up at the couch on the other side of the room.

With law school starting up again for my girlfriend I have to make an immediate fix to the problem.

When I do my next tank I'll definitely get a sequence. I too have heard a lot of very good things about them. For a 40 gallon, it seemed like overkill.

The Tunzes should be here tomorrow. I'll end up with a nice power savings of 60 watts and a lot less noise.

I'll also be listing the like new Pan World 50PX-X 1100gph pump in the used items section for $100 + shipping of your choice. It's only been in service for 3 weeks now, basically new.

For my benefit, what type of flexible pipe do you use? PVC? or some flexi-tube material?

Thanks again everyone for your help.

 

[Anonymous]

With law school starting up again for my girlfriend I have to make an immediate fix to the problem.

LOL, why you think she'll sue you over the sound?

I use regular vinyl tubing depending on size. Connections are usually no longer than needed to fit over two barbs. For larger sizes you have to use the reinforced vinyl tubing which is very stiff so I usually boil my pieces before I use them.

 

[spaulr]

Phish-

Comedy. And to think that I used to believe I could win an argument with her(denile of course), that is a total pipe dream now.

Vinyl tubing - You got a link for that stuff? Is this the material with ridges - can't think of the name. It's definitely not flexible PVC though, right?

 

[Anonymous]

Vinyl tubing would just be oversized airline tubing basically. Can find it in the plumbing section of home depot. It's definitely not flexible PVC.

 

[spaulr]

Ohhhhhh. I know exactly what you're talking about. Have some on my skiimer barb input with hose clamps.

Thanks again.