An aquarium represents a small and contained segment of the great ocean, a raging river or a tidal pool full of life. It is like taking a cube from the underwater environment and containing it so that we can enjoy all its complexities unlimitedly, while still breathing!
And understanding that the underwater environment is quiet (it is actually very noisy, but we perceive it to be quiet), the last thing we want on our screen is a noisy aquarium. Gold aquariums. I say that since we currently have 4 active aquariums installed in our apartment.
We are surrounded by life. Fish, plants and a crazy big tabby, Peaches and Cream. And after twenty years of tanks, big and small and everywhere, I finally answered the problem that puzzled me from the start: “Why is my tank so loud?”
What Causes Noise?
We’ll get to the big answer in a moment. First, here is a bulleted list of things to look for that could possibly be your noise problem.
Air equals noise: Air stones and air tubes give beautiful effects to your underwater environment. They also add power to ornaments that require bubble pressure to work. The small treasure chest with the hinged lid needs a certain amount of air to function properly. But overload it, and all the excess bubbles popping on the surface will create a constant loud noise.
Current equals noise: Second to air movement, we really like the movement of water (simulated natural currents) in our tanks. Fish need it to grow and for pleasure. We have a Guppy tank where you could almost paint a wheel on the side of the tank with grease pencil. Fish swim upstream, dive and soar in unison. They love the current. But add Powerheads and master the tank size, and you have noise issues.
Equipment equals noise: Pumps, filters, sumps, and even pipes can produce noise. Sometimes too much noise. Most pumps have built-in soundproofing. But if you reject it by custom installing your system, the vibrating hum will be noticeable very soon. And not in a good way. Just as important, the surface to which you have the items secured, or just sitting, can easily be the culprit.
Furniture equals noise: I have built all my aquarium supports and recessed structures. As soon as I skinned the top of one with plywood, I noticed a horrible hum. The rubber feet of the air pump were transferring the vibration through the plywood skin, and the open bottom of the built-in was turning into an echo chamber. Placing the air pump in a more substantial location in the cabinet solved the problem.
Design equals noise: And finally, even its design can be a major culprit for noise. Air moving over rocks, currents, and eddies surrounding fixtures and decorations, including the location of the pump inlet and outlet, all go into the formula for noise reduction in an aquarium.
What I can do?
Tone It Down: The quietest aquarium would be a simple water bowl. No air movement, no drafts. Just a bowl of water sitting silently.
If you are using multiple air pumps, especially small ones with a single outlet, opt for a larger pump with multiple outlets. The general rule of thumb: the pump should meet all of your air needs for that aquarium. Not only does it have a noise generator, larger pumps have better sound dampening.
And if your pump is more than a few years old, throw it away. Even if it is still working. Old parts, especially rubber ones, are probably your main source of noise. The now hard rubber feet do nothing to muffle the sound. They may even be adding more.
And use group valves to specify the volume of air going to your accessories. That little air stone with a single line coming from the pump is a major noise problem. And it will look just as good with half that volume of air going through it. Maybe even better.
Hear the effect: Most of the electrical accessories that you buy to add to your tank have some adjustment function. Put your ear close to the current the power head is creating and listen as it mutes as you adjust the outlet. It can be a volume problem or just a steering problem. It may even be vibrating against the tank or rocks. Adjust as necessary.
Adjust your group valves on your air lines in the same way. Put your ear to the surface of the water and listen as you adjust the flow. When you find a suitable level of silence, observe the effect it has on appearance. Then make small adjustments to achieve a happy medium between appearance and noise.
Noise-conscious design: It is easier to install a silent tank and then try to achieve one. Do you remember the bowl of water, sitting in silence? Keep this in mind when adding accessories or planning the location of your necessary equipment. Which brings us to the big problem I solved after 20 years of aquariums.
Not everything works together
I love the Bubble Wands on the back of my tanks. They are practically invisible, but they produce large amounts of bubbles. I like oxygenated tanks, that’s why I like a lot of air movement. That spins the food in the tank and helps with currents so the fish are happy.
But due to space and budget limitations, I’ve always relied on seat tank filters, not canister type. There are only a limited number of places that you can place the saddle filter and therefore only a limited number of places that the inlets can be placed in the tank.
The noise from my filters has always driven me crazy. They have been by far the loudest filters of all my friends. And recently, my other tanks. It was then that I discovered the problem.
My wife installed the other three tanks and is not as much a fan of Bubble Wands as I am. His filters were silent, his flow was as powerful as mine.
However, my filter sounded like the impeller was falling apart. I had taken out the entire system, checked all the parts, and made sure everything was working easily again. As had always happened in the past, my filter rattled.
That’s when I found out. I took the airline to the Bubble Wands and the noise stopped. The air flow from the rods passed and entered the filter inlet tube. The filter was trying to fill with water. He couldn’t because the wands were filling him with air.
And so the filter would forever sound like the filter when first started and self-priming. Problem found! Now to fix it. I didn’t want to get rid of my Bubble Wands.
I took a straw (clean and new) and cut it in half. Then I cut the pieces lengthwise to create an opening. I wrapped the straw over the Bubble Wand, under the filter inlet. It left a small opening for air to escape, so I placed the second straw over the first, with the indentation 180 degrees opposite the first. Problem solved, the air stopped in that area.
And no bubbles reach the filter inlet. I even saw a slight increase in the flow of water through the filter, which means better filtration.
Less can be better
In this case, I found that just because accessories really give me the look I want in my ‘natural’ environment, certain things don’t work with others. You can modify them. But the lesson is that not all your tank accessories are the best for your tank and your fish. And above all, your ears.