Alternatives to noisy skimmer

[Claus84]

Hi all,

I have a 55g FOWLR that has just finished cycling, no sump so I bought a Reef Octopus Classic 1000 HOB skimmer but I have found that it is way too noisy for me to use. The tank is in an upstairs bedroom above the lounge and any vibration or pump noise seems to travel very easily to the lounge. I padded all points of contact between skimmer and tank with silicone pads and it made no difference, it is the actual hum of the externally mounted pump thats the issue in this case.

Another option I am considering is using my old Aquamedic Turbofloater 1000 Multi SL, the pumps gone on this but I have found them cheap online. I tested it with a cheapo chinese pump (non-needle wheel) to see how quiet it would be and it was actually barely audible outside of the tank room, however the in-tank noise from this was pretty loud, louder than I would want to subject my fish too long-term, hopefully it may be quieter with the official pump but not sure.

So my options are use the Turbofloater and hope its quieter in-tank with the correct pump, buy another new skimmer and hope it's quiet or run the tank with no skimmer.

Would appreciate any thoughts and also any recommendations of quiet HOB skimmers I should check out.

Thanks

Nick

 

[sunnyc90]

Check out the Tunze Skimmer line. I has a nano one and they were dead silent when I had my 50 gallon tank.

 

[Claus84]

Check out the Tunze Skimmer line. I has a nano one and they were dead silent when I had my 50 gallon tank.

thanks, I like the look of the Tunze ones. My tank has brace bars, do you think a Tunze would still work or would the bracket not reach the glass?

 

[Idoc]

I have the Tunze 9410 DOC skimmer. The pump is almost dead quiet...but the design does cause the water to come out and cascade over into a filter sock contraption. If you set this skimmer too high in the water, that water cascading makes some noise...but it's actually kind of soothing...or could possibly have the effect of making you have to go to the bathroom, lol. I'm thinking of lowering it another inch in the sump and seeing if it reduces the cascading noise. Plus, this skimmer is so freakin easy to use....just turn it on and it basically adjusts itself.

Another option for you is to run your skimmer on a timer and only run it during times a little noise won't bother the people in the room.

 

[Reef of Fillory]

I just bought a used Aquamaxx ConeS CO-1 skimmer and it's essentially silent. If I couldn't see the bubbles it was making I wouldn't think it was running.

 

[sunnyc90]

thanks, I like the look of the Tunze ones. My tank has brace bars, do you think a Tunze would still work or would the bracket not reach the glass?

The one I had was magnetic mount so brace size didn't matter. Not sure what there is now which replaced the model I had. Running a Vertex omega 150 now for my 92gal.

 

[Claus84]

I went for a Tunze 9004 in the end, may be a bit underpowered but fits under the bracing and is virtually silent, very happy with it so far. I'm not planning on stocking very heavily in this tank anyway so should be okay hopefully

 

[sunnyc90]

I went for a Tunze 9004 in the end, may be a bit underpowered but fits under the bracing and is virtually silent, very happy with it so far. I'm not planning on stocking very heavily in this tank anyway so should be okay hopefully

Tunze was known to under rate their skimmer. I think you made a great choice. Happy reefing!