I'll go insane!

Valkyrie · Dec 5, 2016

My sump is driving me nuts. To be specific the return pump. The constant and LOUD hum and vibration is starting to make my nerves crawl.
Would it be ok to pour some regular (not live) sand into that section so that the pump is sitting on it rather than the bottom glass? If not WHAT CAN I DO before I go coo-coo-banana-pants???

ahiggins · Dec 5, 2016

I dont know anything about plumbing but I figure sand would get sucked up into the DT.
What about putting a filter block under it so the return is sitting on top of that?

Willz · Dec 5, 2016

I wouldn't use sand under it. It will get sucked into the impellers and shorten the pump's life. I have heard of using foam filter media to sit the pump on to reduce the noise. Also, the type of pump will play a part as well. Mag Drive pumps are notorious offenders.

TNT32D · Dec 5, 2016

Did the pump come with suction cups?

sbash · Dec 5, 2016

I put substrate into a freezer back (ziplock style), then put that bag into another one with the pump on to. Works well for me (but my sump is in my basement). Also make sure the plumbing is not vibrating on the framing; there are a few places I put some dense foam on the pipes to help with the noise.

143MPCo · Dec 5, 2016

Valkyrie said:
My sump is driving me nuts. To be specific the return pump. The constant and LOUD hum and vibration is starting to make my nerves crawl.
Would it be ok to pour some regular (not live) sand into that section so that the pump is sitting on it rather than the bottom glass? If not WHAT CAN I DO before I go coo-coo-banana-pants???

Fast forward to time 1:11...

Buy direct from them, or any wally-world/ target.
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/silicone-vibration-silencer-oxo-good-grips.html

Valkyrie · Dec 5, 2016

ahiggins said:
I dont know anything about plumbing but I figure sand would get sucked up into the DT.
What about putting a filter block under it so the return is sitting on top of that?

Willz said:
I wouldn't use sand under it. It will get sucked into the impellers and shorten the pump's life. I have heard of using foam filter media to sit the pump on to reduce the noise. Also, the type of pump will play a part as well. Mag Drive pumps are notorious offenders.

Makes perfect sense. I didn't think about the possibility of sand getting sucked up. Thanks. Foam filter block gives me an idea. Thank you.

TNT32D said:
Did the pump come with suction cups?

No, it was a used pump that came with the used aquarium set up. It's actually just like the one I use outside in my 300g pond. I'm thinking about getting a new one, since that's probably why it's so loud.

sbash said:
I put substrate into a freezer back (ziplock style), then put that bag into another one with the pump on to. Works well for me (but my sump is in my basement). Also make sure the plumbing is not vibrating on the framing; there are a few places I put some dense foam on the pipes to help with the noise.

Brilliant. Thank you.

Valkyrie · Dec 5, 2016

143MPCo said:
Fast forward to time 1:11...

Awesome. Thank you. I think I have just the thing to do the trick.

I watched the whole video just to see if there was anything else I wanted to grab on my next trip to the store. Problem is where the heck am I going to put anything new, seems I'm running out of storage space.

I'm looking at a small dresser/cabinet for storing my supplies in but now my husband says I have to figure out where something is going to go before I drag it home. New rule

. I tried explaining that my crystal ball is on the fritz and I can't figure that sort of thing out UNTIL it's in the house.

ahiggins · Dec 5, 2016

good! Let us know how it goes

Salty1962 · Dec 5, 2016

I put filter foam under mine and can't hear them at all.

K. Steven · Dec 5, 2016

I put one of these silicone trivets under my return pump and it reduced the vibration noise significantly. I think I found it at BB&B or Walmart.

sneub · Dec 5, 2016

You can also use silicone tubing instead of vinyl. I had vibration traveling up the hose and vibrating against other things outside of the sump. I replaced the vinyl with silicone, vibration stopped.

Benders Bay · Dec 6, 2016

You could suspend the pump with rubber bungees

ReefQueen · Dec 6, 2016

K. Steven said:
I put one of these silicone trivets under my return pump and it reduced the vibration noise significantly. I think I found it at BB&B or Walmart.

+1 except I found mine at the dollar tree next to my work lol.

revhtree · Dec 6, 2016

K. Steven said:
I put one of these silicone trivets under my return pump and it reduced the vibration noise significantly. I think I found it at BB&B or Walmart.

Cool!

JBradford · Dec 6, 2016

You can also buy silicone isolation pads for pumps. I believe BRS sells them but the above dollar store find would do the same.

rrusch24 · Dec 6, 2016

I use the Oxo Good Grips silicone mat under both my return pump and skimmer and greatly reduced the noise. http://a.co/anls8Zm

Joe Krasz · Dec 6, 2016

I use two of the cheapest mousepads I could find. Works like a charm.

RamsReef · Dec 6, 2016

Teach it the words and it wont hum anymore.

Bob Escher · Dec 6, 2016

BRS sell a great 1 inch pad that I love relatively cheaper as well.
Also depending at what speed you have it running you might be able to put it down some that will also quiet the hum so e