Looking for Quiet(er) ATO Pump

[ingchr1]

Hi,

I have a Tunze Nano ATO setup on my Waterbox Cube 15 in my bedroom and the pump is just too loud for the environment. Enough to wake you up. I have a spare Tunze pump that I tried and it wasn't much better. Looking for recommendations on a quiet(er) pump to connect to the Tunze controller (12VDC). The pump options I'm looking at are:

IM Hydrofill Pump: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/auqa-gadget-titanium-hydrofill-ato-pump-innovative-marine.html
AutoAqua Smart ATO Pump: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/smart-ato-replacement-dc-pump-autoaqua.html

Open to other suggestions as well. I'm thinking something out of the container has to be quitter.

Thank you

 

[LiveWire]

I use a PMUP from Neptune systems on my 30L frag tank in my bedroom and it is fairly quiet. I can say It has never woken me up.

 

[ingchr1]

I use a PMUP from Neptune systems on my 30L frag tank in my bedroom and it is fairly quiet. I can say It has never woken me up.

What do you have controlling the pump? The Tunze Nano has 12V output and PMUP is 24V.

 

[Slim64684]

I just use a cheap 12v Amazon pump in my ato. I can hear the relay click and the water come out of the tube but not the pump.

This is a pic of test wiring but you can see the pump.

 

[billwill]

I just use a cheap 12v Amazon pump in my ato. I can hear the relay click and the water come out of the tube but not the pump.

This is a pic of test wiring but you can see the pump.

Ooh, I want to know more about your relay system there!

 

[LiveWire]

What do you have controlling the pump? The Tunze Nano has 12V output and PMUP is 24V.

I have an Apex Jr connected to the tank with an Avast Marine ato box that has a pressure switch that lets the apex know when to top off.

 

[GabeM]

I have the auto aqua ato and it is pretty much silent other than the sound of the water moving through the siphon break.

 

[Slim64684]

Ooh, I want to know more about your relay system there!

The relay on the right is a multi timing relay. I have it set to limit the amount of Time my ato will run to prevent an overfill in the event of a float failure. The relay on the left is connected to an electrical outlet that I plug a pump into when I refill after a water change. Both relays run off the same float so my water level in the tank stays consistent.

 

[ingchr1]

I found this pump on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Yosooo-Amphibious-Submersible-Electric-Ultra-Quiet/dp/B07D8W1KJF/) that looks just like the Smart ATO pump (https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/smart-ato-replacement-dc-pump-autoaqua.html).

I bought it and let it sit in some RO/DI for a few days to see if it corroded, it did not. The front comes off and you can pull the rotor out.

Unfortunately, the motor was unable to start when powered from the Nano. I'm guessing the current limit out of the Nano is not enough to start this motor. I did connect the motor to a 12V battery and it started just fine.

The search for a solution continues....

 

[Slim64684]

I found this pump on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Yosooo-Amphibious-Submersible-Electric-Ultra-Quiet/dp/B07D8W1KJF/) that looks just like the Smart ATO pump (https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/smart-ato-replacement-dc-pump-autoaqua.html).

I bought it and let it sit in some RO/DI for a few days to see if it corroded, it did not. The front comes off and you can pull the rotor out.

Unfortunately, the motor was unable to start when powered from the Nano. I'm guessing the current limit out of the Nano is not enough to start this motor. I did connect the motor to a 12V battery and it started just fine.

The search for a solution continues....

What about using a relay to activate the Amazon pump. The coil on a relay only needs approximately 200ma to trigger.

 

[ingchr1]

What about using a relay to activate the Amazon pump. The coil on a relay only needs approximately 200ma to trigger.

I might have to look into that. I would also need a DC power supply for the pump, which I have several laying around.

 

[Slim64684]

If you have power supplies laying around you can probably pick up a relay and socket for $5-7 and have it working

 

[ingchr1]

Thought I had a solution. I tried this relay and the nano could not pick it up. The relay just buzzed. I tested the relay with a 9V 350ma power supply to make sure it worked and it picked up just fine. Not sure where to head next. Don't know why the nano could not pick this up.

 

[erk]

If it is just buzzing, then that means the pump has multiple phases and the motor driver is switching between phases. Open up the Tunze controller and see if you can find a motor driver. Run the 12Vdc line directly to your relay and bypass the motor driver.

 

[Slim64684]

Does the nano still run the pump? Looking at the specs it should have a 12v 375mA output which should be enough

 

[ingchr1]

If it is just buzzing, then that means the pump has multiple phases and the motor driver is switching between phases. Open up the Tunze controller and see if you can find a motor driver. Run the 12Vdc line directly to your relay and bypass the motor driver.

Here's photos of the controller:

Does the nano still run the pump? Looking at the specs it should have a 12v 375mA output which should be enough

Yes, the Tunze pump still runs.

 

[SDK]

My Auto Aqua pump is also completely silent. At $23 for a plug and play solution I think that’s a good bet....

 

[ingchr1]

My Auto Aqua pump is also completely silent. At $23 for a plug and play solution I think that’s a good bet....

Are you running the pump off of a Tunze Nano?

I think the pump I got from Amazon is the exact same pump, but it will not start off of the nano.

 

[SDK]

Are you running the pump off of a Tunze Nano?

I think the pump I got from Amazon is the exact same pump, but it will not start off of the nano.

No, I purchased the complete Auto Aqua ATO....

 

[erk]

Here's photos of the controller:

Yes, the Tunze pump still runs.

Is there anything on the other side of that PCB?