fish health concerns due to vibrating noisy pump

[BK]

hi,

i was wondering if there are any significant health risks to fish caused by vibrating (makes tank vibrate), slightly noisy, powerheads/waterpumps. i have some powerheads i need to use but never having any that vibrated so much or were so loud i wanted to make sure they wouldn't cause any harm to the fish.


thanks
BK

[crimsoncloud]

Hi,
Maybe this can help you....Inside my powerheads are impellors, mine are whisper brand..Te tops can be detached by using a coin...I've replaced these impellors before, or in some cases cleaned them with a brush and hot water...they resemble a fan blade with a magnet attached..They are sold at Petsmart if replacement is needed.

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

If the fish have been living with it for a long time i'm sure they've learned to tune it out. As we have with many day-to-day noises.
Mine are all really silent so i've never had much concern, but maybe be worried about them resting at night with all the noise and vibrations. Probebly not comfortable. Do they look stressed? When you dive underwater in the ocean its really 'noisy' under there. Fish are probebly used to that noise that we can hear. But i don't know what they can and cant hear. I know they sense vibrations though, as everytime i bump the stand they all go darting.

I don't think that helped any, sorry. :shake:

[BK]

these are new pumps and i've never tried them with the fish. the noise and vibration comes from the wat the pump is designed. the residents of the tanks are going to be fancy plecos (species yet to be determined). i am more concerned about vibration that sound.

[Matak]

Mine made a lot of noise so I hung it on a nail in a dangling sort of way. It seemed to help cut off the vibration somewhat.

[BK]

i can see the nail thing working with an air pump but not a powerhead.

[ewok]

Originally posted by BK
i can see the nail thing working with an air pump but not a powerhead.

:D

you don't use nails in your fishtank? :eeek:

i knew i was doing something wrong...... :scratch: :argh

:D

i guess the whole question is..... is it excessive? is it more of a steady hum or just a vibration? stressed fish = sick fish

i had to stop using an airpump in my 29g because the vibration seemed like it was making the oscar skittish.... i couldn't get it insulated enuf to stop it. :(

[sumoschro]

If you're afraid your air pump is too loud just get a mayonaisse jar or something like that, stuff it with socks or towels and put in the air pump. It makes it really quiet and the fish wont hear it as much.

[Julia]

(((sumoschro))), thank you, I would never have thought to put the air pump in a jar.

It works, I confess I am amazed, but it works. Even though I didn't have a jar the right size and had to use a flower pot. :o

I have a TetraTec 100 air pump running through a 1" airstone in my 10 gallon tank and my husband can't stand the noise. :( I mean he really can't stand it; it has to be off when he's home. Since I stuffed the pump into a jar he says maybe it's OK if the TV is really loud. Doesn't mean he won't yank the plug when he gets up in the morning, but much better. :)

Thank you thank you :bowing: thank you!

[aquariumfishguy]

Pfffttt.....stick some ear plugs in his ears and tell him tough. I guess he wouldn't have liked to live near a naval base with rip-roaring jets going past him so his whole house is shaking like mine did for 12 years. :rolleyes:

LOL :D

Seriously, I dont even notice things such as air pumps anymore. :p

[Julia]

Well, putting the TetraTec in the flower pot did not work out: husband decided it was still too loud. :(

I ordered a Rena 100 and it came today :) and even though it seems very quiet to me :rolleyes: I went ahead and crafted a sound-proof container for it, following a hint posted here (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17513&highlight=quiet+air+pump) by rodney10954 over in the newbie forum:



http://www.rcarchive.com/fish/air.html

Check this out
i haven't tried it but it looks like it would work



I used a glass jar with a metal lid (holes cut for power cord, air tubing & a drinking straw air inlet) and padded it inside & out with small square pieces of foam.

I set this all up while husband was out & left it running. After he'd been home for about an hour he said, "So how's the new pump?"

"You tell me," I said. :D

He's trying to decide now; he says he'll let me know later. I think it will be OK, 'cause I can't hear it at all.

*crosses fingers*

[RTR]

Julia - I am so with your husband. Air pumps are forbidden along with airstones. When I must use air-driven sponge filters (certain fry), it is only in the tank room, and the pumps are suspended by hooks from the ceiling or wall (Very long hooks for the wall).

IMHO and in my house, tanks are to be seen and not heard, period. No HOBs, no biowheels, no aerating powerheads. Total silence. Peace and quiet. :cool:

[Rocketman]

Thats why we both love Eheims so much, RTR.

[RTR]

Rocketman - you got it in one. And welcome back!

[chefkeith]

Originally posted by BK
hi,

i was wondering if there are any significant health risks to fish caused by vibrating (makes tank vibrate), slightly noisy, powerheads/waterpumps. i have some powerheads i need to use but never having any that vibrated so much or were so loud i wanted to make sure they wouldn't cause any harm to the fish.


thanks
BK
I have 2 tanks connected with a water bridge.

I have 2- 802 aquaclear powerheads in one of my tanks and they vibrate quite a bit, and you can even hear the powerheads real good if you put your ear right against the tank. I don't think this vibration and noise bothers the fish at all. My fish have the option of swimming into my other tank (which is absolutely quiet) if they want to, but they spend most of the time in the tank with the powerheads.