How well do the fish hear?

KidInTheHall

KidInTheHall

AC Members
Aug 13, 2006
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Jacksonville, NC
I have the new 55 gal and I didn't think about it much with my 10 g but I was wondering can loud movies and music affect them? I have the tank in my bedroom and I have a surround sound setup, I don't play very loud music often but sometimes I do and when I watch a movie like an action movie or something Superman Returns, Star Wars or LOTR is really when I crank it up and I was wondering if that would harm them or make them uncomfortable?
 
Well here are some articles for you...

Tests on wild fish populations:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/02/030210075908.htm

Article on "noise induced stress response" in goldfish
http://aquaticpath.umd.edu/Smith_proofs2004.pdf.

I guess it would really depend on several factors...how close the fish tanks are to the speakers, how loud, and how much bass (keeping the tank near a subwoofer seems like a bad idea to me for example). You could always try to do a little observation and see how they react (i.e. do they hide or start acting odd?).
 
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im prettty sure they hear through vibrations, so i would assume that some good bass would really get them going lol
 
The sub is on the opposite side of the room. It basically is setup like this. 12x15 room
X = Tank
S = Speaker
_ = floor

[S_____B______X S]
[_____ e______ X ]
[______d________]
[_______________]
[sub____________]
[_______________]
[S______tv______S]

And the sub isn't set that hihg, maybe about at half, it's powered but the level is at half.
 
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yea, the vibs. will still affect the fish... but if you seldumly have it crank'n... i wouldn't worrie about it....

at one point i had a 20gal, 30gal, and a 75gal all in one crowed room with a great system.... and i never had any problems... but i wouldn't recommend you jammin everyday though....
 
Yeah I don't really crank it up real high too often, I have my Xbox 360, PS2 and Wii hooked up through the receiver but that's not cranked up either, loud but I wouldn't say enough to wear you couldn't enjoy watching TV in the next room.
 
Water acoustics are kinda weird. Remember that sound travels Slowest through the air and that bass sound waves travel farther. Considering what I've observed being submersed in the bathtub, sounds that are in direct contact (like the hum of electrical devices) with the support of water source are much louder and distinct than those that have to travel through the air. So maybe wall mounting or using speaker support stands might help reduce how much sound gets transfered into the tank. I'm not an acoustics expert however, so it's just a guess.
 
Well my satellites speakers except the center are all mounted to the wall about 6 1/2 to 7ft high about 4 ft above the actual tank. The sub is on the floor.
 
I also have a surround sound in my room and the sub is about 3ft from my tank and sometimes I crank music and get stuff shaking in the whole house and my 2 Oscars dont seem to react at all.
 
this has inspired me to go home and crank the stereo, and watch the mosh pit inside my tank:headbang2: :headbang2: :headbang2: :headbang2:

i'll let you all know how it goes.
 
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