I was thinking about placing my fish tank (46 Gallon) in my entertainment room, where I have a big screen TV along with my surround speaker system, and my 12 inch subwoofer. I always watch movies and crank up the volume to the point where my car's alarm goes off when it's sitting in my garage, which makes me think that maybe the cichlids might die or get to stressed out from the level and bass of the speakers. Is this someting that I should be worried about?
too loud for the fish ???
- Thread starter Uconn25
- Start date
Yes there is something to be concerned with. If the TV is really that loud, you are slowly deafening yourself. At that rate you will not hear anything in a few years. As for the fish, they would likely not be too bothered by it. This is not a 24/7 thing so they might be pretty jumpy while you watched a movie but I doubt it would hurt them. Personally though I would not put the fish in there.
Orbitorly
Out in left field...
Yes, you could do damage to your fish by having them in a loud environment.
If you think about it, they have always told us not to tap on our fish tanks because it can hurt the fish. This is because sound travels much differently under water than it does through the air. Also, fish hear much differently than we do. They hear with their entire body via their lateral line. Loud booms and bangs that would set a car alarm off could very well give your fish a heart attack or cause them to jump out. It is very stressful on them because they think something must be wrong. (Fish will jump out of small ponds during really violent thunderstorms or small earthquakes...)
Also, really loud noises (excess of 130 db) can shatter glass. Something to keep in mind.... however, it would also cause your ears to bleed, since 128 is the threshold of pain for someone of normal hearing...
On a side note, it only takes 120 decibels for 10 seconds to permanently damage your hearing. Do your ears ring? They will before too long; mine do....
If you think about it, they have always told us not to tap on our fish tanks because it can hurt the fish. This is because sound travels much differently under water than it does through the air. Also, fish hear much differently than we do. They hear with their entire body via their lateral line. Loud booms and bangs that would set a car alarm off could very well give your fish a heart attack or cause them to jump out. It is very stressful on them because they think something must be wrong. (Fish will jump out of small ponds during really violent thunderstorms or small earthquakes...)
Also, really loud noises (excess of 130 db) can shatter glass. Something to keep in mind.... however, it would also cause your ears to bleed, since 128 is the threshold of pain for someone of normal hearing...
On a side note, it only takes 120 decibels for 10 seconds to permanently damage your hearing. Do your ears ring? They will before too long; mine do....
yeah man watch YOUR hearing, i cant ever hear crap. i used to be involved with pro solo scca roadracing and from being the cars for hours at screaming decibles and bing in the test and tune areas and i never wore earplugs like most others did and i am ALWAYS saying what, huh, excuse me. Now when i watch tv i get screamed at cause its "sooo loud" and i can barely hear it. i go t involved when i was 16 and im only 26 now, im still young, i cant imagine if i stayed doing it for another 10 years, just a few hours a week of loud volumes wil do it to ya and you wont even know it. scary huh.
my fish only faces loud volumes when i play games in the day time or watch DVD.
the speakers are just next to the tank, it's i play softer at night.
will be shifting my layout soon to give them more peace.
the speakers are just next to the tank, it's i play softer at night.
will be shifting my layout soon to give them more peace.
Orbitorly
Out in left field...
I used to work in a theater in town as the lighting director. I also assisted with sound-checks, so I was standing pretty close to some really large monitor speakers for a pretty good stretch of my workday. After about 2 months, I developed tinnitus (which is that annoying ringing you get after a loud noise, just one that never leaves...). I also lost most of my low-range hearing. The only way I can "hear" bass anymore is to have it loud enough to actually feel the vibrations, and my ears still ring. I left the theater 4 years ago (due to other occupational hazards, i.e. near electrocution), and the problem still is there, and always will be according to my doctor. If I had only known then, I would've worn ear protection every day, because there is so much I miss now.
As far as determining a safe level for your listening pleasure and for keeping a fish tank nearby...
The most obvious thing to do is to turn the volume up where you normally do, and observe what happens to the room. If anything vibrates, rattles, shakes, etc. or if your ears hurt or ring during or afterward, or if you can't hear the telephone or someone has to shout to get your attention, it's too loud, both for your tank and for your ears.
By the way, I'm only 23.... and permanently damaged from 6 months of working in a loud environment, and only 3 or 4 hours at a time. 30% hearing left in one ear, 68% in the other. It doesn't take much.
As far as determining a safe level for your listening pleasure and for keeping a fish tank nearby...
The most obvious thing to do is to turn the volume up where you normally do, and observe what happens to the room. If anything vibrates, rattles, shakes, etc. or if your ears hurt or ring during or afterward, or if you can't hear the telephone or someone has to shout to get your attention, it's too loud, both for your tank and for your ears.
By the way, I'm only 23.... and permanently damaged from 6 months of working in a loud environment, and only 3 or 4 hours at a time. 30% hearing left in one ear, 68% in the other. It doesn't take much.