Starter fish tank

sx_turbo

sx_turbo

sx_turbo

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So got my son a fish tank for Xmas.and all the accessories to go with it, set the tank up today in the lounge, we have an area separated for his "play" room as the lounge is long and narrow from and extension by previous owners

Anyway, set the tank up, turned on the pump and filter and it's quite noisy, there is a loud buzzing from the pump and the trickling noise of the water is quite irritating.

We don't really have many good fish shops round our way and the local pet stores that have fish aren't really clued up so don't trust their advice.

The tank is only 24 litres, can anyone give any recommendations for a silent pump and filter?
 
Is it a fully submersible pump/filter combo you got with it, one that has suckers attaching it to the tank?

If so, try lowering it a little bit so that the flow of water is just below the surface. That will lower the water noise.

Also, check that it’s secured well. Those things are notorious for having suckers that are generally too small, so the pump ends up hitting the wall of the tank and making a ton of vibration noise.
 
Diggsy said:
Is it a fully submersible pump/filter combo you got with it, one that has suckers attaching it to the tank?

If so, try lowering it a little bit so that the flow of water is just below the surface. That will lower the water noise.

Also, check that it’s secured well. Those things are notorious for having suckers that are generally too small, so the pump ends up hitting the wall of the tank and making a ton of vibration noise.
Click to expand...

It's a partially submerged pump, where the filter is below the water line but the pump sits above the water line
 
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Mercenary Keyboard Warrior said:
Sometimes the buzzing is air in the gubbins.
Check its not got any air in it.

Is it an external pump or internal (to the tank)
External air pumps were always a pain like this. Bungee on rubber bands was the simplest fix.
Click to expand...

It's an internal one, it's only a cheap pump that came with the starter tank.

Digsy above it's probably quite right, likely the suckers, they are small and only on the pump with the electrical gubbins in. With the filter below hanging with no suckers and resting against the glass
 
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Looking around I think the pump may be submersible so will try that, see if it makes it quieter, but the instructions (I've now binned) definitely said to do what I've done.

We didn't get a snorkel with the filter, which others online seem to have (according to reviews in YouTube) some people online have said it's not really needed anyway (on YouTube I've seen the pump fully submerged and how I've got it setup
 
So lowered the pump, now fully submerged put a snorkel on it using some vacuum hose I had lying around, buzzing from the pump is still there and the snorkel sounds just as bad as the water bubbling
 
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I’d suggest picking up a reasonably priced Fluval filter. You may still get some noise, and the amount will probably depend on the material the tank is made of. If it’s plastic, it’s going to resonate the sound more.

When I kept tropical fish years ago, the only way I successfully kept the noise levels to something I could have in the living room was to buy an external filter and air pump, and they were both placed inside the cupboard below the tank, which had sound deadening in it.

Amazon do a small Fluval for about £20, but you may just end up in the same position. If you have a specialist fish supplier near you, call in and see what they suggest.
 
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