4 Tips How To Make a Fish Tank Filter Quieter

a Fish tank filter that is very noisy can be very annoying, and in this article, I will share some practical tips on making a fish tank filter quieter.

Before you install a fish tank, you should also consider its location, for instance, the hum of an air pump will not be noticeable in a living room, but in a bedroom, the noise of the same air pump can be disturbing to some.

There will always be some noise associated with a fish tank because of the noise that the various types of filters and pumps produce. As a rule, different types of fish tank filters will produce varying amounts of noise, but there are some steps that you can take to reduce the noise significantly.

Reduce Noise of Hang-on-Back Filter

If you are looking for a quiet fish tank filter, a hang-on-back filter will be your best option. If a hang-on back filter is operating efficiently, it will produce almost no noise except for the slight hum of its motor. In some premium models like the Seacham Tidal range, even the motor is very quiet. a Hang-on-back filter will thus be the best option for fish tanks in a bedroom or anywhere where any noise will be disturbing.

Noise generated from a hang-on-back filter is normally generated by water splashing from the filter’s outflow into the fish tank.

The splashing of water can be reduced in two ways:

• If the water outflow is concentrated in one area, make some adjustments to the filter to distribute the water flow more evenly.This can be as simple as removing some filter material from the filter basket, or adjusting the plasic outflow tabs on some filters.By having a more evenly distributed water outflow some of the splashing noise can be reduced.
• a Hang-on-back filter sits on the rim of a fish tank, and if the water level of the fish tank is far below the outflow of the filter, the falling of the water into the tank will make a splashing noise. By raising the water level of the aquarium to be level with the outflow of the filter, this splashing will be reduced completely.
• If the motor of the hang-on-back is noisey, there is not much you can do other than considering to replace it.It will be worthwhile to spend a bit more and buy a better quality filter that will be quieter , and last a long time.

Reduce Noise of a Sponge Filter

Sponge filters have been a staple of the aquarium hobby since it has started, and there is a good reason why – they are cheap, effective, relatively maintenance-free, and will last a long time. a Sponge filter will make noise from two different sources, namely:

• The mechanical hum of the air-pump that drives the sponge filter.
• The air bubbles that leaves the sponge filter to the water surface of the fish tank.

A couple of fairly simple steps can reduce the noise of the air bubbles:

• Reduce the air-flow to the spongefilter by placing a clamp on the air-line to the sponge filter. By tightening or loosening the clamp the amount of air into the spongefilter, and thus the amount of bubbles, is regulated. This simple step can make a big difference to the noise that a sponge filter makes.
• Place a small air-stone inside the sponge filter. The air-stone will make the bubbles that leaves the sponge filter smaller, and thus reducing the noise. The same effect can be had by stuffing some filter floss into the outlet of the sponge filter. The filter floss will also make the bubbles smaller, reducing noise.

Reduce noise of an air-pump

The air pump for a fish tank is used to power sponge filters or air-stones and produces a stream of air of varying intensity depending on the size of the pump.

An air pump will always produce a mechanical hum, and it cannot be eliminated. Some air pumps will be quieter than others and are designed specifically to reduce noise.

If your air pump is making a lot of noise, then there is not much you can do to make it quieter. Check where the air pump is placed and if it is not causing some vibration against a surface that is creating more noise.

If that doesn’t solve the problem, the only option will be to replace the air pump with a quieter version. It should also be noted that the hum of an air pump is something that you can get accustomed to!

Reduce the noise of a canister filter

A canister filter is normally placed underneath or next to an aquarium and can produce noise in two different ways, namely:

• The pump in the filter will make noise depending on the size of the motor.
• The outflow of the filter can make a splashing noise depending on how it is configured.

To reduce the noise of a canister filter, it can be placed in an insulated cabinet underneath the fish tank. The cabinet will mute the noise of the electric motor of the filter.

To reduce the splashing noise of the outflow of the canister, it can be positioned differently so that the outflow is submerged and the water does not fall into the fish tank. Alternatively, a bigger outlet which distributes the outflow of the water more evenly can be installed.