prairielilly

Curious as to opinions on brands, styles of air pumps that are quiet? and by quiet I mean you don't know it's on unless you're within two feet of it, or better?

I'm like many and are bothered by things that hum obtrusively. Atm I've got two pumps going in my living room - an Aquaclear 10 and an Aqua Expert 600. The Aquaclear is bearable, when I was buying that I plugged it in at the store and listened to it along with a Rena-Cal one (that was extremely loud and so not bought). The other one came with an aquarium kit I bought a long time ago, it was meant to power a small UGF. It is quite loud.

Usually what I end up doing is putting towels under the pump or hanging them in the air somehow. I know you can make a 'silencer', but if I could start with one that's already quiet it would really help. I plan to use check and gang valves. I've heard the pump styles with 'feet' are quieter, thoughts? There's one at Petland called an Airpod.

I need two or three of these, not sure yet, each one to power one airstone, one to be in my living room right next to where I sit to watch tv, and another in my bedroom.

cerianthus

Try TetraTec AP and I found Rena Air pump to be quiet as i am using 200 now sitting on window sill. Maybe Rena you checked was Defective One.
Putting towel over any pump is bad idea though, perhaps secure something heavy on top,

shadowavenger

you could probably put them in a cardboard box or something to dampen the noise. just as long as they don't get too hot they should be fine.

pinkfloydpuffer

I use the TopFins (petsmart brand) as well as Tetra Whispers, and they're all just fine for me. The trick is placement, really. But I may not be the best source, since I sleep great in a room with 5 tanks running

agabr123

lol, yeah the water from the filter flow is louder than any air pump i've used. the whisper pumps have worked pretty well for me, i just wrap them in towels and dont hear a thing

cerianthus

Wrapping pump with towel may shorten the life of air pump due to heat build up and not too mention FIRE(hopefully not).

capekate

I also use the Tetra Whisper. It is quiet. I have used and have many air pumps around some are more quieter than others. Sometimes it really depends on the placement of the air pump.
I agree with not wrapping up the air pump in a towel. I believe it does need some air flow around it. I would suggest a cheap remedy in that I use inexpensive mouse pads under the air pumps. This seems to work really well.
They are rubbery spongy and work great as a noise barrier.

SWilkins

Oh the mousepad is a great idea. The pump noise drives me nuts too. I either have them sitting on a towel or zip tie them to hang them so they don't vibrate and hummmmmmm.

agabr123

lol i should definitely clarify dont tighten the towel around it!!! the only way mine will fit is to have them against a wall, so part of the towel goes underneath and the other goes against the side and part sits on top of the pump, so the other part of the top and the wider side and smaller front and back sit open

prairielilly

Hmmm, I've never actually wrapped them up in a towel, I just fold up a towel and put it underneath...I like the mouse pad idea, I'll have to give that a try.

A little hhhhmmmm isn't so bad, it's like white noise, drowns out other stuff. It's when I feel like my teeth are vibrating that I get a little well, nuts.

Thanks for the input everybody! Whisper is sounding good

hkirchen

I have a Whisper and a TopFin(Petsmart). They are super quiet, but I also have a mouse pad under them!

Barbrella

I have two of the Whisper pumps and they are totally silent.

Steve420

I've had good luck with my TopFin as well. Mine stays inside the stand cabinet, so that muffles the sound/vibration for me.

prairielilly

Was out yet again today to return/purchase new fishie stuff...at Walmart I plugged in one of the Whisper pumps - couldn't believe how quiet it was! They actually cost more at Walmart than at Big Al's online, so I just ordered two of them!

Thanks everyone!

SammyJ

The Tetra Whisper pumps are insanely quiet. If it was not for the bubbles going up into the water I would not know they are working. I have 2 of the 40s and the only reason I hear them is because they are just slightly louder than my silent canister filters.

capekate

Good for you! I have also price shopped around online for items and Ive found that BigAls really has some of the lowest prices going. I bought the Tetra Whisper 100 air pump at Petsmart for 44.00 ! When I was doing my order at BigAls for other items I saw the exact same thing for 18.99! I couldnt believe it so I returned the pump to Petsmart right away after putting the whisper in with my online order. What a huge difference in price and I had my order delivered in four days.

pinkfloydpuffer

I got my Whisper 110 at petmountain for $17

prairielilly

Whisper 10 air pump is available around here from Big Al's store, Big Al's online, and Walmart (called the Whisper 10-30 there).

Big Al's store: $15.99 (out of stock)
Big Al's online: $16.99 (ordered two)
Walmart: $19.98

I found that (here anyway) this was one of the cheapest - Elite, Rena, AquaClear were all more expensive.