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Thermal & Acoustic Insulation How to make an aquarium pump more quiet
The calming presence of an aquarium is often disrupted by a humming or buzzing sound coming from the pump (or multiple pumps, in some situations). In this article we will give you the tips for insulating contact and airborne noise from an aquarium pump.
What noise problem do I have?
In order to tackle your noise problem with the right products, it is important to know which noise problem you suffer from. If you mainly hear a humming sound, you most likely suffer from contact noise. If you hear buzzing or bubbling sounds, you probably suffer from airborne noise.
Usually, a pump stands in a cupboard or inside an aquarium furniture. Parts in the pump that move can cause other parts, or even the entire furniture to vibrate, resulting in resonances and impact noise. This is often audible as a humming sound or noticeable as physical vibration. In order to insulate vibrations and reduce impact noise, it's best to use a heavy and stiff panel, MDF or something comparable, and place it on a sheet(s) of Regufoam D150, 12 mm thick. On this panel you can place the aquarium pump. With this setup vibrations cannot be transmitted to the aquarium furniture is and therefore insulated. Regufoam is relatively soft, so make sure there is no play on tubes or hoses that might cause leakage. If the pump is shaking, use a heavier panel, a concrete tile instead of MDF for instance.
Airborne noise from an aquarium pump
In order to reduce airborne noise, the sounds of the pump, you should equip the furniture (or housing) on the inside with an sound absorber that contains a moisture-tight top layer. We recommend Merfocell PU, a sound absorber with a moisture proof top layer and self-adhesive backing.
Equip as much surface surrounding the pump as possible with Merfocell and tape all the seams with PU Finishing Tape, preventing moisture and dirt from penetrating. The thickness of the sound absorber, Merfocell PU, you should select depends on the amount of space available. Remember: the thicker the material, the better the result.
Points of attention
Always make sure that the pump is stable and sturdy, avoiding play on pipes or hoses, which could result in a leak. Make sure the room where the pump is located is sufficiently ventilated. If necessary, consult the manufacturer or the manual of the pump.
Questions? 
Do you have any questions about this topic? Please contact us, we will be happy to answer your questions as soon as possible.