Silence Your Air Pump Like THIS

[@AquariumCoop2]

*What's your favorite method for silencing an air pump? If you're bothered by the bubbling noise in a sponge filter, learn how to add an air stone in this video: **kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZoKwg5uFf9Ggr5I*

[@eu100eueu]

I use a powerhead instead of air pump in my mini outdoor pond, its completely silent, but its too powerfull for the sponge, making ig clog a lot faster than it should, because there is decaing leaf and stuff and it pulls everything, so im trying to figure out how can i reduce the flow through the sponge, maybe conect the pump and the sponge with a pipe with holes in it? Idk.

[@gsmhnc12]

For the Aquatop type air pumps I place them on foam to reduce vibration noise if needed. In most places I put them this really isn't necessary. The air intake on many pumps of similar design are on the bottom. Placing a pump on a very plush towel could (not will... could) potentially restrict air flow, making the pump work harder and wear out sooner.

[@DrivingStandards101]

A hammer works everytime failing that polystyrene Box.

[@sampathjosephkumar]

I use hang on back filter instead of air pump l even had the air pump I tried all the method but it didn't work

[@Lazy_Fish_Keeper]

@@eu100eueu I use pond pumps in several of my tanks. When I had ponds in WA, I used a powerhead, lol. If you put the sponge filter in a 'filter box' the box will act like a pre-filter of sorts, and trap the leaves and larger debris. I had to wipe it off every few days when the leaves would drop from the trees. If you don't want to buy a box, you can DIY with canvas craft 'fabric' like JoAnn's carries. I can go grab links to each for you. If you DIY, you can either silicone the edges of the box, or use nylon fishing line to 'sew' the box. Cut out a circle just big enough to slide the tube through, to rest the power head inside. Tag me if you need more information.

[@lindawilliams2716]

I don't mind the water bubbling noise, it's that mind numbing buzz from the pump when the room gets quieter that bothers me. The thick towel on the solid surface works for me, along with a slightly larger than tank size pump (like the next size up). Thanks for the tips! ;)

[@thechickenwizard8172]

I can't stop laughing at the shrimp clogging up the tube at 1:53. Absolutely hysterical!

[@samhain9394]

Right? Lol i chuckled when it turned back on and they were like "scatter!!" 😆

[@cosmoplakat9549]

I use the USB nano pumps in all four of my aquariums, even in the 45-gallon that's 24" tall, with no problem at all. Love the quiet operation.

[@cameronmcgill5382]

This video is fantastic! I cannot express enough how this video came in a clutch for me. I just got myself an air pump for my 10 gallon, and was trying to find solutions on dampening the loudness of it.

[@boges11]

I minimise noise by buying better quality air pumps. I have Eheim ones and they are almost silent. Be careful putting any air pump on a cloth or matt as the intake may be underneath. The pump will get hotter and it will shorten the lifespan of it.

[@GirlTalksFish]

Oh, good point! Thanks for mentioning the location of the intake.

[@samhain9394]

Yeah this is my exact reaction to that common suggestion. At least using a kitchen "hot pad" will reduce the possibility of the feet sinking into a folded towel allowing the body of the pump to come in contact with it and blocking or reducing the intake. A silicone trivet or bit of yoga mat is probably best, especially considering that putting a motorized electrical appliance directly on top of a towel is just not the best idea, fire safety-wise. Someone else In the comments here mentioned replacing the filter media in the intake to reduce resistance. I like this idea, and would suggest using a high micron mesh ”nut milk bag” or screen printing mesh to replace it, securing it with superglue or a cable tie (or both. You really don't want it to suck the mesh in, especially sitting on a towel or cotton hot pad, lol).

[@Chrissapher]

I find your voice therapeutic! It’s very nice and very easy to listen to. I always pic the video by you first before I try others because I love the way you present information and how clear you are!! Amazing job!

[@errk25]

I only run the USB Nano air pumps. I have 7 of them running and none have failed since they've been running. Which is going on 2 years for some of them. They are silent as can be. They are strong enough to easily run to the bottom of a 150 gallon stock tank too.

[@wmdeardoff7845]

Wish I had KZbin when I was younger no in my 70s LOVE ALL THE INFORMATION

[@Goldiibug]

A silicone hot pad/trivet would probably work great too.

[@marypaigeflynn4512]

Great idea 👍😁

[@samhain9394]

This, or regular oven/pot "hot pads". They're dense and won't bunch up or have the effect of plugging the intake for the pump if the way it sits or the feet sink into a towel were to allow part of the towel to rest too closely to the intake. Blocking the intake increases the resistance, which increases the amount of energy it needs to operate the diaphragm, which burns out the motor faster. Overheating a motorized electrical appliance on top of a towel is never a great thing for obvious fire hazard reasons, so the silicone pads (especially the ones with some sort of honeycomb mesh pattern to them) seem to be the best solution for sound damping in my opinion. Hanging the filter by part of the body and putting a bit of silicone hot pad or yoga mat or cabinet liner where the feet meet the wall, if they do, is a better option (best IMHO bc they can be hung above the water line easily this way, reducing backflow possibility and increasing efficiency which increases the life of the appliance). Many pumps have some area of the body with holes *for* this because they know aquarists do this often, and hanging appliances (especially vibrating ones) by their cable is never the best idea for appliance health/longevity. Hanging by the cord is also likely to put a kink in the cord wherever it is hanging from, which can cause an electrical short if the wire inside bends too sharply. This would be exacerbated by 24/7 vibrating. Just... Please don't hang things by the cable. 👍

[@dakotamancillas1444]

I definetly have my pump sitting on top of one of my tank towels as well as inside the cabinet under the tank. I can still hear it but it's mostly muffled. I run the nano usb air pumps as well as my other one , and they are indeed absolutely great. Quietist pump I've ever found by far. I have one running a medium sized aquarium co op sponge filter in my 20 gallon tank right now and it's doing awesome.

[@abonnieforclyde2802]

The air pump I have on my betta tank is probably 5 years old and it is the loudest air pump I've ever, ever, ever seen or heard. I have had it on a washcloth. I have taken it apart and cleaned it. I have changed the tubing. I have shortened the tubing. I have put tape around the output nozzle to secure the line. I have hung it. I have put upside down. I have put it on solid wood, laminate, silicone, sponge. I have hooked it up to a two-way splitter and vented the second output to draw some of the vibration off. I have changed the check valve, and the air stone. I literally have done everything except replace it. Which seems a silly thing to do over a sound when the pump functions wonderfully. But after I try the one suggestion I found in these comments that I've never seen before, if that doesn't work, I guess I'm going to have to replace it. I also have a 72 gallon bow front, a 50 gallon, a 30 long, and a 20 tall all running quiet pumps. It's just this one, and it's maddening.

[@AdamC123]

I have the USB Nano on 7 of 8 tanks. Only failures are ones I did not buy from Aquarium Coop. Folded towel is key with regular pumps. Thanks for the great content Irene!

[@mattkinsella9856]

I think the hiss and bubbles from the air stone bothers me more than the hum of the air pump

[@thirdwatch9939]

Nice to know info right there. I have a few usb air pumps and mouse farts are louder.

[@GirlTalksFish]

😂🐁💨

[@noemitellez3098]

LOL

[@Jimmy_Jim_Jim_1234]

I've hung mine under the stand with a very small Bungie. I've also used an extra valve and released pressure under the tank.

[@GirlTalksFish]

Niiice 👍

[@samhain9394]

Nice! I use extra long bleed lines on my unused output ports and feed them beneath/behind the cabinet too 😎

[@jigokutsuushin]

I hang mine on a small stand made from pvc pipes and elbows. Still some noise but it's bearable since the tank I'm using it on is in a shed separate from the house's living areas.

[@samhain9394]

This.

[@kerrypitt9789]

I have two that are dead quiet already. A mouse pad is a vibration damper, that should be a nice trick!

[@michaelyoung3337]

The nano USB air pumps are awesome, and while not officially sanctioned, I have run them outside for a year with no issue.

[@krispy3681]

You can also change the filter in the bottom of the pump with some simple filter floss. If the body of the pump is vibrating, I squeeze mine tight and wrap like 3-4 zip ties around it and pull them good and tight to stop the vibrating.

[@samhain9394]

Ah, great idea! The filter for the air intake causes resistance and isn't very necessary for folks without hairy pets or air pumps inside a closed cabinet or other enclosure. A single piece of higher-micron filter (like a piece of a "nut milk" bag or relative kitchen straining bag or screenprinting mesh) would probably serve the same purpose of blocking dust without causing so much resistance and causing vibration. I dig this 👌🤌

[@andrewp4837]

I bought this small rubbish pump and I skip straight in the bin. Then I find Eheim air pump,Is very silent, you will hear just the bubbles air from the tank

[@kerrypitt9789]

Hey Irene! I just told mine to keep the noise down or it would be swimming with the fishes! 😳😳

[@they_are_everywhere]

I slightly wrap my air pump in a sock and it works like a charm

[@Julesorjulz]

I'm getting really tired of the noise. I've tried all the surface tricks like foam underneath and it's on a solid surface. It's fairly new and clean . It's just inevitable that it's going to make a noise so I think I'm going to look into another option. Definitely not something I even thought about when I was putting my tank together unfortunately 🤣

Piezoelectric pumps also worth mentioning. They don't have too much power, but enough for a small tank. I can't compare the noise to the nano pump as I don't have the latter. What I did in my childhood when the pumps were bulky and loud is that I drilled a hole in the closest wardrobe for the tubes and put the pump inside sandwiched between towels.

[@karac5337]

Cheap wash cloth is what I use. I have a few of the nano pumps too. They are great. I only have 1 that refuses to be quiet. I have tried almost everything. So I stuck it on the fry tank in the garage and there it will stay till it dies. Haha.

[@christinecho779]

I just got an air pump for my 10 gallon planted CPD tank! My fish love the bubbles.. shy fish my hiney!

[@MridulSinghMusic]

I use spare filter floss/matala mats to silence the larger air pumps, and for smaller pumps I just hang them from the wall.

[@GirlTalksFish]

Me too! I use a little 3M Command strip hook to hang one of my USB nano air pumps since it comes with a carabiner clip.

[@jayhoffman9398]

Tried a pillow. Works great. Thanks.

[@isanBen]

Venturi supersimple DIY, nice airbubbles, good water flow and no more buzzing airpump.

[@wobblysauce]

I have my air pumps sitting on some old filter foams.

[@AndyP126]

If you can afford it, get an Eheim air pump. There is nothing quieter.

[@medusianAllure]

I've been using the towel method ever since I set up my tank well over a year ago thanks to you.

[@Lazy_Fish_Keeper]

I'm saving up for the piston air pump from the Co-op, lol! Until then, I actually found it was quieter to replace my smaller pumps with the Top Fin Air 8000. I can turn the dial to control the pressure, I ran air tubes to splitters for my nano and pico tanks, and use dedicated tubes to my larger tanks. Sufficient power to run 3 UG filters, 3 sponge filters, and aerate 2 tanks with pond pump (DIY) filters. My surprise fry are thriving, because I can control the air flow to their tank/floating homes via a splitter. This takes of my entire fish wall in one room. 🐟🐠

[@samhain9394]

UG filters? 😳

[@marypaigeflynn4512]

Great tips Irene!! I'm running Aquarium Co-op sponge filters and Aquatop air pumps!! 💚👍 I've always used the folded washcloth method 😉 I'm going to invest in some of the Nano air pumps soon for an upcoming move in the next couple of months and to use on my Nano tanks 😁 Thanks for another helpful video!! I hope you all have a great weekend! 🙏🌿🐟🌿💚

[@MARKluvsAZcards]

I've had 5 usb air pumps They all have died. Not a long term item

[@Geneticlyinsane1]

Check your airline tubing , if its become hard just the air going through it will make a hum same goes for using hydroponic line instead of silicone tubing

[@GirlTalksFish]

Good point! Thanks for mentioning that.

[@MacHamish]

It's crazy that your vids are coming in on topic for my current aquarium issues. 🤔😁 We just bought another air pump and it's stupid noisy in spite of being smaller than the larger one we have of the same brand. 😎 I'm tempted to put the air pumps in another room and run long airlines.

[@samhain9394]

Improves sound issues, but decreases efficiency for the motor pulling air into and pushing through the diaphragm. Might burn out the pumps faster. But using one quality pump and a gang line or well-designed splitter setup could alleviate that issue since larger pumps are designed for higher efficiency/to run longer tubing into multiple tanks. 🙃

[@StevePringle]

I was looking for tips on the air pumps on the PC. 😂 Going to change the RBG lighting and make it look more like an aquarium, and put the feet on old mouse pads.

[@morganwinston8843]

Irene, its off topic but I love your hair. Love the idea of the dollar tree basket and tape btw.

[@-8_8-]

Mousepad sounds like a good idea because then the intake isn't buried.

[@samhain9394]

☝️

[@-8_8-]

By the way I have one of those USB pumps on my marine land portrait. I liked that portrait tank but I pulled the over flow filter out and put a sponge filter in it and the shrimp are breeding like crazy.

[@stevelang4742]

I have the nano air pump and it's kind of loud I found if I clamp the air hose a bit it gets quieter and I get Less bubbles which I also would like but is that good for the pump

[@loerya99]

Great tips! Irene should get the airline tubing from Aquarium Co-op for her tanks so she can show it while filming too ☺.

[@naegwut]

Irene is a genius

[@debrasanders1985]

I sit my tetra pumps on a washcloth, no noise. The new tetra pumps have feet that raises the body off the surface too, which helps a lot.

[@suee031]

I use a USB pump for an air stone in my SpecV and a tetra pump for the air stone in my 29 gallon. The USB is very quiet and the Tetra Whisper pump has a folded towel underneath it.

[@JohnnyDragon25]

Hello, i've been diving into your videos, they are awesome!!!. My air stone is so loud with the bubbles, even when i decrease the flow of air. is it just part of the game?

[@metalhead9849]

My refrigerator is louder than 20 air pumps and it saturates my whole apartment at times. . BUT, I do use the folded towel and hear nothing bothersome when the fridge is off and my tank is 10 feet from where I sit. Aquaculture 1.2 watt pump.

[@robertn7100]

Silence is golden in this realm. Not sure a shorter airline actually helps much.i like the duct tape idea, though.

[@Bombadill138]

Very nice, keep up the good work Irene👍

[@attilavicen1579]

Dont put it on soft, couse it cant get air properly....dont cover or put inside a box or anything couse it will heat up, can couse fire...

[@jeremygotair]

I had to find a air pump from like 8-10 years ago that I still had, some random marine-land with two air line out puts surprised it still works and isn’t very loud😂😂

[@HotTvify]

Mine way is use a plastic zip bag and put the air pump in zip bag and then put inside a water bucket so only vibrate inside the water

[@anthonyragan2696]

I use the ever-popular put it on a folded towel method. :)

[@AsktheInternet-compilations]

I put a towel over the air pump, made sure it was still pumping air just as good, and I put pressure on the sides so it stopped the buzzing sound it was doing. Still making some noise, but a whole lot less

[@samhain9394]

Towels on top of a motorized appliance is quite the fire hazard. Not advisable to cover the thing that makes heat as a by-product. But clamping it down with pressure is definitely going to help. Wedging something on top of it to hold it firmly against its surface on a shelf or whatever will work well in most situations!

[@abaneyone]

I've hung my air pump with fishing line so that the pump is not in contact with or touching anything except the air hose.

[@Letycs]

I use an $8 pump from Walmart. It has silicone feet and I set them on top of a folded spa sock.

[@nikkip3603]

Pump is quiet. Sponge filter vibration is loud BZZZZZZ inside the aquarium 😮. Any suggestions?

[@iceRomeoG80]

My air pump is weird it reacts to my TV, if the screen goes black it gets loud when the TV isn't black it's quiet

[@FatswellSmart]

remove the ground from the plugs involved and it should fix the problem.

[@kentsfish9761]

Thank you

[@aje8790]

Nice video. I do have a non related question. Do/will you all distribute your products to other lfs? Could I walk into Jo Smo’s Fish place and buy some easy green potentially?

[@aheimsvensson1573]

Me my self and Irene... I love it!

[@johnwood738]

Great tips!

[@TRICKZTER1080]

How did you know this is the exact problem I was trying to solve! I just bought an aquarium coop sponge filter and usb pump!

[@movimikey]

a kitchen towel made the vibrations go down by like 90%

[@chosen2030]

The Hygger air pumps are really, really quiet...and adjustable!

[@davidsmith-tb2yy]

Putting the air pump on a soft cushion will block the filter on the pump

[@audrameyer9558]

I sit mine on neoprene and buy-bye annoying noises! And I have the Aquarium Co-Op usb pumps...they are practically silent.

[@neverjudit6901]

Is a smaller airpump quiter than a bigger one of the same model?

[@KGcichlids]

Great job Irene!

[@GirlTalksFish]

Thank you so much!

[@Yonatan24]

My pump is actually quieter under more load. But it's still too loud, so I ended up moving my filter so it splashed water up and aerates the tank.

[@n.gperformance291]

There's a resistor in the battery air pump what uses alot of power you can snip this off and you will have more power and your battery pump will last longer and use less battery so it would last for days running of A battery and will have alot more power open it up and snip it of and your done it's on top soon as you take of plastick cover.

[@samhain9394]

Eh, not advised. Also: flawed logic. Incorrect math. // Science: Resistors are electrical components in an electric circuit that slow down current in the circuit. They deliberately lose energy in the form of heat (thermal energy). Since the resistance is decreased the current will increase as the voltage applied has not changed. The electrons would go around the circuit and arrive back at the beginning of the circuit with as much energy as the potential difference (the voltage). That final energy is usually what is dissipated as heat or other types of energy by the circuit. So, yes, removing resistance will increase the current powering the device and creating the airflow, but it will also increase the current coming back to the battery and the heat created by the battery. This will decrease battery life, and increase chances of "battery bulge" and combustion. Also: Increasing power will actually decrease the time the battery charge lasts, since you're clearly increasing the Watts used per unit of time and the battery is a storage unit for Watts. Increasing *resistance* will increase battery life since the power source is outputting less energy per unit of time, in that case. Power is P=IV • You can only relate it to resistance if you decided to fix one and replace the other by Ohm's law. Ohm's law states that voltage across a resistor is linearly proportional to the current flowing through it, or V=IR • This can be arranged to say that current is inversely proportional to voltage, or I=V/R If you assume I is constant and replace V with I×R, you get that power is proportional to resistance (P=I×(IR)). -Not our case. If you assume V is constant and replace I with V/R, you get that power is inversely proportional to resistance (P=V×V/R). -Our case. ★ // TL;DR: A way to visualize this is to think of a constant voltage source (i.e. a battery). When there's a large resistance connected, very little current can flow so very little power is being outputted by the battery, and the resistor won't get too warm because there's less power. If you reduce the resistance more current will flow and the resistor will get warmer because you've increased the power. Without the only particular resistor, then the internal components of the circuit & battery will get warmer because there is no other total resistance. This is actually what an electric heater or toaster oven is doing by design-the coil/element is designed as a large resistance to a decent current which releases a bunch of heat due to the electrical current building up in and moving through the coil/element.

[@Sue.5776]

I quite like how quiet the USB air pumps are but have found that they don't last very long. Have had one last a year but the rest have only lasted a few months. We can not get Aquarium Co-op pumps here in Canada so have had to go with other brands. I recently bought a standard air pump with hopes that it won't die but the sound is so loud and annoying I've been thinking about returning it. Will try hanging it to see if that helps. If anyone knows of a reliable USB air pump brand that I can buy please let me know.

[@LarryWater]

I too see a lot of reviews saying they don’t last long.

[@samhain9394]

How did hanging it work for you? Did you just put a hook in the wall and hang it from that, or did you hang it in some sort of little box by the cord as shown in this video? Curious! The usb pump featured here is sold all over Amazon and eBay by various "brands." Likely made in the same place and then sold under different names and in bulk to distributors. Just a little observation... 😉👍

[@Sue.5776]

Basically hung on a hook. The key is that the pump does not touch anything.

[@invaderjoshua6280]

Your Channel needs to review the new breeza fusion pumps from aquatop. They are so quiet compared to the old breeza pump.

[@papasmerf6453]

I bought a large sponge filter and a nano pump from Coop and barely get any bubbles. What is the largest recommended size for the nano pumps. I have one for a small sponge and it works great. Could it be defective?

[@samhain9394]

Sounds like you answered your own question 👍

[@RogueAquariums]

When I’m using an air pump I will put it on a foam pad to silence the unit more. 👌

[@samhain9394]

When aren't you using an air pump? 🤔

[@francosmit05]

Love you're content ❤️

[@GirlTalksFish]

My pleasure; let me know if you have any other topics you'd like me to cover.

[@teags1991]

Does anyone have any advice? A towel doesn’t work for mine at all, it had a short airline, the air stone isn’t clogged and hanging it doesn’t work

[@samhain9394]

Get a new pump

[@teags1991]

@@samhain9394 I did ☺️ it’s the best haha! Silent

[@Lucasaurios]

Mine is driving me crazy, i have a 40 gallon tank so i dont think i can use the nano one but after buying acoustic foam panels and making an anti noise chamber i think the noise is being sent up the tube and not so much being kept in the pump itself. Feels like there is no fix at this point but its just so loud.

[@samhain9394]

The "noise" isn't being sent up the tube... But the pump is in a fairly airtight box and is struggling more to draw in the air it needs to operate as a pump. You could vent the box directly beneath the intake and cover it with nylon pantyhose or something to reduce dust intake from the positive pressure, or even attach a tube around the lip of the intake port and feed it out of the box somewhere.

[@Lucasaurios]

@@samhain9394 it was 100% being sent up the tube, i put some pins on it and the noise completely went away while maintaining the airflow. If i take them off it makes the aquarium sound like a speaker for the pump.

[@andrewspeedyatkinson]

Grate video

[@damiangrouse4564]

That usb pump is a beast, I had to restrict the hose a bit till the stone was a bit dirty.

[@rcjk1]

I hang my giant air pump from zip ties under my aquarium. I use it to power my tumbling filter in my sump.

[@gardockis.playground]

I noticed Aquarium Co Op is built off making reviews. What do you say you give my daughter everything Aquarium Co Op retail and we will review them. 😅

[@horizon319]

You might have to check to see if it’s gotten clogged with debris or whatever….. bunch of shrimp come scurrying out. 😂😂😂

[@El_compa.jesus18]

Nah my air pump sounds like it’s gonna lift off

[@francosmit05]

Can you please give me some advice? My cherry shrimp is breeding but all baby's that's grown out isn't that perfect red colour more like see through red, I only feed them sinking koi pellets and they have black substrate

[@209Control]

TetraPro granules help get my cherry shrimp get bright red.

[@francosmit05]

@Vaibhav Pandey okay thanks

[@francosmit05]

@@209Control thanks for all the help

[@Bigfoots_world]

Now I want to swap to a sponge filter lol

[@RobbyNowell]

Underneath my dresser on carpet or a towel is good. Also run a relief valve to vent excess flow. It helps with noise as well vs restricting flow traditionally.

[@JOOCHIANTING]

My usb nano pumps stop working after 1-week

[@THEprincessFirefly]

I sit mine on a sponge

[@James_Hande]

You left out replacing the diaphragm and flapper valves.

[@GirlTalksFish]

Good point! If people are good with DIY projects, that's another way to extend your air pump's life span.

[@DEXTER-TV-series]

How to silent the annoying noise in the background of the video ?! 😈

[@skolex3121]

I hung my air pump

[@patricklenihan9019]

For rookies only

[@aaronfiddy4260]

All that info was pointless absolute rubbish