Pump Vibration Isolation...

I am gradually get things the way I want them....

Time to get this tank quieter.... biggest noise source is my return pump.... Mag 24 vibrating....

What do you use for submerged vibration isolation from a pump???

I was thinking of using a neoprene mouse pad. I don't think that will degrade in salt water.

Ideas???

Thanks
Mark

 

I use clear plastic suction cups. Just place them on the sump surface all around your return pump.

 

I used a neoprene mouse pad. it worked like a charm.

 

You could also have it hanging from flex tubing.

 

I'll go with the neoprene mouse pad for now.

Blackraven, what kind of flex tubing are you thinking??? The normal vinyl tubes that I am thinking might dampen the vibrations slightly, but would mostly still translate most of the vibrations straight through. It would need to be a very springy, flexible tube to provide isolation. I'd like to know what kind of tubing you are thinking. Maybe you've seen something I haven't.

Mark

 

Well, if you combine vinyl tubing with a hanging pump (no wall contact), you'll get pretty good results. The mount point would need to be big and heavy (lots of mass to dissipate into), though. The RSM backsump is designed this way, and the two hanging pumps are silent. Their weight is held by the false wall, so the energy is dissipated into the water around the pump, and the DT - no noise.

At least, it would, if the clearances weren't so small that the pumps touch the walls, and need the neoprene mousepad like material to lower the volume. The 320GPD is silent (they don't even include the mousepad material on this one), but the 700 is audible, since it's a replacement Maxijet with slightly bigger dimensions than the stock Hydor pump.

The vinyl tubing on these is also a tad smaller than what you need for the Mag24, too, now that I look lol.

 

You guys and gals will laugh at this one....

I tried the neoprene... didn't work.... still too loud.

Frustrated... I decided to bring in the BIG GUNS! After all, I am a senior manager at NASA. That's gotta be good for something....

SO.... I just dropped an e-mail to Dr. Jerry Goodman.... he's the head of our acoustics lab... one of the top acoustics guys in the world. I figured I'd get him to help me out....

Hehehehhe... I'll let you know what he says....

Mark

 

I think that is a good idea.

May I suggest these.

 

Mouse pad usually helps but a short piece of clear vinyl tubing right off the pump works the best, rigid piping really transmits sound and vibrations. Rigid piping often places unequal stresses on the pump which magnifies vibration, piping must be stress free as in no misalignment and no weight of any measurable amount being supported by the pump.
Other options I have seen are set the pump on a zip loc bag full of sand and place a dollp of silicone on each suction cup and let it dry before setting the pump up.

 

Thanks for the reference... bought some.... and of course while I was at BRS... I HAD to buy some other stuff to make the shipping worth while... just had to....

M