Sound insulation / reducing the sound of air pumps

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phaedrus13

Member
I've got 6 DWC buckets, each with a 4" air stone and air pump. My space is my attic, and the floors are bare plywood (presumably with no insuation underneath). It is quite noisy (vibrating pump sounds) in the room below the grow space.

I hung the air pumps from the ceiling so they are not touching the ground but that didn't reduce the noise much. I'm think that the sound is primarily coming from the stones now so I should buy some thick rubber mats to put the buckets on to cut down on the noise. Anyone have experience with solving this problem?

On a related note, any good/cheap sound insullation materials that I can install w/out having to rip out the drywall or floor? (I'd like guests to hear the fans a little less, too.)

Thanks in advance!
Bill
 
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Illegal Smile

Guest
Yes it is vibrations from the buckets and yes, as thick as you can get it for matting beneath them should help a lot.
 
madcatter

madcatter

Active Member
mats under buckets like the exercise mats or those interlocking floor mats... sets your pumps on them too...
 
stelthy

stelthy

Well-Known Member
I recommend using foam or sponge as this will absorb more vibrations, in my setup, i hung my air pumps in side an insulated wooden biscuit tin with a second plastic tin inside, i drilled through the lid in 2 locations for the size of the power cable and the air flow cable and pushed the air flow and power cord through then wired the plug i tied a knot in the cable so the pump was suspended tight against the lid, and used bathroom sealent to block any gaps in the cable holes, i drilled 4 tiny holes in each corner of the lid for air-intakes, and minimal noise leakage, the lid has a rubber air seal, re-attach the lid to the biscuit box and suspend the box with a bunjee cord, attached to a hook or handle on the lid from the rafters or wall via an 'l' shaped shelf mount, providing the power cable and the air flow cable dont touch the suspended box your pump will run silently, job done :) no Vibrations from pump or air stones :) - stelthy :)
 
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Illegal Smile

Guest
You can't get rid of all vibrations. I think we growers think it is louder than another person might because we are listening critically for it. If anyone ever asks, have a story ready about some machine you have running up there for some reason.
 
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Mr.Bob Saget

Active Member
If it is a larger commercial air pump, it might be more the low frequency that the pump is making, and not so much vibrations. You should be able to tell the difference, they are two different sounds for sure.

I was think that someone should try to build a box around the pump, keeping sufficient cooling in mind, or maybe try to use a insulated cooler.
 
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phaedrus13

Member
Thanks for all the info guys.

I'm using basic 3w aquarium air pumps.

I hope I don't have to go to the lengths that stelthy did, but thanks for the info in case I do!

I bought some 1/2" thick interlocking foam floor tiles. Will report back how they work.
 
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Mr.Bob Saget

Active Member
phaedrus13 said:
Thanks for all the info guys.

I'm using basic 3w aquarium air pumps.

I hope I don't have to go to the lengths that stelthy did, but thanks for the info in case I do!

I bought some 1/2" thick interlocking foam floor tiles. Will report back how they work.
Click to expand...

3 watt pump? Is this like a small single output air pump? If you bought the "upgraded" ones from the big box store, they are probably the quietest your going to find. I was thinking you maybe had a commercial grade pump for some reason.

Let us know how your foam tiles work.
 
HIWAY

HIWAY

Member
trubble with noise from air pump Finally suspended pump with bungie cords inside large cooler and put cooler on a mat of bubble wrap seams to have cut noise by about 90% .also I have an intake hose to outside to feed the pump with cool outside air. helped to keep the temp down
Hope this helps
 
ArCaned

ArCaned

Active Member
good thread, nice suggestions here.

particually like the idea of making a passive intake for the pump housing that draws air from outside the tent

that my friend is fking excellent!
 
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