Airstones Drive Me Crazy!

[Mikey1]

My pump is one you can adjust the flow up and down, although I've noticed not all are designed like that.

As a bit of an aside, My LFS informed me when buying a new pump that they should always be kept above the water line or you run the risk of your tank draining - I had a bit of a whoops moment as I have kept mine in the cabinet below the tank for the last 7 years with no problems! Is it really true??

yes its true.....if your power goes off, or the pump stops for any reason the airline works like a syphon and will slowly drain your tank, so you need to mount the pump higher than the tank to prevent this,

the other alternative is to buy what is called a "check valve", it is basically a one way valve, it allows airflow toward the tank, but not back from the tank....if you use this you can put your pump below or anywhere you like

EDIT : i see "nmonks" beat me to it

 

[Yanks15]

It really sounds like what you are hearing is the bubbles hitting the surface. Not much you can do about that unless you try floating some plants above it and maybe that would kill the sound some. Maybe worth a shot

Thanks,
Steve

 

[MBOU]

Personally I would ditch the air pumps, like Neale said, their is little benefit and like Yanks said, its quite likely the noise of the actual bubbles you are hearing!

People hear things differently, I have really odd hearing, i have 'poor hearing' and was nearly deaf when i was younger but now we have discovered that it isnt my hearing thats the problem but the way my brain recieves the information (or not as the case may be...) and so sometimes i cant hear what people are saying.

However... i can hear tvs and other electrical items that are on standby by a high pitched whining, if i stand outside, i can actually hear the bats high pitched squeaking and one that i have only noticed recently was the squaking popping noise that drove me mental alllll night..... bubbles bursting in a glass of coke next to my bed!!

Maybe you have hearing that is more sensitive to higher pitched noises that a lot of other people dont register?

As for a solution.... powerheads are your best bet! In a mbuna tank i expect you have lots of rockwork and rockwork seriously decreases the waterflow round the tank, i would go for at least 2 extra powerheads to increas the flow, one aimed between the rockwork and one a few inches below the surface of the water and angled upwards to create movement on the surface but without causing a lot of noise, the malawis love to play in the higher flow as well

Win win win situation that way!

A/ No annoying noise from air pump
B/ Increased oxygen from higher flow and will clear sediment from between rocks = better and more effective filtration
C/ Your malawis can have fun playing in the flow, gives them something to do lol

 

[deftuch]

Personally I would ditch the air pumps, like Neale said, their is little benefit and like Yanks said, its quite likely the noise of the actual bubbles you are hearing!

People hear things differently, I have really odd hearing, i have 'poor hearing' and was nearly deaf when i was younger but now we have discovered that it isnt my hearing thats the problem but the way my brain recieves the information (or not as the case may be...) and so sometimes i cant hear what people are saying.

However... i can hear tvs and other electrical items that are on standby by a high pitched whining, if i stand outside, i can actually hear the bats high pitched squeaking and one that i have only noticed recently was the squaking popping noise that drove me mental alllll night..... bubbles bursting in a glass of coke next to my bed!!

Maybe you have hearing that is more sensitive to higher pitched noises that a lot of other people dont register?

As for a solution.... powerheads are your best bet! In a mbuna tank i expect you have lots of rockwork and rockwork seriously decreases the waterflow round the tank, i would go for at least 2 extra powerheads to increas the flow, one aimed between the rockwork and one a few inches below the surface of the water and angled upwards to create movement on the surface but without causing a lot of noise, the malawis love to play in the higher flow as well

Win win win situation that way!

A/ No annoying noise from air pump
B/ Increased oxygen from higher flow and will clear sediment from between rocks = better and more effective filtration
C/ Your malawis can have fun playing in the flow, gives them something to do lol

i very much agree with that. ive thought about getting some power heads in the future. il add them to my xmas list i think!