First Ever Set Up! Noisy Pump!

[Angel47]

Hi everyone!

I've literally just finished setting up my first ever tank so its ready for its fishless cycle. I was lucky enough to be bought my set up for my birthday (which is in a couple of days) by my husband and daughter and I'm really excited! My tank is a Fluval Roma 125 and with the tank came a Fluval U3 underwater filter and a Fluval M150 heater. I bought an Elite starter pack that had an air pump, a couple of fizz stones and 2 check valves with it. I've turned the pump on and I think its really quite loud! Its an Elite 802 and its says 'quiet' on the box. Does anyone else have one of these pumps? Is it quiet compared to other pumps? Is it just that I'm not used to the sound? Also is there anyway of regulating the air flow?

Thanks a lot and as I'm a complete newbie I'll probably be on here quite a bit!! I find the thought of my first fishless cycle rather daunting!!

Maz

 

[bae1994]

air pump wise i used double sided tape to stick two kitchen sponges to mine made it so much quiter
(not over the intake)(its up to you if you do this)
and yes you can get small fitting for like 30 pence that fit in the line and there like small taps that slow down the flow the more you turn

 

[Curiosity101]

Plus you don't actually NEED an air-pump. If you like the bubbles then of course keep it, but if you wanted it purely for aeration then it's not neccesary.

 

[sjolliff]

Plus you don't actually NEED an air-pump. If you like the bubbles then of course keep it, but if you wanted it purely for aeration then it's not neccesary.

Iv got the exact same kit as you, i use the filter on the first setting as this sends out loads of bubbles, iv got an air pump but way to noisey,
as for the fishless cycle get the API master kit ans some ammonia, i bought from boots!

 

[arobinson1984]

The elites are quite loud to be honest compared to other pumps.

Tetratec are apparantly recoomended to be quiet (not had one myself)

The quietest ive found is an eheim air pump, I currently have one on my tank and cant hear the pump only the bubbles

Andy

 

[Angel47]

Gosh, thanks for the quick replies everyone.

I think I will give the sponge thing a go, bae1994, as I like the bubbles but they could do with calming a little bit so I'll look for a valve.

Curiosity101, thanks for clarifying that. I know pumps are for decoration but wasn't sure if it was it was 'good practice' to add as much oxygen as possible. At least now I know I can just stop using it if it drives me too mental

Cheers Andy, if I dont have any luck with the sponges I'll have a look and see how much the Eheim pumps are.


Sjolliff, thanks for the tip off of where to get ammonia. I was a bit stumped as we dont really have too many little independent chemists round here and I'd heard thats the only place I would get some. I've got a mini testing kit for nitrites and PH as they didnt have any of the master kits in stock. Not sure whether this is any good??

Cheers Maz

 

[wendywc]

Welcome Angel47!

I too gave up on air pumps because of their noise. Plus the air bubbles actually looked too artificial in my setup, for my taste after a while too. It's a personal decor choice and not essential, so up to you.

 

[sjolliff]

Welcome Angel47!

I too gave up on air pumps because of their noise. Plus the air bubbles actually looked too artificial in my setup, for my taste after a while too. It's a personal decor choice and not essential, so up to you.

you need a kit that test ph, ammonia,nitrites and nitrates, i got mine off ebay for £15 delivered, try the internet for the ammonia, boots deliver

 

[OldMan47]

All air pumps say quiet on them Angel, because most have a reputation for being noisy. The quietest one that I have any experience with are the Rena series. They are also adjustable for flow with a little knob on the pump housing. Lower air flows also mean quieter pumps so get one bigger than you expect to need and turn it down. As others have already said, you only use an air pump in 2 situations. The first is if you like bubbles in your tank, the second is if you have a filter that runs on air bubbles. I have a few of those filters on some tanks so those tanks need an air pump.

 

[Angel47]

Thanks OldMan47!

I've got it switched off at the moment but once I'm all cycled and ready to go (she says optimistically ) I will have a look around. I definitely want something to regulate the flow, its way to frantic!

Maz

 

[Tw3lv3]

I have a tetratec air pump for my UG filter its quiet but you still hear a humm at night when everythings off but the tank lol

 

[waterdrop]

We got a pump and airstone as an extra addition for fishless cycling and the pump was only selected after going over threads hear and taking recommendations for the quietest ones. Unfortunately even that turned out to be too noisy for us because our 28g is in our son's bedroom. The threads about DIY quieting techniques were dutifully tried out but nothing helped all that much so we adopted a routine of only running the pump during the day when we were all gone! It was retired after fishless cycling and we've never missed it! That's my drop of water for the converstream...

~~waterdrop~~

 

[ZoddyZod]

Hi everyone!

My tank is a Fluval Roma 125 and with the tank came a Fluval U3 underwater filter and a Fluval M150 heater.

Maz

I've got the exact same and I was wondering how you have set the heater up?

With the tank filled to the line of the hood/cover, the heater 'max water line' is covered by about an inch of water (but still with the grey part/ temp dial out of the water).

Anyone esle know if this is ok? The only way to set it up as the heater states is to have the water line about an inch under the hood/cover......not exactly great

 

[Curiosity101]

You should fill the tank up to the 'max fill line'. On my Fluval 125 it is on the left hand side.

I don't understand what you mean about the heater though...

 

[mickspark81]

I have a tetratec air pump for my rekord 800, Its the quietest one ive heard so far. (Even quieter after i sat it on a bath sponge)