[Marine1]

I'm in the market to upgrade my tank. I was thinking 120 gal with sump. The only thing stopping me is my wife's super sonic hearing. I have a 55 with a HOB filter and protein skimmer on the back as well. It makes a minor bubbling noise.

Is there anyway I can convince her that having all the equipment in the sump will get rid of all the noise or is it just wishful thinking? PLEASE HELP; I would love to get a larger tank. How loud is a tank with a sump and all equipment in it in the stand with closed doors?

[Taras1]

You can't totally eliminate noise. You might try using some styrofoam insulating material inside the stand; just cut out space for the wires and plumbing to run through.

[hosser]

Put on doors if you can. The number 1 source for sound deadening is empty air space. For instance in a sound proof room a double sheetrocked wall is buit behind another with a inch or so gap between them, completely sound proof. A simple in and out shell would suffice cutting down noise greatly

[IceMan]

my sump and fuge are in a closet... overflo is still loud tho till u get used to it, an overflow by design is a turbulant area... it's gonna be louder by it's self that your HOB skimmer and filter combined. start by buying her a nice piece of jewelry, i bet that will deaden her hearing for a while! then once you have it you say look we got too much tied up in this to just let it go! but don't forget START WITH JEWELRY my friend. lol

[hosser]

I agree 100% haha start with jewelry

[Marine1]

That is hilarious Paul.

Unfortunately, it won't work. Oh well, no upgrade. Thanks guys!!

[aquasalt]

Any chance of plumbing it into a basement?

[IceMan]

Originally Posted by aquasalt

Any chance of plumbing it into a basement?

that won't help the overflow

[XuhQshinR]

I had the same problem with wife not liking any noise that the tank would make.

I finally upgraded my tank to a 90 acrylic with sump, chiller, UVS, and put everything under the cabinet. I also cut two angled slits in the top of my overflow pipe. That help cut down the common gurgling sounds.

Wife likes the tank but still once in a while will state that the tank sounds different at times and she does not like the noise.

She love anemones so that gave me an idea.

I got a large Rose BTA for my wife.

Best trade I ever made!

Good Luck

[bri74]

no no no you got it all wrong. I talked mine in to getting her own tank just a small one. Its theraputic I said. Now I have two beautiful tanks in my house and she is into it.

[Marine1]

No basement - single floor house.

Wife likes the fish, but will never want a tank of her own - more noise and she won't go near the water.

I think one of you guys gave me a tank stand idea with double wall interior w/ space in-between walls underneath to stifle the noise. may hinder space for sump though. Maybe I can insulate the inside IDK. Overflow may cause a problem. I just have to persuade her other ways like LV purse/handbag or something.

Thanks so much for the ideas and feedback guys. Its funny to read what people do to compromise with the wife.

[IceMan]

lol, keep us in the loop we wanna see what you end up building!

[Taras1]

One last thought --- My wife made me choose between the fish and her...I sure do miss the wife (just kidding). Once I got things settled down, she wanted one of her own and now I'm doing a nano tank for her. (Week 5)

[Uvajed]

Originally Posted by IceMan

my sump and fuge are in a closet... overflo is still loud tho till u get used to it, an overflow by design is a turbulant area... it's gonna be louder by it's self that your HOB skimmer and filter combined. start by buying her a nice piece of jewelry, i bet that will deaden her hearing for a while! then once you have it you say look we got too much tied up in this to just let it go! but don't forget START WITH JEWELRY my friend. lol

Too bad she's not the instigator of the tank, because jewelry won't work with a fish fiend. I'm not a 'normal' female, I'm an engineer. Sorry boys, can't help you with it, other than a cool vacation to the Caribbean. Now, that's something I could agree to, you get rocks (both), I get a trip....... And see, this is what we're trying to recreate.

[elvis142]

hello, i think you should just do it! its better to ask for forgivness than ask for permission! lol thats what i did and it's working great. (so far)

john