Check out my build thread. NYOS is quiet but not silent. 61 decibels in a 46 decibel ambient room. But haven’t found a better option. I know reef Octopus VarioS pumps don’t increase ambient decibels at all (I measured my VarioS 2 and 4)
I have the NYOS 120 + Varios 4 return, the NYOS is measurably louder than the Reef Octopus return. It's quiet, but I wouldn't call it silent. Turning off the skimmer makes a noticeable difference. People's reactions to noise varies greatly.
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