Soundproof panels

[kitpoon0315]

Hello, wondering if anyone has used soundproof panels to reduce the noise coming from your sump/fishroom? I see soundproof panels on sale at Amazon but I worry that as they're made of foam, they might suck moisture out of the air and eventually cause a mold problem. Any experience would be greatly appreciated, thank you!!

 

[biophilia]

I've used rigid closed-cell foam insulation (like polyiso from the hardware store) to line a cabinet that had a sump in it and that worked somewhat well. I think I used 1" thick polyiso and I'd say it reduced noise by 60% which was more than enough in my case. It doesn't absorb water, is lightweight, and relatively cheap.

The sound-absorbing panels on Amazon may actually not be the best option. Most of them are made more for deadening acoustic vibrations for recording music, so while they work to keep sound from bouncing around in a room, they don't work very well to actually stop sound from passing through them.

If you really want to block all noise, the best soundproofing material is mass-loaded vinyl (it won't absorb moisture either. The only downside is that rolls of it can be pretty pricey and it's very heavy.

 

[kitpoon0315]

That's awesome. Thank you so much for your help!

 

[jphilip813]

Maybe its me, but I do not hair anything coming from my sump/aquarium, and it is in the living room...recently upgraded my sump, skimmer and my overflow box to make the entire thing whisper quiet...(only sound I hear is when I open up the sump portion) and that is very queit...at that moment...with fans running (ultra quiet fans in the sump section of the entire system)... Now I need to make a video....