What’s Making Your Reef So Loud?

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

A reef tank is supposed to bring a little piece of the ocean into your home—not sound like a small appliance factory.

Some systems hum quietly in the background. Others gurgle, buzz, rattle, vibrate, or make a noise that becomes impossible to ignore once you notice it.

Is noise actually a problem in your reef, or is your system quiet enough that you rarely notice it?

If noise is an issue, what’s the main source of noise in your reef?

What have you tried to quiet it down? Did you find a real fix, or have you simply learned to live with the sound?

BONUS POINTS: Tell us what finally helped, or what noise you still haven’t been able to eliminate.

 

[ReefCMD]

Skimmer. I just shut it off now and then when I want it to be quiet. :)

 

[Evil1]

The only notable sound is my hippo tang at light out smacking his lips at othe inhabitants that wonder into his domain lol…quite loud!!!

 

[Acro Junky]

I ensure the tank only has a light hum due to the shear amount of equipment running.

 

[JonoH]

Only thing I really here is the Skimmer sucking air, but i could eliminate that by running the hose for it into my garage or the roofspace.

 

[Gone Reefin’]

My AI prime fans! 3 of them loud as heck when you push these lights over 80%. Second is my skimmer. Third are my hygger gyres.

Overall the fans are the most annoying. When the lights are out and skimmer is off, the UNS R150 is quiet as a mouse.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Overflow area was what caused noise for my tank, and the ATO pumping new water into the tank.

 

[Euphyllia97]

Ai prime fans for sure! Fortunately they are quiet when running lower percentages in the morning and evening

 

[get-salty]

Love my WB. Smooth like butter.

Thats right...

 

[StartingATank]

Skimmer. Sometimes my light whenever it is cooling itself down, but usually not that loud. The only other loud thing it my ATO, but not really that loud, and a handheld fan I use to cool the tank when it overheats, which would be the loudest

 

[carri10]

I cheat. I have a remote fish room. If there is even the smallest chance of getting one set up, 100% do it. Soooo much easier.

 

[mfinn]

My skimmer air draw is the loudest thing on my reef tank. I need to figure out a bigger muffler for it.

 

[BriDroid]

My AF4 feeder. It's pretty noisy when it feeds, but it is only a short time and twice a day, so I can live with it for the service that it offers!

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

depends on the day. Sometimes my MP40 will get filled with some grit and get really loud. My return pump could be quieter.

But, overall the combination of high flow and the overflow makes the most noise, and I have no problem with that sound.

 

[56longroof]

The sound of my draining bank account.

 

[13rodo]

Am I the only person who finds the sound of flowing water relaxing? I deliberately have a pretty steep drop between sump chambers so it sounds like trickling water. It’s the only real sound my tank makes and I love it!

 

[BryanM]

Overflow for sure, and its not that loud most of the time. Fish splashing during feeding too

 

[MC Blowfish]

I voted for wavemaker as my snails love to climb in them, and then it causes the noise. But I'll take those instead of bristle worms. That was nearly an unpleasant moment.

 

[GunnarH]

The fans on my Kessil AP9X lights. They're not exactly loud, but they're the only sounds I can hear when the overflow is tuned just right. Otherwise it's the overflow (IM 100EXT).

 

[saltyfins]

definately the overflows. I hate it, and no idea how to quiet them.