hailea air pump creating vibration for downstairs neighbours

Hey guys!

downstairs neighbour is cool but obviously i don't want to disrupt its not fair

I think the main problem is I have laminate flooring

I was using bubble wrap underneither the tank (hard tank's pumps create a vibration which vibrates the whole tank as its made out of plastic), this i have managed to reduce by making sure there is more water than will fit in my ebb & flow pots so the tank keeps enough water to reduce the vibration.

Main problem is my hailea air pumps it was fine before downstairs could not hear a thing when i just had my 1 ET100 then i got algae/root rott and learnt why i need DWC airstones at all times
Instead of getting a manifold with more outlets i had to buy an extra ET80 so i could run the drippers on a timer while the DWC air stones ran continously
it was the introduction of the 2nd air pump which made vibration apparently enough to annoy my neighbours (and me)
i was given some type of material sheets that i've put underneither the tank (bubble wrap kept popping) and they're doing a good job i've also put some under the air pumps it is helping but it's minimal effort i feel i can achieve back to it being nothing noticable with a little bit of knowledge

I know the answer is going to be an obvious more layers underneither
my question is layers of what? what materials have you guys found success in dampening vibration (noise is not the problem, vibration is)
I'm guessing since this thing at times gets hot and needs a half hour break that wrapping it completely is not the answer just underneither
do i go for bubble wrap (lots and lots of) or a different material?
 

2com

Well-Known Member
Hey guys!

downstairs neighbour is cool but obviously i don't want to disrupt its not fair

I think the main problem is I have laminate flooring

I was using bubble wrap underneither the tank (hard tank's pumps create a vibration which vibrates the whole tank as its made out of plastic), this i have managed to reduce by making sure there is more water than will fit in my ebb & flow pots so the tank keeps enough water to reduce the vibration.

Main problem is my hailea air pumps it was fine before downstairs could not hear a thing when i just had my 1 ET100 then i got algae/root rott and learnt why i need DWC airstones at all times
Instead of getting a manifold with more outlets i had to buy an extra ET80 so i could run the drippers on a timer while the DWC air stones ran continously
it was the introduction of the 2nd air pump which made vibration apparently enough to annoy my neighbours (and me)
i was given some type of material sheets that i've put underneither the tank (bubble wrap kept popping) and they're doing a good job i've also put some under the air pumps it is helping but it's minimal effort i feel i can achieve back to it being nothing noticable with a little bit of knowledge

I know the answer is going to be an obvious more layers underneither
my question is layers of what? what materials have you guys found success in dampening vibration (noise is not the problem, vibration is)
I'm guessing since this thing at times gets hot and needs a half hour break that wrapping it completely is not the answer just underneither
do i go for bubble wrap (lots and lots of) or a different material?
What freddi said. You hang it. Rubber bungie cords, etc. Harbour freight or wherever. Even a ratchet rope hanger might do.

Also, if you just set it on something, whatever it is, make sure it doesn't block the air inlet.
 
It's the reason home has units are hung, not mounted.
HTH's
FF

I didn't know this
could you link or post photo of an example of one being hung
will i need to drill some hooks into my ceiling?
Will bungees from the hooks actually reduce the vibration or is the vibration just being moved from my floor to my ceiling?

i guess ceiling vibration isn't too bad at least then its my problem and not other peoples
 

2com

Well-Known Member
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These guys work. You can wrap it around the pump and hook it to itself (maybe secure with zip ties), or you can use the s-hooks to find someone on the pump to hook into (or zip tie around the pump, then hook into that). The vibrations are absorbed by the rubber as they "move up" the strap, they don't really make it to the top s-hook that's hung on an eye bolt or whatever. Works great.
Then, you might start to notice how loud the air is. Haha.

Edit: Tray and make "connections" rubber to rubber, or rubber to metal, and avoid metal to metal. Like if you wrap the rubber bungie around an eye bolt in the ceiling, instead of hooking metal to metal, that will be even better (transfer less vibration).

Good luck.
 
my airline is already cut to size i think for the time being i'm going to get timer for the airstone pump so its on downtime around their bedtime and put a shit load of bubble wrap underneither then after harvest it will be easier to redo everything and get some new airline its already an improvement and at least this way i can give piece of mind that there's an incoming solution without you guys i would have splashed out on all kinds of vibration absorbant material i can't thank you enough!
 
maybe one last question with everything hung if i end up with the airline being really long will it make the air pumped through less powerful or still the same as long as none is escaping?
 
What freddi said. You hang it. Rubber bungie cords, etc. Harbour freight or wherever. Even a ratchet rope hanger might do.

Also, if you just set it on something, whatever it is, make sure it doesn't block the air inlet.
Is the air inlet the bit on the top? doesn't seem to be any holes for air to intake into either of these
 

2com

Well-Known Member
maybe one last question with everything hung if i end up with the airline being really long will it make the air pumped through less powerful or still the same as long as none is escaping?
I'd think you'd loose some pressure with a longer line but I duno how much per length, or it'd be enough to matter.
Is the air inlet the bit on the top? doesn't seem to be any holes for air to intake into either of these
Different per model. But you should be able to hear/find it while it's running, if it isn't obviously visible. Put your finger over where you think it might be (momentarily) and you'll know.
Some bigger pumps have an obvious, short piece of pipe, or a hole - you can hear the air rushing in, cover it and the sound changes - you feel the 'suction'.
Some have a little plastic cover (with holes) over some filter media, and that's the air inlet. Probably usually on the bottom of the pump. If you block this, the pump will struggle.

(also, if you draw in high co2 air in there, and pump it into water, it could lower the pH.)
 

Cookie Rider

Well-Known Member
Rubber bungee cord straps for the win.
I ended up w a few things to hang to isolate sound/vibrations; so I made a hanging shelf. A board, 4 threaded eyelets and 4 bungee cords did the trick.
Up out of the way and silent.
 

cobshopgrow

Well-Known Member
most effective way i encountered is to hang something in rubber bands / tension bands.
like its done with microphones.

just to get a idea, your solution should differ.
 
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