The noisy air pump...what can be done?

[Andy Botwin]

Where do most people using a Hydroponic system with an air pump (for airstones) usually set it up? Inside the grow-room? Hanging? Mounted? Floor, wall, ceiling? Insulated? Maybe something I don't even know about yet...

It's the noisiest component in the entire set-up (worse than the bad-ass Stanley blower that was recommended by a member from this site). Personally, I'm using a Grow Tent that has an aluminum box framework; any suggestions for that environment or any set-up in general would be a contribution.

Stay up-

El Andy

[Andy Botwin]

That was +reps for the Stanley Blower. I wasn't knockin' it...

[Racefan]

I've done it all. Mounted it on rubber pads and hung them from bungees and even built a silencer box around them. My final solution was to go to a good pet store and buy a quality air pump. One that was a lot quieter like the ones they use in doctors offices for their fish tanks and such. I found out you sometimes get what you pay for when it comes to grow equipment.

[FreddyDeeb]

I just started going hydro with this grow I'm doing now. I'm using the "bubbler" method(DWC). So far(5 weeks veg for mom's), I'm very impressed. If your going to go for a small cabinet setup, I'd go with small quiet pumps, and get 5 gallon buckets for each plant in your cabinet, you might get 4 depending on how much space you have.

As for the air pumps, I used to breed fish, so I had 10 small pumps and 1 big compressor. I'm getting ready to start up my compressor(60W), hook up some PVC pipe to the connector, drill holes and screw in valves. So far, I've got 3 mom's and 1 reservoir(16 gallon) with clones, but I'm using 4 small pumps already. Here's a link to some pond air pumps, check out the 20-40W(can be gotten for around $100).
Air Pumps
I'm just going to make an insulated box to muffle the sound. As for the small pumps, some are louder than others, even if they happen to be the same brand. The small 3W pumps seem to be pretty quiet usually, but I've got 2 that sound like a jackhammer on the plywood they sit on. Best to run a radio on low volume if you're that concerned about the noise.

[FreakNature]

There used to be a good aquarium pump called the Silent Giant.

When I had an aquarium w/ a cheap pump by my bed in the past I'd wake up to the sound of the pump and my whole body would literally be vibrating with the noise...very strange. Maybe one of those odd affects of Cannabis.

[Andy Botwin]

For my 10 gallon (40-litre) reservoir I have found the solution:

Million Air (MA-100)

Silent and well-built. And they make a range of smaller and larger models.