How long do I have to have my air pump on?

NebulousPLM

NebulousPLM

Well-Known Member
Man, I made a quiet box. It's not terrible, but I'm kinda over trying to silence this shit.
Been working at it for four hours, and I can't get the low low humming noise silenced.
How bad would it be for me to just cut this thing off when I sleep, and turn it back on when I wake up?

I'm following the 1 Watt per Gallon rule, my concern is not having a chiller & root rot...
 
iHearAll

iHearAll

Well-Known Member
Probably bad and potential root rot. It'd look like a plant you have over watered every night. (Ok not exactly but you see what im suggesting). Im all soil and never done "hydro" though. More answers may come from hydro growers.

Edit:
http://m.ebay.com/itm/New-25X25X5CM-Studio-Acoustic-Foam-Sound-Absorption-Treatment-Panel-Tile-Wedge-/252345808139?hash=item3ac0fb750b:g:O1wAAOSwWBJXBNNy

You could measure out your pump in centimeters and get a couple of little soundproofing squares. These in the link above are less than $2 a pieces.

Is your pump hanging? Pic of setup? My 951gph air pump roars in the room i use it in but is suspended from bungies and does touch anything. I brew conpost teas for 24-48hrs at a time. When i leave the room i cannot hear it.

http://m.ebay.com/itm/Air-Pump-Commercial-951-gph-Elemental-O2-Aquarium-Hydroponics-Aquaponics-Pond-/371573724091?txnId=815098630024

Errr oh yea. Ebb and flow might allow for off periods im not positive they can run off an air pump but rather a water pump. The plant sits in a top reservoir with a bell syphon and water is fed crom below into the top. It fills until.the water level reaches the top of the bell and a naturally occuring.vacuum pulls the water back down. Repeatedly..

The roots wont be sitting in water if this system is turned off while the top tank is empty. Itd take calibrating with a float switch but that's pretty easy to manage if you have a plan. I say this because if turned off halfway full the water will sit until the pump comes back on. It'd need a digital AND gate saying "when the float is low and the timer is saying to turn off, then i can turn off" ya dig???
 
Last edited:
NebulousPLM

NebulousPLM

Well-Known Member
iHearAll said:
Probably bad and potential root rot. It'd look like a plant you have over watered every night. (Ok not exactly but you see what im suggesting). Im all soil and never done "hydro" though. More answers may come from hydro growers.

Edit:
http://m.ebay.com/itm/New-25X25X5CM-Studio-Acoustic-Foam-Sound-Absorption-Treatment-Panel-Tile-Wedge-/252345808139?hash=item3ac0fb750b:g:O1wAAOSwWBJXBNNy

You could measure out your pump in centimeters and get a couple of little soundproofing squares. These in the link above are less than $2 a pieces.

Is your pump hanging? Pic of setup? My 951gph air pump roars in the room i use it in but is suspended from bungies and does touch anything. I brew conpost teas for 24-48hrs at a time. When i leave the room i cannot hear it.

http://m.ebay.com/itm/Air-Pump-Commercial-951-gph-Elemental-O2-Aquarium-Hydroponics-Aquaponics-Pond-/371573724091?txnId=815098630024

Errr oh yea. Ebb and flow might allow for off periods im not positive they can run off an air pump but rather a water pump. The plant sits in a top reservoir with a bell syphon and water is fed crom below into the top. It fills until.the water level reaches the top of the bell and a naturally occuring.vacuum pulls the water back down. Repeatedly..

The roots wont be sitting in water if this system is turned off while the top tank is empty. Itd take calibrating with a float switch but that's pretty easy to manage if you have a plan. I say this because if turned off halfway full the water will sit until the pump comes back on. It'd need a digital AND gate saying "when the float is low and the timer is saying to turn off, then i can turn off" ya dig???
Click to expand...
Mine is the same size. 951. It's insanely loud. I think I might invest in some of those sound proof things and put my box inside of a box...
How much of a fire hazard is it to keep this thing in a box though? I had some cotton type insulation jam packed all around it but I decided to take it out since it was getting kinda warm in there. It made it louder, but I'd rather have it a little louder than have a house fire. Theres tubing for the air in and air out...

Out of curiosity, why would my leaves do that? I'm running DWC, so would the DO levels just drop to a suffocating level?
 
HydroRed

HydroRed

Well-Known Member
If you are using your air pump for bubblers or a drip ring system then you are raising your res temps by using such a large pump. Do you need such an industrial sized pump or can you run say 4-5 small dual diaphram pumps since they will run at almost room temp and be whisper quiet?
 
NebulousPLM

NebulousPLM

Well-Known Member
HydroRed said:
If you are using your air pump for bubblers or a drip ring system then you are raising your res temps by using such a large pump. Do you need such an industrial sized pump or can you run say 4-5 small dual diaphram pumps since they will run at almost room temp and be whisper quiet?
Click to expand...
I have 2x 18 gallon reservoirs. (DIY)
Also 1x 5 gallon bucket.

I thought about it, but I would need 7 5 watt pumps which is as much as a high end super quiet pump lol
 
HydroRed

HydroRed

Well-Known Member
Then it comes down to do you want cheap/hot/loud or do you want quiet & cool? Might have to stop handcuffing the $$$ to get what you need and the results you are looking for. I keep my 27 gal res completely saturated with (2) $3 14" air stones & (1) $10 Walmart dual diaphram air pump. The bubbles they produce are louder than the pump and it runs very cool.
 
iHearAll

iHearAll

Well-Known Member
Is your pump suspsended in air by a bungie?

If your plant is sitting in stagnant water it will get sick.

Is the room ok with noise but not the house? Sell your pump, then buy a quieter model? Im thinking of selling mine and getting a 12v high power air pump to run off solar and battery. Except iv got a starter battery and not a deep cycle.... and the 951gph pump is only worth 30$ new.
 
Gregor Eisenhorn

Gregor Eisenhorn

Well-Known Member
I like the suggestion with the absorbing foam. That could be a good idea. You could suspend the pump via a bungee cord (minimizes vibration).
 
toaster struedel

toaster struedel

Well-Known Member
Them walmart air pumps suck, you're lucky to get a year outta them tops. And enclosing your heavy duty pump will probably make it run even hotter. I can't hear my pump over my exhaust fan.
 
NebulousPLM

NebulousPLM

Well-Known Member
The vibrations aren't really the problem. It's the deep roar, I think the only way that's gonna go away is via Acoustic foam. It's already enclosed in a "DIY Soundproof" box, which worked insanely well. Just not as well as I would've liked. This is a grow that's literally in a tent by my bed, so silence is preferred. I have an extra rubbermaid that I'll put that box into, surrounded by the foam and more insulation. Then I'll put it in the closet, and have acoustic foam in there. That should dead a lot of the sound. It's honestly not that bad now that I have everything running, so I might just roll with it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top