air pump and ugf questions

i've had a 40ish gallon (22 x 36 x 12) tank for some years now. it has
an under gravel filter powered by three tubes with air stones in them.
its in the living room and the pump noise bothers me from time to time.
i'd be interested in noise reduction techniques for a tank in a high
traffic area like the living room. however i have some details which
may show that the noise is my fault. when this was originally set up
money was tight and i had various pieces from older aqauriums around,
as a result this is how its set up today.

1 maxima dual feed air pump (i cant find a model number but all maximas
seem to be rated at 30 gallons.) both feeds connected to a air tee
then a single hose going through a check valve and then up to the very
high tank top where its pushed through a 4 way tee/valve set to
distribute to the 3 air stones. yes i know its a hack but it seems
to have worked well enough. however i am starting to wonder if my pump
is louder than it would be if i had a more normal setup/larger pump.
i would be all for a larger pump assuming it doesnt end up being
louder. so anyway i know that the check valve can reduce the air flow,
does this make the pump louder? if so i can probably figure out a way
to get it up above the tank if i had to. i have also read that having
an open valve bleeding a little bit into the room can help reduce noise
that might be cause d by back pressure. i must also admit to not
repalcing the air filter in the pump for who knows how long and to not
replacing the air stones often enough. so comments/mocking/advice
would be appreciated as to what the best setup would be for noise
levels as well as fish health.

one last question. the ugf i have is a basic model that came with 3
carbon filters that top the rise tubes. once again i probabaly dont
change them enough. i have read that they will do very little good
unless changed very frequently and even then the filtration they
provide is almost usless, on the other hand they can arrest water flow
up the lift tubes as well as actually release conaminents if not
changed regularly. comments? should the filter tops be removed?

note: right now the tank has plants and is home to 3 roughly 2'' fish.

thanks for any replys

wrote in message
oups.com...
i've had a 40ish gallon (22 x 36 x 12) tank for some years now. it has
an under gravel filter powered by three tubes with air stones in them.
its in the living room and the pump noise bothers me from time to time.
i'd be interested in noise reduction techniques for a tank in a high
traffic area like the living room. however i have some details which
may show that the noise is my fault. when this was originally set up
money was tight and i had various pieces from older aqauriums around,
as a result this is how its set up today.

1 maxima dual feed air pump (i cant find a model number but all maximas
seem to be rated at 30 gallons.) both feeds connected to a air tee
then a single hose going through a check valve and then up to the very
high tank top where its pushed through a 4 way tee/valve set to
distribute to the 3 air stones. yes i know its a hack but it seems
to have worked well enough.

You're getting some extra back-pressure from combining their outputs
before branching them off, but it is commonly done this way to have a
single check valve.

however i am starting to wonder if my pump
is louder than it would be if i had a more normal setup/larger pump.
i would be all for a larger pump assuming it doesnt end up being
louder. so anyway i know that the check valve can reduce the air flow,
does this make the pump louder? if so i can probably figure out a way
to get it up above the tank if i had to. i have also read that having
an open valve bleeding a little bit into the room can help reduce noise
that might be cause d by back pressure. i must also admit to not
repalcing the air filter in the pump for who knows how long and to not
replacing the air stones often enough. so comments/mocking/advice
would be appreciated as to what the best setup would be for noise
levels as well as fish health.

Some noise reduction methods : i) putting the air pump on a shock
absorbing material (I sometimes hang them with duct tape), ii) cleaning
their filters, iii) changing/cleaning the airstones, iv) lifting the
airstones higher up (less pressure to run them), v) in-line baffle, vi)
quieter air pump. You can also check your airvalves for obstructions.
Bleeding off air generates its own noise.

Alternately, remove 2 riser tubes, blocking the opening, and replace the
airstone/carbon cap with a powerhead. Very quiet compared to your air
pump.

one last question. the ugf i have is a basic model that came with 3
carbon filters that top the rise tubes. once again i probabaly dont
change them enough. i have read that they will do very little good
unless changed very frequently and even then the filtration they
provide is almost usless, on the other hand they can arrest water flow
up the lift tubes as well as actually release conaminents if not
changed regularly. comments? should the filter tops be removed?

You heard correctly. They are somewhat gimmicky. I wouldn't use them
unless I had a specific reason to carbon filter the water.

note: right now the tank has plants and is home to 3 roughly 2'' fish.

Sounds fine. Do your water changes and gravel vaccuum periodically to
check for accumulation. Plants are good filters too.

thanks for any replys

: ) cheers
--
www.NetMax.tk

thanks for the replies. are there any good sites that review things
like air pumps? id love to be able to somehow get an idea of a pumps
capacity as well as noise/price. i havnt been able to find db ratings
which seems odd.

On Sun, 5 Mar 2006 13:16:23 -0500, "NetMax"
wrote:

wrote in message
roups.com...
i've had a 40ish gallon (22 x 36 x 12) tank for some years now. it has
an under gravel filter powered by three tubes with air stones in them.
its in the living room and the pump noise bothers me from time to time.
i'd be interested in noise reduction techniques for a tank in a high
traffic area like the living room. however i have some details which
may show that the noise is my fault. when this was originally set up
money was tight and i had various pieces from older aqauriums around,
as a result this is how its set up today.

1 maxima dual feed air pump (i cant find a model number but all maximas
seem to be rated at 30 gallons.) both feeds connected to a air tee
then a single hose going through a check valve and then up to the very
high tank top where its pushed through a 4 way tee/valve set to
distribute to the 3 air stones. yes i know its a hack but it seems
to have worked well enough.

You're getting some extra back-pressure from combining their outputs
before branching them off, but it is commonly done this way to have a
single check valve.

however i am starting to wonder if my pump
is louder than it would be if i had a more normal setup/larger pump.
i would be all for a larger pump assuming it doesnt end up being
louder. so anyway i know that the check valve can reduce the air flow,
does this make the pump louder? if so i can probably figure out a way
to get it up above the tank if i had to. i have also read that having
an open valve bleeding a little bit into the room can help reduce noise
that might be cause d by back pressure. i must also admit to not
repalcing the air filter in the pump for who knows how long and to not
replacing the air stones often enough. so comments/mocking/advice
would be appreciated as to what the best setup would be for noise
levels as well as fish health.

Some noise reduction methods : i) putting the air pump on a shock
absorbing material (I sometimes hang them with duct tape), ii) cleaning
their filters, iii) changing/cleaning the airstones, iv) lifting the
airstones higher up (less pressure to run them), v) in-line baffle, vi)
quieter air pump. You can also check your airvalves for obstructions.
Bleeding off air generates its own noise.

Alternately, remove 2 riser tubes, blocking the opening, and replace the
airstone/carbon cap with a powerhead. Very quiet compared to your air
pump.

one last question. the ugf i have is a basic model that came with 3
carbon filters that top the rise tubes. once again i probabaly dont
change them enough. i have read that they will do very little good
unless changed very frequently and even then the filtration they
provide is almost usless, on the other hand they can arrest water flow
up the lift tubes as well as actually release conaminents if not
changed regularly. comments? should the filter tops be removed?

You heard correctly. They are somewhat gimmicky. I wouldn't use them
unless I had a specific reason to carbon filter the water.

note: right now the tank has plants and is home to 3 roughly 2'' fish.

Sounds fine. Do your water changes and gravel vaccuum periodically to
check for accumulation. Plants are good filters too.

thanks for any replys

: ) cheers

Expanding the topic just a tidge: I'm in need of a new air pump. I'll
be running multiple sponge filters and or box filters in small
containers, roughy between 1 and 5 gallons. Circulation for eggs and
new fry. Maybe some box filters for larger grow out tanks. I want
adequate power. I want adjustable output. I want 2 outlets. I want
quiet. I want reliablity. Do I want brass or plastic gang valves? If
there's something I forgot, or something I want but don't need, please
add or subtract as needed. Suggestions, anyone?

-- Mister Gardener