Rubber Mat for Noise Control (In Sump)

[user 2204]

Hi everyone,

I have a question as to the use of rubber mat in the sump. I know I've read numerous people saying they use mouse pads under pumps in the sump/fuge to help keep the noise down. My question is has or does anyone use any type of rubber mat similar to the one in the link?

Rubber Flooring Inc- Interlocking Tiles, Exercise Mats, Gym and Garage Floors.

I am thinking of getting a few samples to test out with, but not sure even though the ones I am eyeing are non-toxic all natural materials. I would like to use a pad just as a precaution with my skimmer Octo 110 pump and my Eheim 1260 return pump.


Any input or ideas or what have others used in the sump for noise control and how does it work for you, would be great.

Cheers,
Alex

 

[Krish]

Hmm...Not sure about that stuff. It's kinda tough sometimes choosing something that sits in salt water. You just don't know if it will leach or if the saltwater will destroy it. Sitting here though, a thought actually just crossed my mind for the first time and I wonder if it will work?? What about getting some aquarium safe silicone and putting some of it on the bottom of your pump and allow it to cure on the bottom of the pump before actually putting it back in the sump? This will give the pump a padded bottom that should cut down vibration noise because it wouldn't be plastic vibrating against glass or acrylic anymore, but rather silicone "padding" vibrating against the sump that shouldn't make any noise. If it didn't work, you could just peel the silicone off of the bottom of the pump just like you would anything else with silicone attached to it, but you could almost make like little rubber feet out of silicone blobs on the bottom. Just a thought...Crossed my mind and seems easy to do and kinda logical that it could work.

 

[user 2204]

THx Krish. I thought of that same thing. Because it is silicone it would be a okay. I also thought about using a silicone pad.

 

[Krish]

THx Krish. I thought of that same thing. Because it is silicone it would be a okay. I also thought about using a silicone pad.

Great minds think alike!! Thanks for making me feel smart!! . What got me thinking about that was thinking of some of those pumps that use the bracket with those rubber suction cups to hold the pump down and then I was sitting there thinking about my powered subwoofer I have in my house that has these four little feet on the bottom and it came to me. You are good with your hands as well and could probably even fabricate your own bracket to attach to the bottom of your pump out of plastic and then drill it and add your own suction cups to it which you could find at basically any harware store, Target etc.

Anyways, just some food for thought.

 

[TJL]

Hey Alex, I've heard several people using silicone cookie sheet or hot pads they cut to fit return sections. I did the silicone blobs on my old Rio return pump and seemed to work just fine.

Todd

 

[dtd87]

I may have to do this also for my 1260 vibrates the stand pretty good. It's currently sitting on a baggie of sand but it's not as effective as I'd like.

 

[user 2204]

Great minds think alike!! Thanks for making me feel smart!! . What got me thinking about that was thinking of some of those pumps that use the bracket with those rubber suction cups to hold the pump down and then I was sitting there thinking about my powered subwoofer I have in my house that has these four little feet on the bottom and it came to me. You are good with your hands as well and could probably even fabricate your own bracket to attach to the bottom of your pump out of plastic and then drill it and add your own suction cups to it which you could find at basically any harware store, Target etc.

Anyways, just some food for thought.

THx Krish. I have a few ideas that I may play with and one was when I make the skimmer stand, to make a silicone foot of sorts for the pump to rest on. I'll post some pictures in my build thread once I do some trial runs.

I even thought of Dynamat under the rim of the 20L sump, but then thought about it more and we used it for sound control in vehicles and not really vibration control. Dynamat gave some awesome SPL for competition, that's for sure. *lol*

 

[user 2204]

Hey Alex, I've heard several people using silicone cookie sheet or hot pads they cut to fit return sections. I did the silicone blobs on my old Rio return pump and seemed to work just fine.

Todd

THx Todd. Yes, I was thinking of doing a trial run with a silicone pot holder or similar and see how the noise is with that versus a few other methods.

 

[dnjan]

I use an old "ensolite" camping pad (closed cell foam) cut into appropriate size pieces.
Has lasted for many years.

I would stay away from the floor pads. Some of them smell (so they are out-gassing), and I wouldn't put that in the tank.

 

[Krish]

THx Krish. I have a few ideas that I may play with and one was when I make the skimmer stand, to make a silicone foot of sorts for the pump to rest on. I'll post some pictures in my build thread once I do some trial runs.

I even thought of Dynamat under the rim of the 20L sump, but then thought about it more and we used it for sound control in vehicles and not really vibration control. Dynamat gave some awesome SPL for competition, that's for sure. *lol*

We sell the dynamat extreme and just did a 2010 mustang GT from the front fire wall all the way into the trunk. Door panels and roof. The guy wanted to get rid of road noise and it did. Said he was amazed at the difference and didn't mind paying over a thousand dollars to accomplish it. My thoughts was who buys a mustang GT and not want to hear the exhaust and engine, but whetever floats their boat. . One of my friends did used it on his stand and it helped a bit, but his stand was completely closed up so no air flow in there which could be a problem for most of us. Not for him because temperature was not an issue and he only had the tank up for like 4 months but the sound deadening did help a bit, but you'd need a completely sealed stand like his. Most of us have open backed stands for better air circulation.

 

[user 2204]

Yeah, that is what I am afraid of with most of the floor mats. I am getting a few samples for the garage and shop so I figure it wouldn't hurt to check them out for sump pump noise control. But yes, if they smell funky, I will not be putting them in the sump, that's for sure. :rofl:

 

[mfinn]

I've used silicone hot pads when needed.
Seemed to work pretty good when 2 are used, siliconed together.

Amazon.com: MIU Silicone Pot Holders, Set of Two, Blue: Kitchen & Dining