Guide · Air pumps and aeration
Air pump noise figures, explained
Why one maker's 'under 24 dB' and another publisher's meter reading can't be ranked against each other, and what to check for a quieter air pump setup.
Short answer
A published dB figure for an air pump is only meaningful next to how it was measured: the distance, the room and the surface the pump sat on. Makers usually give none of that, and independent publishers each use their own setup, so figures from different sources cannot be ranked against each other. Use one publisher's results to compare pumps, and fix the setup problems that make any pump louder.
What a dB figure leaves out
A decibel reading changes a lot with distance and surroundings. Move the meter closer, put the pump on a hard shelf, or measure in a noisier room, and the number changes even though the pump has not. A figure without its method is hard to use.
Here is what each source we found says about its own numbers:
| Source | Figure | Method stated |
|---|---|---|
| Aquarium Co-Op (maker) | 43.5 dB for its air pump[1] | None: no distance, weighting or method |
| Fluval (maker) | Under 24, 28 and 34 dB for the A101, A202 and A402[2] | None given |
| FishLab (independent publisher) | Its own readings | Meter held in the air 6 inches from each pump, at night, in a room quieter than the meter's 30 dB floor[3] |
| ModestFish (independent publisher) | Its own readings | Meter placed next to each pump on a hard surface; no distance in inches[4] |
Because the two independent methods differ, and the makers give none, these figures cannot be compared directly.[3] That is our reading of the published methods, not a finding any one source states. So a maker's "under 24 dB" next to a 43.5 dB figure from another maker does not tell you which pump is quieter.
Our noise attribute records each figure exactly as published. None of the sources we read says whether its figure is A-weighted, so we do not assume it.
Use one publisher at a time
Within a single publisher's results, the setup is the same for every pump, so the comparison means something. FishLab, an affiliate publisher, says it tested over 60 pumps;[3] cite its numbers as "FishLab measured", and compare pumps only against other FishLab readings. FishLab also reports two useful findings:
- Its testers found pumps over 45 dB, measured its way, annoyingly loud, and perceived loudness did not always match the meter.[3]
- Tank depth affected noise as well as air output, especially for pumps made for small tanks.[3]
A maker's own figure is still useful for comparing pumps in that maker's range, measured the same way, such as Fluval's A101 against its A402.
Setup problems that make any pump louder
- One port of a dual pump left open. Tetra says a dual-port pump will be very loud unless airline is fitted to both ports, and its pumps come with a T connector to join two ports.[5]
- A pump that has suddenly got loud. Tetra says a Whisper pump that gets very loud, or stops producing air, may have a worn rubber diaphragm, a wear part not covered by its warranty.[5] Contact the maker; do not open mains-powered equipment.
- A pump fighting depth. A pump pushing air to the bottom of a deep tank works harder. FishLab found depth affected noise.[3]
We found no measured source on vibration pads, shelves or hanging a pump, so we do not make claims about them.
Next
Questions
Which aquarium air pump is the quietest?
No source lets us rank pumps across publishers, because each measured noise differently. Compare figures only within one publisher's results, such as FishLab's.[3][4]
Why did my air pump suddenly get loud?
Tetra says a Whisper pump that gets very loud or stops making air may have a worn rubber diaphragm, a wear part not covered by its warranty. Do not open mains-powered equipment; contact the maker.[5]
Why is my dual-outlet pump so loud?
Tetra says a dual-port pump will be very loud unless airline is fitted to both ports; its pumps come with a T connector to join the two.[5]
How loud is too loud for an air pump?
FishLab reports that its testers found pumps over 45 dB annoying, measured its way, and that perceived loudness did not always match the meter.[3]