I need another air pump for the show tank. The dolphin is alright, but I need something stronger and quieter. Does anyone have any suggestions. I want a REALLY quiet pump. I can't stand that running "pump noise" for some reason........

There is "quiet" and then there is guiet. You will not find a "silent" pump. There is no such thing - if you are talking about the standard pump.

There are many brands of pumps. I have had good luck with the WHispers - the newer blue ones that look like a weird bug on 4 legs. They do not seem to have a very long life - I have only been able to keep both sides going on mine for about 2years (continuous service), but they are actually very quiet as air pumps go.

I have heard that Rena makes a quiet pump. I cannot speak to this - for the one Rena I purchased was one of the noisiest things I have ever heard!

This brings about a very important point. Pumps tend to be somewhat "individual" in their "quietness". I have had some super cheap Tetras that are wonderful - good workhorses for many years of quiet air. I have an expensive Rena that is a noise generator. IT seems to be a bit of the luck of the draw. The "better" brands do seem to have a higher percentage of quiet pumps, though.

I have gone to large Luft pumps - one will run 1/2 of a fish room - about 10 tanks full of air features. They are not particularly quiet - I have mine strapped to a piece of foam on a stand that is suspended on wire in the air (nothing to vibrate) and it is far quieter than any other pump I have. It also means that ONE pump is making noise - for 10 tanks......

I have had luck with tying an air pump up, suspended in the air, and thusly removing any source of vibration other than the pump's itself. You might try this.....

Thanks Daryl,

I saw those Whisper pumps with the new design and wondered about them..... I need a strong one to pump air through the long air wand I've got at the back of the show tank.

When I get the fish room back up and running, I'm going to invest in one of those air blowers and run the whole room on one pump..... The pump can go in an adjacent furnace room so I don't have to hear it. Suspending it is a great idea! Thanks...