Morning!
Bit of a strange one but I know there's a lot of diverse knowledge on here!
Have just built my first marine tank with a sump.
The sump and pumps etc are housed in a wooden oak cupboard below the tank and make (some) vibration noise. By pressing areas of the cupboard sides I can shut the noise up. To be fair it's not noisy but more a low hum/drone.

Anyone any suggestions on what to line the cupboard with? I've been advised against polystyrene as not that great and can't be anything fibrous due to the open water sump inside.

Someone recommended the lead sybarite type roof lagging that you buy in B&Q on a roll for car panel vibrations. . Wonder if same could work?

Cheers
Tel Accept, some days your the pigeon, some days your the statue!

I'm not a complete expert, but did put a lot of effort into this when I extended my house.

Lots of different things to do and to some degree, depends on the exact problem you have.

You should be isolating a platform for the pumps etc to stand on so that vibrations are not transmitted to the unit itself

Then there is direct sound transmission - where you want something to absorb or block the sound - ideally it would be air tight, but then ventilation becomes complex & expensive - so it's kind of a trade off.

Sounds like you have a vibration in the unit itself - an isolating platform may fix that, or if it's being caused by direct sound, then you need to stop the thing that is vibrating from moving - you may be able to do that with sealant or screws. The other advice you have may well work too - basically making the piece heavier which will stop it vibrating as easily.

Sites like this one are a reasonable source - and there's loads of info on Google

That's what I used on mine, silent coat stuff for cars which sticks on to the panels. Also make sure the sump is sitting on some closed cell foam at least 10mm thick. This stops the drone of the lift pump and protein skimmer. You also need a good lid for the sump to stop condensation, either that or ventilate the cabinet with some quiet PC fans.

I had so much noise it was a bit of a quest but my cabinet is solid oak which didn't help. I ended up stripping it all out and building a custom sump to the exact dimensions I wanted so it would all be tidy enough to not have pipes touching the cabinet, no wires loose - all clipped up properly and so on.

Plasterboard, one or two layers as required.

Thanks so much guys! It's a new set up and I haven't even isolated where the drone is coming from yet as haven't had time. But the fact if you press hard on certain parts of the oak cabinet it shuts up I'm hopeing I can stop it. Will try find the cause of noise tonight.
All I do know is it's not the actual operating noise of the pump or skimmer etc. It's definitely a resonating sound. I guessed the oak box would be echoing it! Accept, some days your the pigeon, some days your the statue!

nicedayforit wrote:

Plasterboard, one or two layers as required.

If you are using plasterboard, then go for a 15mm sound block board.

Other option which may work are dynamat which is self adeshive acoustic lining for cars. There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
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Morning all.
Moving bits around I have managed to stop more or less all vibration but when the door is shut I do still get a slight low drone resonating.
I was a bit worried about plasterboard (although it seems a good choice) incase there gets any moisture on it (am I right in thinking it dissolves?)
It's not wet in the cupboard by any means but there's a large opentop tank in a small confined wood cupboard so was a bit cautious as can't have anything getting in the tank. Accept, some days your the pigeon, some days your the statue!

The stuff you want is the sheets used to insulate the engine room on yachts.

https://www.asap-supplies.com/soundproofing Graham

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Can't beat several layers of plasterboard as mentioned above. As many layers as you can fit.

. Cheers, Greg
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2011 Vogue SE 4.4 with lots of toys in Stornaway

You can beat plasterboard

It's the cheap option but far from the best, particularly in a potentially damp environment......

If there is damp around use the green board, its moisture resist  There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
FFRR 4.4 SDV8 Autobiography Santorini Black.
KIA E-Niro 4+
2021 Discovery 5 D300 MHEV commercial

Thanks again to everyone!
Just to update, life sorta took over so the drone got put on the back burner. Came home the other day and inside the cupboard was damp. Mix of 26c water basically in an open top "bucket" closed in a solid oak cupboard!!

Have tank cut 2x 50mm holes in the back of the cupboard and the drone instantly stopped! I guess it was kind of like driving with one window cracked open. The resonating until you open another window??

Sorted now. Thanks again
Tel Accept, some days your the pigeon, some days your the statue!