How loud is your average fish tank?

[hippybngstockng]

If I am planning on using "whisper" filters (heavily modified to reduce current and also keep from sucking in long flowing fins) how loud is the tank likely to be?  Like computer loud or microwave loud, or worse yet, old crappy dishwasher loud?

I'm thinking now about putting one tank in the bedroom, which I think might be a mistake since we never spend any time in there so the fish might get lonely, but is one of the few places that would be safe enough and have the proper amount of space.  I am a light sleeper though, and while it will sound like a soothing noise machine to a certain extent, I imagine it also has a certain mechanical whine to it.

Would you keep a fish tank in your bedroom?  Do you?

Comments

[shorttermmemory.livejournal.com]

I got a goldfish tank in the bedroom. But I'm used to having pcs on in there (before we moved here the office was also in the bedroom) so it doesn't bother me. I have one of those bubble thingo filters... the kind with the foam on the bottom and the uh... think... carbon on the top. I've never had a problem with them sucking in fins, and I keep it really low to reduce stress on the fish. One of my bettas will still bubblenest with it in there so I don't think they're as bad as everyone makes out. :)

[hippybngstockng.livejournal.com]

Do you mean a submerged filter? (the assembly sitting in the water with very little poking out of the tank) I was pointed at those by 2 different sales people and I was thinking about it, but one guy made it seem like his Betta was always attached to it and that made me nervous... The tanks came with the whispers so I was thinking of just using those at first and if they don't go over well then trying something else.

However, the guy at the Petsmart was saying that you can add extra filter material to the submerged ones so that the flow is slowed down a little. I should ask him to show me what he's talking about because they were a lot closer to the power level I thought it should be at, where the whisper seems like overkill...

[shorttermmemory.livejournal.com]

First up, what's a whisper filter?
And this one is under water, with only the air hose and the air pump itself outside of the tank. It's pretty quiet. The only noise I hear are the air bubbles at the top of the tank.
It's made by living world or something like that... None of my bettas have ever had a problem so long as I've had it turned down. I think what he means is a valve you add into the air hose that allows you to control the air intake. That's what I've got. :D

[by-sea-change.livejournal.com]

The whisper filters are very quiet. I doubt you'd even notice it.

I would certainly have a tank in the bedroom, but only as a last resort because we don't spend a lot of time in there. But that's the only reason why I would think twice about it.

[hippybngstockng.livejournal.com]

Yah, considering how infrequently I go in there during the day I worry they'd be really anti-social after a while. I'd feel better if they were maybe in the dining room but I would have to seriously examine what's in there and get rid of something if that was the case because I don't think I could keep one on top of the high cabinets. They're stable, but I'd need a step ladder just to visit with the fish! I need less stuff! *sigh*

But that's been the plan, so who knows. I should think about what's in there and whether it all really needs to stay. ;)

[waysofseeing.livejournal.com]

Whisper filters are truly super-quiet, but I've heard from others that they're a bit less efficient than other types. I have a hang-on filter. It's a bit more noisy because it's constantly pouring a stream of water into the tank, but I rather like it. It's easier to maintain, and I find the sound of the water splashing rather soothing.

I doubt I'd put a tank in my bedroom, but that's not due to noise. I'd have to carry a 5 gallon bucket up and down a flight of stairs every time I wanted to do a water change. Five gallons of water weighs just over 40 pounds and splashes easily. I prefer to have the tank in a public space and a bit closer to my kitchen sink.

[hippybngstockng.livejournal.com]

Ah, 2 advantages I have there-

1) No stairs (always a good thing where my safety is concerned!)

2) My tanks are 5 gallon, so if I am doing partial water changes the most I will ever have to cart around after the initial set up is probably about 2.5 gallons. I do just about that right now anyway, plus I usually prepare my water in gallon jugs, and didn't see any reason to stop doing it that way though I hadn't checked on that.

I think I've ruled out the bedroom because of the potential loneliness issue. I think they would end up afraid of people because they'd never see them.