Survey of Ambient Noise in Aquariums Free

Owning and maintaining an aquarium is a common hobby, but some aspects of proper animal husbandry in the hobby community have received little scientific attention. Specifically, the ambient noise in aquariums resulting from pumps, filters, bubblers and other equipment is not well studied, yet elevated ambient noise levels have been shown to adversely affect fish and marine invertebrates. Anecdotal evidence suggests that this may be a problem in aquariums as well. Salt water aquariums designed to maintain coral reefs require high water flow and pristine water conditions, which in turn require pumps and filters that contribute to underwater noise. A survey of ambient noise in both fresh and saltwater aquariums ranging in size from 10 to 500 gallons was conducted. The aquariums differed in construction material, number, size and type of pumps, and presence of other equipment, and their ambient noise broadband levels are shown to vary widely.