Super quiet skimmer and return pump

[Scythanith]

Along with spending big money on the type of pumps you should really do the regular maintenance on the pumps. Taking them out once a year and cleaning off the impellar body as well as the housing can do wonders. If you leave it for too long and then clean it, all of the unique little wear patterns and associated algae or calcium precipitation that may have filled those voids may become misaligned. Then the pump will be even noisier.

I run Abyzz A200 return pumps and a RD3 speedy on my Red Dragon skimmer. All DC pumps and quite quiet.