New HOB filter is extremely loud

[Irksome]

Hello. I have just added a new hob filter to my 10 gallon planted tank to try and help with my algae problems, I have been running an air driven sponge filter and figured some extra movement might help. It is deafening! I primed it according to the extremely limited instructions and assembled as logically as I could. Have I got a dud filter or is there some way I can quieten it a bit?

 

[Kyle E.]

What filter is it? Most HOB's aren't complicated to set up or to prime (You just pour water in) so I don't think you could have done it wrong. The thing I would do is to check the impeller, make sure it looks normal and that nothing is blocking it. Also sometimes the lid vibrates on top and makes a lot of noise so I have found that putting some sort of weight on top helps with that.

 

[mrsjoannh13]

The only quiet HOB filter I've come across is the Marina slim. I have the Marina S20 on the 20 gallon tank in my daughter's bedroom and sometimes I check to make sure it's actually running because you can't hear it at all (no motor noise and it doesn't make waterfall splash noise either). I've had a TopFin (wound up throwing it out because it was junk) and an Aqueon Quiet Flow which was a completely joke. It was soooooo loud! I wish Marina made a larger capacity HOB filter as it's the best filter I've used so far. Lots of room in the canister for different filter media, too.

 

[Fishmanic]

I have found Aquaclear filters to be very quiet. My Marineland / Penguin 200 though is very noisy.
The quietest type of filter is an air pump driven sponge filter.

 

[Kyle E.]

Hmm. I have a Tetra Whisper 40 and it is very quiet. It has been running for about 2 1/12 - 3 years now and it is still going strong.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Tetra filters are the quietest I have ever run across, ever. I have had API, marineland, Aqueon, etc.

Is there a cover/lid for it? In my experience, most filters with those are very loud, because they rattle from the vibration. Does it sound internal?

 

[Kyle E.]

Api makes filters???

 

[Barry Tetra]

Api makes filters???

Of course!

 

[Kyle E.]

Hmm can't find any with a google search lol. They sell media for the but not any filters...

 

[Irksome]

Tetra filters are the quietest I have ever run across, ever. I have had API, marineland, Aqueon, etc.

Is there a cover/lid for it? In my experience, most filters with those are very loud, because they rattle from the vibration. Does it sound internal?

It sounds internal, the sound doesn’t change when I hold or remove the lid so I don’t think it’s vibrations

 

[Fishmanic]

You still haven't told us what brand filter you have?

 

[Barry Tetra]

Hmm can't find any with a google search lol. They sell media for the but not any filters...

 

[Irksome]

What filter is it? HOB's aren't complicated to set up or to prime (You just pour water in) so I don't think you couwrong. The thing I would do is to check the impeller, make sure it looks normal and that nothing is blocking it. Also sometimes the lid vibrates on top and makes a lot of noise so I have found that putting some sort of weight on top helps with that.

You still haven't told us what brand filter you have?

Yeah, sorry I had t realised my reply last night didn’t send. It’s an AllPondSolutions 400HO, it was cheap but had good reviews. There are a lot of good sounding suggestions here now but most would need to be ordered from the US.

 

[Kyle E.]

@Barry Tetra Hmmm. I wonder why I couldn't find those on their website or a google search. All it came up with was filter media lol. Anyway back to the point of this thread.

Have you checked the impeller and made sure it turns freely and is not obstructed?

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Impellers get jammed pretty often. There may be gunk stuck in there, which is why it isn’t running smoothly.