Best (and quiet!) filter for 30 gal?

Praetorian27

I know...the same question as every newbie here! I read the other posts, and sound level of the filter didn't seem to be discussed. The tank is in our living room and I bought everything as a used unit. The filter is a Whisper 20-40. I assume that is 20 - 40 gallon? Anyway, it runs pretty loudly. So I was looking for a good filter, that runs as quietly as possible. Any suggestions?

Reefbabe

If the noise of the water breaking the surface is an issue...you should probably go with a canaster filter then.

gm333

One of our sponsers for this site has a good cannister for your 30 gal, here is a link to the filter. Even better its on sale. http://youraquariumcenter.com/pro653756.html

BJP

You could also try increasing the water level in the tank so the water doesn't splash in. The lip should be long enough to have the water roll down then get diverted out across the tanks surface quietly.

If the filter itself is making noise then there's probably a piece of grit or sand in the impeller shaft or something holding the impeller slightly out of alignment. A quick cleaning should help with that taking time to disassemble and clean in the impeller housing. Sometimes hair will get wrapped around the impeller. Check it over closely as well.

Praetorian27

Sorry...I should have been clearer. The sound is not the water splashing...it is the sound of the filter itself. It sounds like a rock tumbler! Kind of a grinding sound.

penna32

well i know i have a tetra whisper 30 in my 20 gallon .. and it runs very quiet .. i dont really hear anything except the vibration of the air pumps (2) and the water hitting the surface (i find it relaxing)

maybe theres a broken peice that got caught somewhere in your filter .. try doign what BJP says and take it apart and clean out all the gravel or sand that might have gotten caught in it ..

goodluck!

Praetorian27

I just did that...and no luck. Maybe this thing is just ready for replacement!

Tommy Gun

I have had a couple of the Whisper filters and almost all of them started that loud noise like there was a rock in the needle wheel. While it is still possible that a rock is really in yours, it may just be wearing out now.

In the past, I have been a very anti-cannister type of person, but when I wanted to add a filter to my saltwater tank, I couldn't use an HOB filter becuase I am always trying to keep my tanks "equipment free" and that would require putting it in my sump, which changes water levels pretty quick from evaporation.

Anyways, so I went shopping for a cannister filter and felt that if an LFS could convince me that they are not a hassle or leak prone device, I would buy one. I first bought a Fluval 404 and without even starting to explain the other issues that made me very mad at it, it is a little bit loud...sort of like a buzzing noise.

So, I threw that filter out and bought one of the new Marineland cannister filters and could not be any happier with it! First, the thing is easy to set up, and even easier to get running every time it gets unplugged, it also does not create even 1% of the micro bubbles that Fluval would pump into my tank quite often, but the best part is that I sometimes get curious to know if the filter is still running and literally have to go feel it because it is so quiet that you cant tell it is on by trying to hear it. Like I said, I used to be very skeptical of cannisters because I have read a lot of complaints about them in general. Obviously, the reason why I only heard the problems with them and not the good side is becasue there is no need to post to a forum just to say 'my cannister filter is working great'

One last thing, if the filter is physically touching a wall or something, that may be making the noise issue worse, or may be the reason why your filter is acting up. Also, if you do buy a new filter, do yourself a favor and get one that is rated for a tank larger than yours. You cannot over filter so you can only be doing something positive

Group A

im not experianced by any standards but when i started my 10g tank i bought the penguin bio-wheel 150, which is rated for 30g and ithad so much suction it created a big current in my tank and made it dificult for my fishes to swim and eventually tire them out. i switched it to the 100 model which is rated for 20g and now its all ok. so bigger is not always better?

BJP

The only moving part is the impeller which if it's bent from being forced or damaged can be replaced for under $10.