tinywang

I am looking for a "DEAD SILENT" filter for a 10 gallon aquarium (so I wont disturb my roommate).

What do you guys recommend? I've read that canister filters were very quiet. And if they are indeed the quietest types of filter, which specific one would you recommend. I am a poor college student so I am looking for something under $50.

My second question is,
I currently just bought an aqua tech filter 30-60 gal and installed it. Would Wal-Mart allow me to refund this? It's too loud for my needs.


Thanks!
-Tim

Nutter

I would think most canisters would be too big for your purposes but I'm sure you guys in the states get much more to choose from than us aussies. For a small tank like yours you could just use a little internal filter that makes no noise what-so-ever or if the roomie doesn't mind the sound of bubbles just use a pair of box filters run off an air pump & gang valve. Stick the air pump in a small foam esky to keep it quiet.

Don't know Walmarts refund policy but scrub the bejabbers out of the filter so it looks & smells like new then tell them it doesn't work properly. They probably won't even take it out of the box to check it anyway.

Peffico

A duetto 50 or 100 is probably down your alley.As it is an internal filter that works quite well.

And I'm sure if you complain enough Walmart will let you refund it.

aquarist48

Good morning. Some good suggestions above. You may want to check out the Aqua Clear 20 (100gph) It's a hang on back type filter. I have 3 of them in different tanks. I actually have to check to make sure it's still running it's so quiet. A link for it is below.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...fm?pcatid=3610
Have fun shopping!
Ken

tinywang

so no noise at all?? not even the sound of the water pouring down or the impeller spinning? that is my biggest criteria, can't have any sound at all.

eiginh

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...id=16742&r=487

You may have to replace the hoses with these but the hoses do not cost much.

Red1313

For no sound at all an internal filter is best. Aquaclear's are very quiet and regular maintainence should keep them that way. However if the water in your tank gets low you do have the waterfall type sound.

redlessi

I have several aquaclears and they are silent............

Jaysee

For a 10 gallon, the wisper 10i (internal) or 20i get my vote. They are as silent as it gets, primarily bacuase the filter is inside.

The eclipse tanks are dead silent as well, IME.

eiginh

I heard eclipse tanks are good but they are quite expensive!

tinywang

hey guys,

after yalls inputs, i bought the aquaclear 30 and its not 'dead silent' unfortunately. the motor seems to be making a rumbling noise. it's not like SUPER LOUD but it is audible and it gets kinda irritating after awhile.

i am wondering if any of u guys also have this problem and if i should just take it back and exchange it for a new one?

thanks! cleaning wise, this thing does wonders!

Jaysee

You could try returning it - it's uncommon, but not unheard of that an AC is bad out of the box.

When I made the switch to ACs, I noticed that at first too. So, either they went away or I got used to them cause I no longer hear it.

You'll get used to it

tinywang

i might but roommate wont. that's the problem =/

Nutter

Personally, not being the sort of person to take much rubbish from people, I would simply tell the roomie to get over it. Then turn up your stereo with music you know they hate & ask them which one they prefer, the music or the fish tank. You have tried to please them, they can't ask much more than that.

Jaysee

Yeah they will - If they hear it everyday. It's white noise.

aquarist48

Hello Tiny. If you have your receipt I would exchange it. All of mine (3 of them) are completely silent. I actually have to check the current to make sure mine are even running.
Ken

tinywang

ok guys, i exchanged it and i'm still getting the same problem. i bought this from petco and i feel bad if i go back and exchange it for YET another one. i'm pretty sure they wont let me either.

i looked up this problem on youtube and it seems i am not the only one..
this is pretty much what mine sounds like.


any idea how to fix this!?

Jaysee

I don't have any lids on my ACs because of the rattle. So, my advice is to.....take off the lid.

As far as FIXING it, you could get some rubber material to make a gasket and silicone it to filter lid.

tinywang

it is not the lid. even without the lid, i get that noise.

Jaysee

I have 8 ACs running in my room and all I can hear is the 1 emperor - Take it back for another one. If they give you a hard time, get a refund and go to another store.

You've taken apart the motor assembly and put it back together?

In the video, the noise went away when the lid was removed.

AC's are silent when compared to other HOBs, but they are not completely silent. As was stated earlier, the quietest filter you can get is an internal one. Since the motor is inside the tank, the noise doesn't make it out. For your 10 gallon, I would suggest the whisper 20i. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...5&pcatid=12085

My 10i is SILENT.

tinywang

thanks for ur help jaysee. yes i've taken it apart and assembled it again same problem. in the video, the noise was still there despite lid being removed. again, i am looking for a 'DEAD SILENT' zero noise filter!!

im thinking about getting a whisper 20i. but are those for sure ZERO noise i dont think i will be able to refund the ac 30 cause i already exchanged it and they asked if i wanted to try a different filter and i said no. so i guess i will just have to buy another filter. =(


what filters have ZERO NADA noise!??

eiginh

Petco will exchange no matter what, just make sure it's clean. I read a lot of reviews about whispers I even bought one my self before I bought an emperor 400. 4/10 says it gets loud. Look into the canister HOB filter I posted earlier, I think it was the rapids canister for up to 20-30 gallons. Oh when your exchanging your item don't go to the same person all the time. The staff will get p/o'ed and give you an attitude if they don't have the patience if you keep coming back to the same person but if they're really laid back they won't care. Trust me I exchanged at least 4-5 times when I first started keeping fish and decided at the end to buy an emperor 400 online. If you can try buying it online as well, Petco marks their prices 10 bucks over the msrp. You can keep using the filter you have while you wait for shipping b/c they have a 30 day money back guarantee.You can go to the sites listed on top of the links bar on the forum page or go to fish.com they're having a really good sale atm.

Jaysee

I have ACs, emperors, pengiuns, tetras, top fins, as well as a few others (HOBs). The ABSOLUTE quietest filter I have, that is COMPLETELY silent - no noise whatsoever - is my eclipse. The whisper 10i is silent, but the eclipse is DEAD SILENT. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...67&pcatid=3867

tinywang

that thing is pricey! =/

eiginh

There hood is basically a penguin bio filter except it's built with the light and closes the whole tank. Are you not interested in the hob canister filter I posted earlier? I have read a lot of reviews that is great, you just need to replace the hose with an ehiem hose. It would be really quiet! Anyway if you want the eclipse hood, you can probably find a used on craigslist depending on your area. They even sell full tanks for $50.

tinywang

idkkk i am thinking about giving aquaclear ONE more try.

i am curious to know for those who say aquaclear is 'completely silent', do u guys not experience this mild humming noise caused by the motor? if not, I am wondering if these are just a defect.

aquarist48

Hello Tinywang. My Aqua Clears have no hum period. I can look at my tanks and not hear a sound. I have to look closely to make sure it's still on and running!
Ken

Jaysee

Me too, but is it because we are used to it?


The hood is pricey, but you get a hood, light and filter all in one. And it's silent.

Give AC another shot - they're great filters and trust me, after a few weeks, you and your roommate won't hear a thing.