trinket

This filter came with the tank, I think it's a rebranded Tetra Whisper?

When I first got it, it made a vibrating noise that drove me nuts, but I figured out how to stop that.


Well, now it's making some other noise. It isn't really like it has something loose or trapped bubbles. I've taken it apart tons of times to make sure it isn't clogged anywhere, I've push and poked everything I can and nothing makes the sound stop. It isn't the lid making the sound, because the lid isn't on right now and it's still doing it.

I tried putting some fabric between where the filter rests on the tank to see if it muffled it but nope, still just as loud. Sometimes it gets louder, then a bit quieter (though not quiet by any means).

How do I quiet the noise? I'm sure when I add fish and ADFs to the tank the noise will drive them nuts too. Do I have to just suck it up and get a new one?

I've also noticed water flows back over the top a bit instead of going through the filter cartridge. I've taken the cartridge out and rinsed in a bit of tank water but there's no change.

navyscuba

It sounds like is the impeller that could be bend or a bit worn out.

Elodea

I have one of those and it's nearly silent. Is there any water actually coming out of it?

trinket

Yeah, water is flowing.

I took it apart for the 15th time and looked closely, and there was a hair wrapped around the top bit of the impeller. I took that off but I can't be sure that was causing the problem.

I'll wait a day and see what it does.

aquarist48

Hello.

"I've also noticed water flows back over the top a bit instead of going through the filter cartridge. I've taken the cartridge out and rinsed in a bit of tank water but there's no change."

To solve the above mentioned problem...as your filter media becomes clogged sometimes it will create a back up causing water to exit where the intake tube is. If the filter has a flow control knob then you can reduce the flow a bit until it all goes through the out flow.

Make sure your filter is level.

Best of luck!
Ken

trinket

There's no control knob.

What I've done is slightly lift the filter cartridge and it's enough that water doesn't back flow but still goes through the filter.

It was quiet for a week after I took that bit of hair off, but now it's making noise again. I'm getting pretty frustrated, it's in my room so the noises keep me awake, haha. I've taken the impeller/intake tube out and looked but I can't see anything that would make noise. Urgh.

Jaysee

I've got a few of them, not in use though, and they were almost silent. I agree that overflow is a systemic problem with them. Even the larger models. I had a single piece of bluebonded filter pad in a topfin 30 and water still spilled out the overflow.

Get an AC20 instead. You'll be so much happier with it, and your fish will be too.

Prince Powder

I have that exact filter that came with my Top Fin 10 gallon starter kit. I have no noise issues with it at all. I ditched the cartridges before I ever started the tank and instead I use media for an AC20. I had no overflow issues with the basic AC20 media (sponge, carbon, biomax) until I intentionally uber stuffed it with sponge media in every available crevice and added floss to my outtake to slow the current for my betta. NOW I have an overflow issue, but it's not that bad.

The good thing about Top Fin is that all their hardware has a lifetime guarantee. Even though it came with a kit, you might still be able to take it into Petsmart and exchange it. You would of course have to exchange it for the exact same filter, but the noise issue really seems to be a defect of that particular filter and not an issue with the filters as a whole. At the Petsmart I used to work at many moons ago they wouldn't even blink when telling you to go grab a new one off the shelf. If they give you any trouble just politely remind them that Top Fin Products have a lifetime guarantee and that should be no different just because the item came from a kit as opposed to being purchased separately. If it coming from a kit is an issue, say you will gladly accept a replacement filter from one of the kits (since that IS where yours came from) instead of one of the individually packaged ones. (then give a really BIG, CHEESY grin!) That should translate to them that you don't intend to leave until you have a new filter. Since Top Fin is a Petsmart exclusive brand they can also not argue that the product isn't theirs. My old Petsmart would FIND a way to return just about anything even if we knew it wasn't a brand we carried. But then again, I think I was at a truly exceptional Petsmart.

Jaysee

Do you stack the AC media like it's designed to fit in the AC filter?

The reason I ask is because the AC filter pushes water up from the bottom through the media, whereas regular HOBs push it across the media.

Prince Powder

Nope. I have the sponge and carbon standing side by side with the Sponge on the side near the impellor and the biomax sitting on top. The water still has to go through the sponge first, then the carbon as it fills the chamber and finally the biomax. Actually it hits a thin piece of floss then the biomax. I have floss held in place by the biomax bag which drapes out the outtake and just into the tank to slow the current.

Jaysee

Nice!

trinket

That's really helpful, Powder, thank you.

I'll be going to Petsmart this week or next week so I'll make sure to ask while I'm in there how they can help me. If they can I'll come back home to get my filter to exchange. (I'm mid-cycle so I don't want to stop the filter unless I have to)

Prince Powder

You're welcome! Glad I could help. Very understandable about the cycle. It might be wise to call petsmart before going and ask to speak directly to a manager. That way you don't have to make two trips. If you are able to exchange it just put the cartridge inside the tank while you're gone, preferrably near an air stone so the O2 keeps flowing through for your BB.