Are canister filters noisy?

Ok, so I’ve been pretty much replacing my filters. After about the 7th time, I think I am about to exhaust all option.

My problem with filters is that I’m hearing a slight vibration.

Right now I have the slI'm s10. While this filter has been the quietest of all the filters that I’ve tried, I’m still hearing vibrations which is what is bothering me. I don’t mind dripping water noises, but rattling and vibrations kill me. The fish tanks are all in the same place in a shelf closet. The walls and shelves seem to be giving off a vibrating noise that I can feel inside my room.


I’ve tried moving and adjusting the filters, using petroleum jelly,etc, padding where the filter touches the aquarium, etc. I also unplugged and plug them all one by one to see what’s giving the noise. Alone ( meaning one of them at a time, I don’t hear a noise too much). However, when they are all plugged in they each make a slight noise that seems louder since they are all on.

My question is , are canister filter silent? Or do they give a slight noice? Vibration?


Also these tanks are 10 gallon tanks. Is a canister even used on a ten gallon? I’ve been thinking maybe trying the Sunsun , Finnex PX-360 Compact or Zoo Med Nano™ 10 External Canister Filter.

I need help!
I also just bought a white noise machine to maybe place on the aquarium area to make some fake maybe splashing or dripping noise that will blur out the vibration.

 

I haven't used one personally but I imagine it would definitely make some noise but I think it would be quieter than your current situation. If all the tanks have the same parameters and temperatures then you can go ahead and use one if you'd like. The only thing to watch out for is if one fish in one tank gets sick then it can very easily spread to every other tank. You'll also need to make sure there's enough media to properly filter everything obviously. Keep in mind most canisters will say "filters ____ gallons an hour" but that is measured with just the media already in it which is never enough to filter the tank size its marketed for.

 

There are some small canister filters, I don't know how quiet they are. I run canister filters ranging from Marineland Magnaflow 360's up to the Fluval FX4/6 seties and all are whisper quiet. The only time they make any noise is after performing maintenance there's some trapped ait in the filter. that's easy enough to take care of by rocking the filter side to side gently.

 

I have 2 fluval canisters and both are completely silent other than the sound of the water.

 

Okie...so as someone who has used canister filters for years I can attest to them being quiet.
I currently run a sunsun to backup one of my tanks in case of a sump failure. Its far quieter than my overflow. My aquaclear 70 makes more of a hum then it does. I have used just about every fluval filter from the old 105's to the new fx6 line. My 405 is silent unless you let it clog, the fx6 is quiet until its bubble purge time. Honestly I'm currently sitting in my living room with 4 of my tanks that run offa sumps and canisters...and I hear the sumps, I don't hear the canisters.
If you're especially concerned with vibrations you can always get a pad to place the filter on.
I just don't get how a HOB would make less noise than a canister just its a canister...have you tried those marineland HOB? oph couldnt hear myself think

 

Okie...so as someone who has used canister filters for years I can attest to them being quiet.
I currently run a sunsun to backup one of my tanks in case of a sump failure. Its far quieter than my overflow. My aquaclear 70 makes more of a hum then it does. I have used just about every fluval filter from the old 105's to the new fx6 line. My 405 is silent unless you let it clog, the fx6 is quiet until its bubble purge time. Honestly I'm currently sitting in my living room with 4 of my tanks that run offa sumps and canisters...and I hear the sumps, I don't hear the canisters.
If you're especially concerned with vibrations you can always get a pad to place the filter on.
I just don't get how a HOB would make less noise than a canister just its a canister...have you tried those marineland HOB? oph couldnt hear myself think

I have two fluvals running atm and will have four running by the end of the month. Quieter than small HOB filters.
The water is loud. The duck bill spout means the water hits at an angle and it’s like you’re constantly filling up a bath. It can be bothersome in the middle of the night. From a distance it’s calming - up close it’s potentially nerve wracking.

I’m considering spray bars to dumb down the sound...

 

I have two fluvals running atm and will have four running by the end of the month. Quieter than small HOB filters.
The water is loud. The duck bill spout means the water hits at an angle and it’s like you’re constantly filling up a bath. It can be bothersome in the middle of the night. From a distance it’s calming - up close it’s potentially nerve wracking.

I’m considering spray bars to dumb down the sound...

Why not just lower the spout below the water line?

 

I've been experimenting with hanging java moss down the "duck bill" spout to lessen the sound.
Even when the water level drops from evaporation the noise level of the water hitting the surface doesn't change much...

 

Why not just lower the spout below the water line?

It’s the design of the ‘07 series - the turn up is quite high that the duck bill it pretty much at full height of aquarium (can’t shut lid over it).

 

Okie...so as someone who has used canister filters for years I can attest to them being quiet.
I currently run a sunsun to backup one of my tanks in case of a sump failure. Its far quieter than my overflow. My aquaclear 70 makes more of a hum then it does. I have used just about every fluval filter from the old 105's to the new fx6 line. My 405 is silent unless you let it clog, the fx6 is quiet until its bubble purge time. Honestly I'm currently sitting in my living room with 4 of my tanks that run offa sumps and canisters...and I hear the sumps, I don't hear the canisters.
If you're especially concerned with vibrations you can always get a pad to place the filter on.
I just don't get how a HOB would make less noise than a canister just its a canister...have you tried those marineland HOB? oph couldnt hear myself think

Yes I’ve tried the marineland Penguin filter for the ten gallon. For this one specifically it wasn’t a hum that bothered me, but a rattling. It’s not that these or the hob are noisy. I did try padding the filters with sponges and computer mouse pads but I still hear a hum. I feel like it could be the location they are in that’s making them loud.

When one of them is on only, I don’t hear any issues. However when they are all on at the same time, that’s where I can hear the hum.

I’m hearing a lot of things about how quiet the canisters are so I’m glad, Hopefully those work. You mentioned the sun sun, I was interested in that one, but I’m not sure it will fit in the location my tanks are in. Is good though?

 

I have two fluvals running atm and will have four running by the end of the month. Quieter than small HOB filters.
The water is loud. The duck bill spout means the water hits at an angle and it’s like you’re constantly filling up a bath. It can be bothersome in the middle of the night. From a distance it’s calming - up close it’s potentially nerve wracking.

I’m considering spray bars to dumb down the sound...

I don’t think that would bother me too much actually. I think I’m selective on noises. Waterfall noise doesn’t bother me and I don’t think that would bother either. However, Hums, vibration , or rattling... those drive me crazy.

 

I personally don't hear my eheim 2075 pro 3 at all when the cabinet is shut. My Eheim classic 2217 is a bit louder, but no cabinet. Still I can barely hear them. No hum that I can tell, but I also have permanent tinnitus. Try that 24/7!
That's why I always have music on...

I don't think they should be making humming or vibration noises though. I noticed my Eheims were quieter than my HOBs though is that helps.

 

Recently bought a fluval 307, it's dead quiet to me. Pretty sure my HOB is louder than it too.

 

Being as you have all of them on shelves in a closet it's quite possible that the sound is being amplified. Perhaps you could try sound absorbing materials on the walls, ceiling and floor in there. You may not even have to cover them all completely. Start by hanging some bath towels along the back and side walls, you just have to figure out how to pin them to the walls.

 

a canister for a 10 gallon tank sounds extreme.

Have you considered running sponge filters? The Eheim air pumps are supposed to be some of the quietest air pumps available.

have you tried a Top Fin Silenstream 20 HOB filter from PetSmart?

They are usually $10-$15.

We have some Silenstream HOB's but I don't use the included cartridges. They have been very quiet in my experience. Out 5.5g runs a Silenstream 10 and our 10 gallon runs a Silenstream 20 + a sponge filter. I don't really hear them at all.

When our 20 gallon was set up, it ran 2x Aquaclear 30's with the flow ramped down to 50%-70% . They were extremely quiet.

Both the Aquaclear's and the Silenstream have adjustable flow.

 

I have penplax cascade canister filters. Pretty darn silent.