Hob Filter - Help Me!

I recently purchased a 40 gallon tank off craigslist with stand, heater, filter, light, etc. It was a pretty good deal for $75 bucks. When I got the aquaclear 110 running that came with it, it made a terrible rattling, grinding noise. I read up on some forums and decided to replace the shaft and impeller shaft on it (they were pretty worn out). I thought this would for sure solve the problem but when I got all of the new parts in, it still made a noise (although it wasn't as bad). I maybe would be okay with the slight new rattle it made but I keep this tank in my room so the noise is unbearable when I am trying to sleep. So I trying taking it all apart once more and I cleaned it out with water and put Vaseline on the impeller/shaft. This worked great for about 10 minutes before the Vaseline rubbed off, now it is back to the same rattling/grinding noise it made before. The only thing I know to do now is order a whole new motor, but I am scared that even that won't solve my problem. The filter cleans the water great but I don't know what to do at this point. ANY HELP is appreciated, I'm DESPERATE to get rid of this noise.

 

Allow a week or two for the impellar to gunk up. It should quiet down after that. AC 110'S are great power filters, I own two, but each have their own quarks. Make sure the lip of the lid slightly hangs over the back. Make sure the intake tube is firmly seated and the water flow adjustment lever is set solidly to the left (wide open position). Once you master all the oddities of the AC110, you'll really like it.

 

Allow a week or two for the impellar to gunk up. It should quiet down after that. AC 110'S are great power filters, I own two, but each have their own quarks. Make sure the lip of the lid slightly hangs over the back. Make sure the intake tube is firmly seated and the water flow adjustment lever is set solidly to the left (wide open position). Once you master all the oddities of the AC110, you'll really like it.

Thanks, Ill defiantly let it run for a little while to see if that fixes some of the sound problems. I agree, the filter is great, my water is crystal clear! If after a month or so it is still making noise do you think a new motor will fix my problems?

 

My guess is the vibration the impeller makes is being amplified by the light weight plastic lid.
On one of my AC110's, if the intake tube isn't firmly turned to the wide open position, it makes an annoying vibration. Just a tiny push to the left; quiet. I don't know what a new motor costs, but new AC110' cost $75 - $95.

 

UPDATE:
I tried letting it run for a couple weeks and it did not quiet down a bit So I contacted Hagen and they replaced my motor. I just put it on there and It makes THE SAME NOISE just sounds a little different pitch. I'm about to just ditch this thing altogether and buy a canister. But, I really don't want to do this... Can anyone give me a suggestion on what I should do next?????

 

My lid rattles on my aquaclear 110. A weight of some kind quieted mine. I have a ceramic frog on it.

 

Yes... I have tried that and it definitely does eliminate some rattling but all of the rattling I am hearing is coming directly from the motor.

 

I would see if Haagen will do a warranty promo on it??? You have nothing to lose by contacting and asking..... good luck!

 

For a 40 gallon tank a will work perfect for you. Maybe a Sunsun (Polar Aurora) canister running at 370gph will work also.

 

I have “inherited” some aquaclears that never get really quiet. Nothing I do solves whatever the issues are.
One thing to check that hasn’t been mentioned yet is how the intake tube seats on the grey plate that covers the impeller blades. Sometimes the intake tube pushes on that the wrong way and the impeller blades actually rub against that plate.
It happened to me when I put a prefilter sponge on the intake tube, and it pushed the tank part of that intake assembly the wrong way (away from the back wall of the tank), and the filter end pushed down more on the plate.