Noisy Aqueon Quietflow30

Hi, everyone! I'm a newbie to the forum, and I've been reading many threads, and soaking in new info like a sponge Thanks for your willingness to share with folks like myself!
I've recently gone from a 20 gallon long aquarium to a 29, and the filter that came with the aquarium (purchased used) is an Aqueon Quietflow 30. My old aquarium was using a Marineland (with the wheel? Can't remember the name) and I hadn't been too happy with it, as the wheel would slow and stop turning very quickly. So in light of that, I've been looking forward to a change, and I've heard and read very good reviews on the Aqueon.
Now - I've been running the new setup, and I've been very surprised at how loud the water flow/discharge into the aquarium is! Not the hum of the motor - that is very quiet. The noise is coming from the Diffuser Grid (the blue part which is NOT the bio-holster), which is aerating the water as it goes back into the aquarium. When I remove it, the filter does run quite quiet, as I was expecting and hoping. But when I put it back in, it gets loud. I'm not expecting silence, as I know and expect aquariums to produce some sound. But this is more like a gushing waterfall than it is like a babbling brook.
I have two questions
1 - is that diffuser grid necessary? If it's only helping aerate the water, I am running bubbles (As the tank is for me, but also for my boys, and they like the bubbles! ), so the surface agitation I would think would be plenty. If the diffuser is playing a part in bio-filtration (??) I wonder if there would be some other way to accomplish the same effect.
2 - I wonder if the flow is too high, and maybe cutting it back would help? It's running a new cartridge, so it shouldn't be clogged or full at this point. But it does seem like the water is flowing above the plastic divider in the filter as if the cartridge were being too restrictive.
I've tried to look around and find someone else with the same 'issues', but haven't found anything. I find it hard to believe I'm the only one who thinks this sound level is higher than expected though. Thanks in advance for any feedback, and I'm excited to learn. I'd had an aquarium as a kid, but after reading for only a few minutes on here, I realize I don't really know much at all!

 

If you mean the small blue block that sits in the output...no its not necessary and while I was using the very same filter to cycle my tank a while ago I never used that piece.

 

Welcome to FL



You don't need the holster. Its supposed to be there to provide additional BB but honestly, you are getting enough from the filter itself. You could also raise the water so its about 1/2 inch under the output. That should quiet it down some but it also depends on what stock you have in the tank ( fish that are jumpers can be problematic )

 

Yes that's the piece! Thanks for the response - I was hesitant to take it out, as I may not have noticed its benefits until it was too late. As the aquarium is in my boys' bedroom, it's so much nicer now that it's a bit quieter.

 

Thanks, Junne! Yes, the filter seems like it's doing a super job on its own. My water levels are about as high as they can be - I have it up to the bottom of the output. I don't think I have any jumpers (??) so that shouldn't be - or at least hasn't been - a problem!

Thanks for the welcome - I'm glad to be here!

 

By the way, the brand new Aqueon 20's & 30's have a sponge on the front on that blue part - that seems to make much more sense since you can just rinse the sponge every other water change and replace only when its falling apart. It's pretty quiet too with it on there.
I just got another one for my QT tank and was surprised at the change