Seachem Tidal 75 Media

I created an account, just so I could ask some questions on this thread:

How I fill my Seachem Tidal 75 with media now | 436026 | Filters and Filtration

But, sadly it's closed to further comments.

I am the owner of a new Seachem Tidal 75. I like the IDEA of the filter, more than I like the execution.

It's a little frustrating to me that the filter has bypass issues with a media basket that's full and with the flow cranked up to max. That really seems like a design flaw.

Last year I bought a 3 pack of pond foam, which had a 20 PPI, 30 PPI, 40 PPI sponge sheet. Each sheet is maybe an inch thick. I cut foams out of each PPI and stacked them from bottom to top at 20, 30 and then 40. Turned the filter on and got real close to bypass. The water was just sitting there, right on the edge of the white basket. I went to bed, and when I woke up in the morning, the blue pop-up on the lid was up, and when I took the lid off, I could see a lot of bypass.

Then I pulled out the 40 PPI foam and just left the 20 and 30 PPI foam in there, and the blue float was now only 25% up. If I turn the flow rate down, then I can get it to shrink back down. But I feel like I shouldn't have to. I should be able to run this thing with a full basket and full flow.

I think I will follow the plans of Cichlidude and drill some extra holes and get 10 PPI and 20 PPI foam.

The foam in the Aquaclear is 20 PPI, and an Aquaclear has never failed to keep my tank clean. If things get really murky, I can just throw some polyfill in there for a few hours and crank up the flow.

Now, for the filter design.

I watched all these YouTube videos about how quiet the filter is supposed to be. I don't find the Tidal to be all that quiet at all. It's significantly louder than the Emperor 400 that it replaced. And that bothers me because the Emperor had it's motor outside the aquarium. The Tidal's motor is inside the tank, so the sound has to go through water AND glass before it makes it to my ears.

I bought a Tidal 110 back in 2018 and REALLY tried to get it to work. But the noise level was completely unacceptable. I made a video and sent it Seachem and they sent me a new motor and impeller. That didn't help the issue. I ended up returning the 110 and the extra motor to Amazon for a refund and gave up on the Tidal.

With a fish store gift card in hand, I thought I would try the Tidal 75 to see if it might be quieter than the 110. And it is. But it's not as quiet as the Emperor 400 or an Aquaclear 70.

I've had the Tidal now for 3 days. Does thing eventually get quieter? I can deal with the noise level now, because it's in my family room, but I would not use this filter in a bedroom.

Now that the Emperor Pro, Whisper EX and Tidal are out, all with the pump in the tank, I hope that the engineers at Haagen are working on an Aquaclear filter with the motor in the water. I'm kind of tempted to see if I could hack an Aquaclear to use a Tidal motor. Seachem sells the motor separately.

 

I’m surprised. I have the tidal 110 side by side with my marineland 350 and all you hear is the marineland. Been debating on getting another tidal. Mine works flawlessly and quietly. But mine is filled differently. I’m using the stock blue sponge than filter floss and on top of that the included bag filled with matrix and another with bio-home. The 2 filters are are on a 90g.

 

I’m surprised. I have the tidal 110 side by side with my marineland 350 and all you hear is the marineland. Been debating on getting another tidal. Mine works flawlessly and quietly. But mine is filled differently. I’m using the stock blue sponge than filter floss and on top of that the included bag filled with matrix and another with bio-home. The 2 filters are are on a 90g.

That's what has me concerned. Why am I hearing this much noise?

Here's a video of what my filter sounds like:

https://imgur.com/ySrcR0O

Is this level normal?

 

Here is an Amazon customer review of the 110. This is the noise levels I was hearing:

How loud is 110 tidal wave

The noise is horrible! Way too loud. I don't know how anyone puts up with it.

If your 110 this noisy?

 

That's what has me concerned. Why am I hearing this much noise?

Here's a video of what my filter sounds like:

https://imgur.com/ySrcR0O

Is this level normal?

I had a tidal 75 for about a week and returned it and went back to Marineland filters, mine sounded the same exact way. The new Pro models are so quiet.

it seems like a mixed bag as some say their Tidals are silent and some say loud as well. I would definitely go with 10 and 20 ppi foam. I find in my filters, which all run diy foam media that you will always get a little bypass since you are adding way more resistance then they were ever designed for.

 

I had a tidal 75 for about a week and returned it and went back to Marineland filters, mine sounded the same exact way. The new Pro models are so quiet.

it seems like a mixed bag as some say their Tidals are silent and some say loud as well. I would definitely go with 10 and 20 ppi foam. I find in my filters, which all run diy foam media that you will always get a little bypass since you are adding way more resistance then they were ever designed for.

Sadly, I can't return it. The store I bought it from has a very crappy return policy. I think I am just going to work with Seachem support to get it swapped out. The only thing I don't like about the new Penguins is the fact that it still uses filter cartridges. I sent Seachem the video I made and they told me the splashing noise was normal. I told them that I wasn't asking about the splashing noise. I was asking about the motor noise. No response. Kind of frustrating.

 

Like most HOB's, the impeller might need several weeks to gunk up. Once that occurs the the noise should substantially subside.
I'm sure the filtration capabilities between the Tidals, "modified" Emperors & AC's are relatively similar.

 

I REALLY want to make this filter work. But I need a better noise level than what I am getting.

 

I've read many good reviews on the Tidal HOB's, but they have not caught on in my area.
None of my LFS stock Tidal filters, including the big box pet stores.
Might be a good idea to go back to the Emperor 400. Toss the cartridge, keep the bio wheels, stuff the media box w/ sponges, and you're good.

 

Sadly, I can't return it. The store I bought it from has a very crappy return policy. I think I am just going to work with Seachem support to get it swapped out. The only thing I don't like about the new Penguins is the fact that it still uses filter cartridges. I sent Seachem the video I made and they told me the splashing noise was normal. I told them that I wasn't asking about the splashing noise. I was asking about the motor noise. No response. Kind of frustrating.

Yeah I agree with you there. I strip out the bio wheels and stock cartridges and just cut my own 20ppi foam.

I had a rough time with support too, that’s why I got rid of it. They were very, very slow to respond. But in your situation I would wait it out too. They are made with Sicce pumps which are supposed to be some of the quietest in the industry.

 

Yeah I agree with you there. I strip out the bio wheels and stock cartridges and just cut my own 20ppi foam.

I had a rough time with support too, that’s why I got rid of it. They were very, very slow to respond. But in your situation I would wait it out too. They are made with Sicce pumps which are supposed to be some of the quietest in the industry.

I have often wondered about this. How does the pump in the Emperor work? Does it pump the water out the very bottom of the filter chamber and it rises up, or does it just pump it into the back wherever it can dump it?

With the use of a filter cartridge that's basically a wall, there is no need to dump the water out at the bottom. As long as you dump it behind the cartridge you're good. This would prevent me from using two different PPI foam in the filter.

 

I have often wondered about this. How does the pump in the Emperor work? Does it pump the water out the very bottom of the filter chamber and it rises up, or does it just pump it into the back wherever it can dump it?

With the use of a filter cartridge that's basically a wall, there is no need to dump the water out at the bottom. As long as you dump it behind the cartridge you're good. This would prevent me from using two different PPI foam in the filter.

Yes it just fills chamber and it spill through the media and the overflow. I find you want leave 1/2in-1in between the media and the back though. If you completely stuff it the one side it plug up faster with some of the larger debris.

 

Has anyone tried to lubricate a Tidal impeller and shaft to see if it helps with noise?

Years ago I bought an Aquino HOB (which was the first with the motor in the water, I believe), and the motor was loud. When I added silicone, it REALLY quieted down. But I ended up giving up on it because of the splashing noise is made.

The Aquaclears seem to really improve with some lubrication.

The Tetra Whispers are a lost cause. The old Willinger Brothers Whisper filters were super quite. The current Whisper filters are insanely loud.

 

My friend gave me two Tidal 75 filters. They have a lot of overflow if you pack too much media in them or use too dense of foam pad.

I bought a 2-pack of Marineland foam pads made for their 530 canister on sale at PetSmart for about $3 and cut out a pad shaped for the Tidal basket. It is very coarse and I have a 20ppi sheet of foam from Aquaneat I got from Amazon. It is the same density as Aquaclear foam.

I've found i can't stack anything on top of those 2 layers except for bags of Matrix, otherwise it immediately bypasses a lot. Even with the coarse and 20ppi foam it still bypasses somewhat.

I have the baskets drilled as well.

I run them about 75% flow. I like them, but like my Aquaclears better

 

I bought some 1” Poret foam from Swiss tropical. I have 2 1inch 10 ppi pads and 2 1” 20 ppl pads. Right now, I am getting no bypass. I’m planning to just use foam for my mechanical and biological.

I set up an Aquaclear 70 on my other aquarium and it’s quieter and doesn’t have the bypass issues the Tidal is giving me.

Considering all the praise that the Tidal has been getting online, I’m kind of disappointed in it. Even if it quiets down after running for a few weeks, the bypass issue is still going to be a problem.

The way it was explains to me years ago is that all HOBs are designed to bypass if they clog up or the back pressure is too high. This is done on purpose to prevent a filter from overflowing, which would be a huge ISSUE with HOBs, since they’re hanging OUTSIDE the tank and would cause an homeowner’s insurance claim.

That being said, I feel like it’s way too easy to get a Tidal to bypass.

 

So, here we are. It's September 13th, and my Tidal 75 has gotten LOUDER than when I first bought it. I have it filled with 3 1" pieces of 10 PPI Poret foam and 2 1" pieces of 20 ppi Poret foam. I just cleaned all the foam out today, and the only thing keeping it from bypassing right now is surface tension on the water behind the basket.

I'm feeling some buyer's remorse here.

I pulled the basket out and drilled a bunch of 1/4" holes to open up the bottom as much as I could. I made NO difference whatsoever in the water sitting outside the basket. It's still sitting just over the lip of the basket and only surface tension is preventing it from overflowing.

I may take one of the 10 ppi pieces out and see if that helps.

It really is disappointing that if you fill the whole basket, the filter will bypass.

 

So, here we are. It's September 13th, and my Tidal 75 has gotten LOUDER than when I first bought it. I have it filled with 3 1" pieces of 10 PPI Poret foam and 2 1" pieces of 20 ppi Poret foam. I just cleaned all the foam out today, and the only thing keeping it from bypassing right now is surface tension on the water behind the basket.

I'm feeling some buyer's remorse here.

I pulled the basket out and drilled a bunch of 1/4" holes to open up the bottom as much as I could. I made NO difference whatsoever in the water sitting outside the basket. It's still sitting just over the lip of the basket and only surface tension is preventing it from overflowing.

I may take one of the 10 ppi pieces out and see if that helps.

It really is disappointing that if you fill the whole basket, the filter will bypass.

I do think with the basket chuck full that it will be an issue. Which I agree it’s pretty sad that you can fill the whole basket but the intention might of never been for that much foam. I know by default they come with some matrix so maybe that thought was you would fill the basket with a pile if matrix. Either way your woes keeP me on the side of the fence of not wanting to try one again.

 

I’m going to take it apart tomorrow and add some silicone grease to the impeller and see if that quiets things down.

You are right that the filter may not be made for that much foam. But I can get bypass by packing it full of Matrix, or by simply filling it with Polyfill.

 

Well, I think it's time to get rid of the Tidal 75. I cannot stop it from bypassing. I have 2 1" 10 PPI pieces of foam in it, and 2 1" pieces of 20 PPI foam in it, so now I only have 4" of foam in it in stead of 5" inches. With freshly cleaned sponges, it's still on the verge of bypass. The only thing keeping it from bypassing is the surface tension of the water. If I go back to the original Seachem foam. and put in the back of Matrix it comes with, and some polyfill, it will immediately bypass.

I think the original Seachem foam is 10 or 15 ppi, so it's pretty coarse. I seem to recall Seachem selling pre-cut polyfill pads when the filter first came out. I see Seachem doesn't have them on their website anymore.

EDIT: Found them! You are being redirected...

I wonder if Seachem discontinued them because they were causing too much bypass.

I also drilled a ton of extra holes in the basket's bottom, and it didn't make any difference. A freshly cleaned filter at full force is about 48 hours away from bypassing.

Just for fun, I set up an Aquaclear 70 on another 55 gallon tank I have. I cut 2 1" pieces of 10 ppi foam and 2 1" pieces of 20 ppi foam. It's been running for over 2 weeks now and no bypass.

You can also overfill the Aquaclear and cause bypass. When the water level is higher than the edge of the basket, it can flow across the right side of the filter without going through the media. In my experience you really need to pack the basket to get it to do this.