The noisiest sponge filter

I wanted extra filtration plus some aeration in the goldfish tank. I’m already running a Fluval 407 on it.
I picked up this sponge filter and it is SO NOISY!
Not only does it let out big bubbles that make a gloop glurp gloop noise when they hit the surface (regardless of how I adjust the air flow on the pump, but it also makes what sounds kind of like a rattling noise. I have taken the whole thing apart to see if there was anything loose inside it, I have adjusted the airline in case that was the problem, I’ve made sure the filter isn’t touching anything. I am out of ideas.

To give you an idea of how bad it is my fiancée told me that if I really wanted extra filtration we’d just go get another Fluval 407.

 

I wanted extra filtration plus some aeration in the goldfish tank. I’m already running a Fluval 407 on it.
I picked up this sponge filter and it is SO NOISY!
Not only does it let out big bubbles that make a gloop glurp gloop noise when they hit the surface (regardless of how I adjust the air flow on the pump, but it also makes what sounds kind of like a rattling noise. I have taken the whole thing apart to see if there was anything loose inside it, I have adjusted the airline in case that was the problem, I’ve made sure the filter isn’t touching anything. I am out of ideas.

To give you an idea of how bad it is my fiancée told me that if I really wanted extra filtration we’d just go get another Fluval 407.

Yes I have one of these for my axolotl's 40 gallon breeder, and it does the same thing. It is very annoying.

 

I had the same problems and here’s some solutions. If you put an air stone inside of the sponge filter it reduces the amount of bubbles and makes it quieter. And if you take a little towel and either lay the air pump on it or wrap it around it it’s quieter.
Here’s a vid on how to make it if you want

 

My air pump itself is almost silent. The noise is from the filter. I am going to pick up a small air stone today and try that and see if it will help.

 

I've got... 4 of these that I'm running (3 of them in the room I'm sitting in right now). Two of them zip tied together and stacked on top of each other. Are you running them with airstones inside? Theres a slot right on the the base made to fit one. Mine came with an airstone, but the Ziss ones make even finer bubbles, which makes them even quieter. Also, they'll work better the closer you can get that lift tube to the surface.

 

I fixed it! So the first time I took it apart I didn't take the last part of the black tubing (that is connected to the base) off. I tugged it and it didn't budge so I thought it didn't come off.
Today I decided to do the air stone hack so I pulled it apart again. This time I tugged harder at the last tube and it popped off and an air stone fell out! That's what the rattling noise was. The air stone wasn't connected. So I pushed it firmly into the slot/hole, put everything back together and VOILA! Much much much better!

It's a 60 gallon tank and is kind of tall so I am not going to get the lift tube too close to the top, but I did extend it out further.

It is seriously 1000x quieter than it was.

This is why I love FishLore. If it wasn't for seeing that air stone hack I wouldn't have taken it apart again and probably would have thrown out the $13 sponge filter and replaced it with the $300 Fluval.

On the other hand, maybe I should pretend it still doesn't work so I have an excuse to get that second Fluval!

 

I have dozens of sponge filters running in the next bedroom to mine. Another simple trick is a 90 degree PVC elbow on top of the lift tube. This has the added advantage of sending the water in whichever direction the elbow is facing instead of just up. Drilling a 5 mm hole for the airline and painting the PVC black are optional.

I find any of the plastic cleanable air stones to be far superior to the grey stone that blocks up.

BabsandLoon if your tank is shallow and you can’t stop the gloop gloop sound because the water is almost the same height as the top of the filter it is also common practice to run without a lift tube.
Cory has many filters in his shop without lift tubes because he is tied of customers freaking out about BN plecos harmlessly feeding inside the lift tube. ( lol)

 

I have to admit if I saw a cute BN inside the lift tube I'd be a little concerned myself!