"Break In" period for filter?

holly12 · 06-04-2011, 09:35 PM

I have a question for you all: Do the Aquaclear filters have a noisy "break in" period for the impeller and motor?

My Aquaclear 20 was second hand, so by the time I got it, it was completely silent. I just set up a 20 gal tank and got a new Aquaclear 30 for it. We primed it and plugged it in, there is no air in the intake, but it's waaaay noisier than my other one. (The noise lessens when we take the lid off, but because we have cats we would rather leave the lid on).

I was reading online and a few people mentioned something about a possible break in period of Aquaclear filters, but I thought I'd post the question here, as I trust everyone on this forum waaaaay more than anything else I read on the internet! (I'm really hoping it will get quiet as it will be a pain to take apart and exchange - especially during cycling).

Thanks for you time!

jrman83 · 06-04-2011, 09:50 PM

Just the lid rattling probably.

Rohkey · 06-04-2011, 10:06 PM

Mine didn't, it's never made a peep and the lid is securely on it.

holly12 · 06-04-2011, 10:24 PM

Hmmm... It's not the lid rattling. We held it on tightly. (The 10g filter lid rattles periodically, so I know what that sounds like).

This is more the impeller or motor making sounds. I don't know.... I've read they have to 'break in' but knowing me and my luck, I got a faulty filter, lol!

Thanks guys.

smurfette1175 · 06-05-2011, 09:39 AM

If it is still new and under warantee, I would replace it. I had a problem when I bought 2 identical filters, one was silent and the other sounded like an aircraft engine. I returned the noisy one as I didn't feel like fiddling with a new filter. I think it may have been bad quality control because the replacement was silent as well.

ReStart · 06-05-2011, 02:08 PM

I've had a couple of hobs that got more quiet after a little "filter slime" got down into the impeller and magnet area. If it was really bad, like aggravating me while watching tv or something, I'd take it back and try a new one.

I just put (last night) an aqueon 30 on the back of my 60g tall in addition to the Cascade 1000 cannister filter. I am trying to "polish" the water to crystal clear, all the time. Anyway, it is silent from my chair 5 feet away.

holly12 · 06-05-2011, 06:46 PM

Thanks everyone.

I took the filter back and exchanged it for one of the same kind. It makes the same noise. I'm going to hope it's just needing to build up 'slime' or needs to break in a bit, since my Aquaclear 20 is so very silent (impressively silent actually, lol!) The new one is a jet engine compared to the old one, lol. Ah well, I'll give it some time.

Rohkey · 06-05-2011, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by holly12

Thanks everyone.

I took the filter back and exchanged it for one of the same kind. It makes the same noise. I'm going to hope it's just needing to build up 'slime' or needs to break in a bit, since my Aquaclear 20 is so very silent (impressively silent actually, lol!) The new one is a jet engine compared to the old one, lol. Ah well, I'll give it some time.

It could potentially be how/where it's positioned. It seems pretty coincidental that both of the filters produce the same noise when most people don't have too much of an issue (although some people remove the lids from the Aquaclears because of the noise I've read).

holly12 · 06-05-2011, 07:15 PM

True... maybe I'll try moving it a bit.

I would leave the lid off, but I'm afraid of dust and other debris getting in there...

06-04-2011, 09:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
holly12 Dude.... wait..... what? holly12's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 3,074 Name: Holly Location: Canada My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 815 Times Said "Thanks" 672 Times Was Thanked 528 Times in 515 Posts	"Break In" period for filter? I have a question for you all: Do the Aquaclear filters have a noisy "break in" period for the impeller and motor? My Aquaclear 20 was second hand, so by the time I got it, it was completely silent. I just set up a 20 gal tank and got a new Aquaclear 30 for it. We primed it and plugged it in, there is no air in the intake, but it's waaaay noisier than my other one. (The noise lessens when we take the lid off, but because we have cats we would rather leave the lid on). I was reading online and a few people mentioned something about a possible break in period of Aquaclear filters, but I thought I'd post the question here, as I trust everyone on this forum waaaaay more than anything else I read on the internet! (I'm really hoping it will get quiet as it will be a pain to take apart and exchange - especially during cycling). Thanks for you time! __________________ 20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981 36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981

06-04-2011, 09:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
jrman83 ....has no life.... jrman83's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,463 Name: Ben Location: White Plains, MD My location Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 3,382 Times Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 2,431 Times in 2,286 Posts	Re: "Break In" period for filter? Just the lid rattling probably.

06-04-2011, 10:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
Rohkey The Yeti Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 290 Name: Chris Location: Detroit, MI, USA My location Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 86 Times Was Thanked 92 Times in 84 Posts	Re: "Break In" period for filter? Mine didn't, it's never made a peep and the lid is securely on it. __________________ 30G planted aquarium with Aquaclear 50 and two Aquaclear 20s. 7 Cherry Barbs, 12 Cardinal Tetras, 1 Albino Bristlenose Pleco, 1 Golden Honey Gourami, and a handful of Ghost Shrimp.

06-04-2011, 10:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
holly12 Dude.... wait..... what? holly12's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 3,074 Name: Holly Location: Canada My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 815 Times Said "Thanks" 672 Times Was Thanked 528 Times in 515 Posts	Re: "Break In" period for filter? Hmmm... It's not the lid rattling. We held it on tightly. (The 10g filter lid rattles periodically, so I know what that sounds like). This is more the impeller or motor making sounds. I don't know.... I've read they have to 'break in' but knowing me and my luck, I got a faulty filter, lol! Thanks guys. __________________ 20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981 36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981

06-05-2011, 09:39 AM	#5 (permalink)
smurfette1175 smurfette1175's Photo Gallery Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 52 Location: Ontario, Canada My location Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 26 Times Said "Thanks" 10 Times Was Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: "Break In" period for filter? If it is still new and under warantee, I would replace it. I had a problem when I bought 2 identical filters, one was silent and the other sounded like an aircraft engine. I returned the noisy one as I didn't feel like fiddling with a new filter. I think it may have been bad quality control because the replacement was silent as well. __________________ 55 G Community Planted: 2 Pearl Gourami's, 2 Angels, 5 Zebra Danios, 6 Cherry Barbs, 6 Ottos, 7 Peppered Cories

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06-05-2011, 02:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
ReStart ReStart's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 321 Name: SammyLee Location: Mid-South My location Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 37 Times Said "Thanks" 83 Times Was Thanked 63 Times in 55 Posts	Re: "Break In" period for filter? I've had a couple of hobs that got more quiet after a little "filter slime" got down into the impeller and magnet area. If it was really bad, like aggravating me while watching tv or something, I'd take it back and try a new one. I just put (last night) an aqueon 30 on the back of my 60g tall in addition to the Cascade 1000 cannister filter. I am trying to "polish" the water to crystal clear, all the time. Anyway, it is silent from my chair 5 feet away. __________________ 60g tall, all artificial plants, Rainbow tank; 55g for African Cichlids. 20g long for fry; 20g hex, 2 black Angels at my desk; 10g planted, with 50 Molly fry; 10 gal, 2x 13w cfl lightning, planted; 2g hex for "Buddy the Betta"; Wanting a 200g +, MTS getting bad.

06-05-2011, 06:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
holly12 Dude.... wait..... what? holly12's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 3,074 Name: Holly Location: Canada My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 815 Times Said "Thanks" 672 Times Was Thanked 528 Times in 515 Posts	Re: "Break In" period for filter? Thanks everyone. I took the filter back and exchanged it for one of the same kind. It makes the same noise. I'm going to hope it's just needing to build up 'slime' or needs to break in a bit, since my Aquaclear 20 is so very silent (impressively silent actually, lol!) The new one is a jet engine compared to the old one, lol. Ah well, I'll give it some time. __________________ 20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981 36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981

06-05-2011, 07:15 PM	#9 (permalink)
holly12 Dude.... wait..... what? holly12's Photo Gallery Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 3,074 Name: Holly Location: Canada My location Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 815 Times Said "Thanks" 672 Times Was Thanked 528 Times in 515 Posts	Re: "Break In" period for filter? True... maybe I'll try moving it a bit. I would leave the lid off, but I'm afraid of dust and other debris getting in there... __________________ 20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981 36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981

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