filter question

[lambitron]

This might be a really newb question, but.... Our filter pretty much has been silent. And this morning it's been pretty loud. It's nothing that sounds like it's dying or any horrible sounds. It's just kind of a hum... like the motor is working or something. Is it okay? it's a whisper30.

[goalieman59]

has your water level changed?

[lambitron]

nope. The water level is still the same.

[Cory Keeper]

Might try turning it off and then back on. If that doesn't solve it, disassemble, clean the magnet and impeller, then reassemble.

[lambitron]

Okay, turning it off and on didn't help. And cleaning it didn't help. Could this mean that the filter can't keep up with the tank? and it's trying to work too hard?? Cause that's really what it sounds like... like it's working extra hard. This is the filter that came with my 29g tank- whisper 30.

Sorry if this was a really dumb question. but if something is wrong with my filter, I'd like to make it better asap.

[Cory Keeper]

Try replacing the impeller shaft. Petsmart sells them. And no, its not trying to work harder. A filter is not alive, therefore it can't know what kind of tank its on.

[msjinkzd]

And certainly not a dumb question at all. Before you replace it, have you cleaned out the intake tube with a bottle brush? Sometimes alot of mulm will accumulate in there as well.

[lambitron]

Okay, We cleaned it really well... still making the hummy noise.

We don't have a petsmart around us, but we have a petco. We'll look into replacement parts- after one more question...

Do they just get noisier? I mean, all of the parts are working, and it's filtering well. Nothing is stuck anywhere, it's clean... Just now it's noisier?

[msjinkzd]

I haven't noticed any of mine getting louder with age.

[excuzzzeme]

Filters on average last 3-5 years and longer. Sudden noise is often due to something getting caught in the magnet impeller area, broken shaft guide (top or bottom), and/or bad impeller.

Take it apart once more. examine the impeller shaft and magnet. If scored, replace. Look down into the seat and see if bottom guide hole is still there. Check top guide hole. There is often a rubber piece on the ends of the shaft to act as a bushing in the guides and have been known to break causing a noisy impeller.

[Cory Keeper]

If anything my mag 350 quiets down as its runs after being cleaned.

I would lean towards the shaft guide or bearing being broken. Like I said, something like that you would just replace the impeller, but for a whisper, dirt cheap.

[THE V]

Sometimes the impeller shaft can get a slight bend to it. I had this happen to my old whisper 20-40 that I've got on my QT tank. The thing rattled like crazy for a while so I gently bent it back. It still is much louder than it used to be but it is in the garage I really don't care.

Remember the only moving part in the filter is the impeller. So if it is making noise that is where you look. You can order them online for not that much usually if it needs to be replaced.