noisy Filstar XP3

[SomethingFishy]

After hearing a lot of good things about this filter, I finally got one from Big Al's. First of all, the instructions are terrible. No instructions really, just pictures. :mad: I finally got everything put together, and it's working great. The priming was a snap. Only problem is it's much noisier than I was expecting, a lot of people have said how quiet it is. It's loud enough to hear even with my cabinet doors closed. I tried re-seating the impeller, but that didn't help. Anyone have any Ideas?
Thanks!
Virginia

[125gJoe]

http://gordon.sourcecod.com/images/flagicons/american_flag.gif
I've got a quiet one, very quiet...
Now, this will sound very simplistic, but you may need to lighlty shake some air pockets out of the filter. Do this several times.
If that doesn't work, try quickly disconnecting and reconnecting the power cord. This may help getting the impellor to vibrate less (I haven't had that prob.. -only on AquaClear HOB's).

It does sound like air in the filter..

And-- make sure the top 'media' cover is not upside down....

[SomethingFishy]

Joe, thanks for the reply.
I tried both of your suggestions, no change in the noise. The small troubleshooting area of the instructions say a new filter may be noisy for a "few hours". It's been about 12 hours now. It really doesn't sound like air noise to me, more like impeller or motor noise. Was yours a little noisy when it was new?
Thanks,
Virginia

[beviking]

Ditto as Joe said. The only noise I've experienced was after cleaning the filter, trapped air in the media makes it sound like kids in a bathtub playing inside the filter. A few shakes and it usually disappears. Try disconnecting the hoses, pulling the filter out of the cabinet so you can shake it (actually, give it a few quick twists like a steering wheel-careful, it IS plastic). I do this now before reconnecting the hoses and it has worked great! I too have unplugged the unit, waited a minute and plugged 'er back in to achieve the same results.
Mine wasn't any noisier new as it is now (6months), which is not at all. Good luck!

[ed101]

Hi, I just got my new XP3 from Drs. Foster and Smith, and I experienced the same problem, the filter is very noisy, annoying motor sound, and I could hear that even in my bathroom. I tried very hard to release all the air in the filter already, and it doesn't help at all, terrible, and I am going to exchange for another one.

[Ryan45]

Instead of getting the Filstar XP3 why don't you get the ehiem 2026 or a classic? They are the best you can get and very quiet. The Silence is worth every extra cent and you can get it at Big Al's with all media included.

[StreetCypher]

Instead of getting the Filstar XP3 why don't you get the ehiem 2026 or a classic? They are the best you can get and very quiet. The Silence is worth every extra cent and you can get it at Big Al's with all media included.
I agree that ehiems have been rated and reviewed highly, but money is an issue to some people.

[Raskolnikov]

My first XP3 was very noisy. It was a high pitch motor sound. What I did was increase the diameter of the holes in the spray bar, and it became super-silent. Someone on this board had recommended doing so, but i don't remember who.

[Blinky]

Something's definitely wrong, FilStar XP1/2/3 filters are QUIET. Mine is nearly silent, except if there's air trapped inside after a water change. I have heard the spraybar recommendation a number of times, it's worth drilling the holes slightly larger to see if it helps.
Before you return it, I'd call the company and ask them to troubleshoot it - it would be a shame for you to have to get a different filter.

[chefkeith]

I got 6 Filstar’s and they all make very little noise right now. I do agree that straight out of the box, they are kind of loud though. IME, the canister needs some minor adjustments and tweaking.

The magnetic impeller is the only moving part on the Filstar's besides the water itself. This is the only possible part that is making any motor noise whatsoever. You can find this out for yourself by taking the top off the canister and removing the impeller (and the quick disconnect hoses), then plugging it back in. Nothing is moving and it is virtually silent.
Leave it plugged in and slowly put the impeller back in. You’ll feel the magnetic force start to take over when you get the impeller close enough, at this time you can just drop the impeller back in the hole. If you get an electrical shock don’t blame me. Anyways, the impeller is the only thing making any noise.

Fish water slime usually helps lube up the impeller to make it less noisy. If this is canister is going on a new tank, it may take awhile for the slime to build up on the impeller. If you have really hard water, maybe that could cause a noise problem too.


Like what Raskolnikov said, opening up the holes on the spray bar helps lessen the whistling noise too.

Burp the canister.
When you think the canister if full of water, take a flashlight and look for the waterline on the canister. If you can see a waterline that means there’s air in it. To get the air out, unplug the canister, and then release one of the clamps holding the top on. Let a little bit of water spray out through seems, then close tightly. Now plug it back in and let it run for about a minute. You might have to do this 3 or 4 times if there is air in the hoses. The quicker you can unplug the canister then release the clamp, the better.

[chefkeith]

Right now, I'm looking at a new impeller that I have from an XP1 that I bought for parts a few months ago. Anyway there seems to be small burrs on the plastic parts near the magnet. Maybe filing them down carefully would help some.

[ed101]

Dear Pros, thanks for all the advices. Yes, the spray bar does make high-pitch noise, but I removed the spray already, the loud low-frequency noise is from the motor. I just got a Fluval 304 from Petco, this one is very quiet, I could only hear slight motor noise by placing my ear close to the filter. I am going to exchange for another XP3, see if the new one improves, and do an update later. Thanks.

[Jason01]

Mine was noisy for a few days, then the spray bar whine kicked in.
The whine made me want to smack my head against the tank. After some searching, discovered that the noise was the spray bar. I would turn the flow down to about 1/2, and the noise would magiacally dissappear. Drilled the bar out, and on full flow, silent!

Actually for the first few days, the filter noise made me think that it was a mistake in buying it. That thing was LOUD! It just got better on its own, I guess :D

[ed101]

Just got the replacement XP3 from Drs. F&S.
This one is a little bit louder, and has water leakage even with 4 clamps securely fastened. I couldn't sleep at night when operating this filter. Regret.

[chefkeith]

ED101,
If Dr F&S won't take the xp3 back, you should try contacting Aquarium Pharmaceuticals. You can fill out this form @ http://www.aquariumpharm.com/filstarForm.html and get help from Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Technical Service Team.

[chefkeith]

Also ED101, If all else fails, I'd be willing to buy the XP3 from you. So don't throw it away.

[rockgitarplaya]

have you tried setting the filter on a folded towel or something. I had the same problem and that fixed it. The cabinet was amplifying the vibrations. IME they get more quiet with age.

[ed101]

Thanks, DFS will take them back, their customer service is excellent, and I am going to order an Ehiem 2217.

[ed101]

Thanks, DFS refunded both of the XP3s, just got a Eheim 2217 on ebay for $100, and $15 shipping, good deal, and I like this filter, much more quiet. :D

[SCU33ZE]

i dunno bout u guys but i had a similar problem on my AC mini i noteced that after every motor clean up it would get loud??it the opposite but not for my ,,a little sludge helps lube the magnet thingy well good luck

[lquinsey]

The silence of the Eheims are worth the extra money. :bowing:

[cdsilva]

Burp the canister.
When you think the canister if full of water, take a flashlight and look for the waterline on the canister. If you can see a waterline that means there’s air in it. To get the air out, unplug the canister, and then release one of the clamps holding the top on. Let a little bit of water spray out through seems, then close tightly. Now plug it back in and let it run for about a minute. You might have to do this 3 or 4 times if there is air in the hoses. The quicker you can unplug the canister then release the clamp, the better.

I am reviving this old thread as the above recommendation for eliminating air in my XP3 worked perfectly.

My XP3 is only a month old, and air cavitation became a problem after the first cleaning. The typical troubleshooting recommendations of checking connections, unplugging and waiting, tipping/shaking, and worn seals were not the problems.

The above solution makes perfect sense from a physics standpoint. Unbuckling one of the clamps allows the trapped air to escape and be replaced with tank water through siphonic action of the primed system while the unit is not plugged in. As soon as a little water flows out, you know the air is gone. Buckle it back up and presto, problem solved for me.

Excellent work, Chef.

[richardhmc]

when you say unbuckle a clamp, which clamp do you mean?

I have problems with air too.. when i turn on the filter, i see air bubbles getting sucked in from the intake into the canister.. I tried turning off the canister, opening the easy top compartment where the intake and outake are, and then filling the intake hose with water but it doesnt work...

I tried the shaking method and I shook it so much it was as if I was trying to a goldfish in a bag!

None of these methods worked

[AquatiCreations]

Virginia,
If your tank has sand its is possible some stirred up and got into the intake. which will result in a grinding noise from the impeller. to solve this simple wash the canister. i have had this happen many times.