noisy HOB filter

montanafish gal

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Aug 1, 2009
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Montana
I have a typical HOB filter, 2 filter spaces, NO biowheel, just your typical filter on my 46 gallon. IT's been running for close to 7 months now. Lately it has been very noisy. I've taken it apart and cleaned it and it's still noisy. Is this typical? does it mean its time to replace the filter? what is the life span of these filters? It still seems to work fine; it's just really annoying to listen to.
Thanks
 
take the impeller assembly apart, clean and inspect parts for wear or damage.


what brand is the filter? some are much better than others.
 
I have taken it apart, cleaned, etc.
It's a TopFin.60. I think that TopFin is the PetSmart Brand; I don't know i that makes it good or not so good. If it's not so good, any suggestions on what brand would be good? It would have to be a brand that is available at PetSmart.
 
Aquaclear filters are great i have one on both of my tanks and i bought one of them used and it still works great
 
Topfin is a decent filter, I've used them with no issues. If you are wanting to upgrade, a nice AquaClear is a good choice. But like rocker said, really get into the impeller housing and clean it out...should solve the issue.
 
many people dislike top-fin filters, they seem to be cheaply bilt and they dont last.

quite a few people like the Aqua-clears.

with a 46 gal tank you could go to a canister if you like, there are some verry cheap ones on ebay, eheims are nice, but parts are hard to find.

emperor filters seemed too noisy for me, but you may like them

good luck
 
ok thanks everyone. I just took filter completly apart and cleaned it and isolated the noise but could come up with no explaination of WHY it was making the noise. That little spokey wheel thing is making it. don't know why tho and can't fix what I can't see is broken. So I guess I'm off to store to buy a new filter. Thanks again!
 
I got an AquaClear for 60-110 gallon. I have a 46 gallon tank. That should work, right? One additional question - I have 3 baby BN pleco's in this tank. I thought they were big enough to NOT get sucked into the filter intake but by golly, the other day I found one of them in my filter. Dumped him out and he's ok but tried to solve problem by wrapping some mesh material ( I cut up one of those little sacks that you put those bio-beads or ball things in and rubber banded that to the end of the intake). Problem is that it cloggs up with crud and prevents the water from being sucked up. Anybody got any suggestions? Thanks!
 
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