DennisP Posted July 16, 2013 Report Share Posted July 16, 2013 I've had my cannister filter for about 6 months now and it has constantly been humming. I've decided to try and silence it now, because as far as I'm aware, it is supposed to be silent. I guess there is always going to be a slight sound of the impeller spinning but I'm fairly certain there is more than just that happening. I've searched online and played around with my filter. What I have found and done is as follows: - People suggested lubricating the impeller and shaft - People have suggested replacing the impeller due to small chips which have been throwing off the balance of the impeller - I have both lubricated and replaced the impeller. Both have helped a little with the noise, but it is still too loud. - I found pressing down on the powerhead helped quieten the sound. I was missing 1 of the clips, so I have now replaced all of them. - I have completely taken the filter apart (without braking or unscrewing anything) The problem lies with the empty cover over the powerhead. The sound of the spinning impeller is amplified by the hollow space surrounding it. My immediate thought was to fill it up with something. How ever I don't want it to overheat and explode or something. On closer inspection there is a compartment which, when the lid is attached, will be sealed from the top and have an opening of about 15mm x 10mm. This leads me to believe it has some sort of purpose. Maybe to be filled? Or maybe to be left empty? Can anyway shed some insight on what my be the problem or potential solutions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted July 16, 2013 Report Share Posted July 16, 2013 I have different filters to you and have similar problems. One is an expensive Marina hang on back and the top cover continually jiggers so I've removed it. Sticking it down with blue tac didn't silence it. It also vibrated against the glass where it hung over which has largely been shut up by putting a flannel between the glass and the filter. I also have an internal Eheim that makes too much noise but again I think it's a rattle in the outer casing somewhere. I don't hold much hope of these moving parts becoming silent. In short, unless someone knows exactly what is wrong, you've probably done everything you can do.+ :fshi: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisP Posted July 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2013 Those are my thoughts too. I'm currently trying the filter with the cap filled with paper towels to help muffle the sound but no luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted July 16, 2013 Report Share Posted July 16, 2013 some sponge of filter wool might also work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisP Posted July 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 16, 2013 True. I've also tried sealing the clips of the lid to power head (not the metal ones) by putting some paper towel between it to see if it will stop and vibration. But not much effect when it comes to noise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angus Posted July 17, 2013 Report Share Posted July 17, 2013 I have a 2215 that i've had for 10+ years and it is now making the same noise as yours. When I also press down on the powerhead the noise is reduced. Combine that with the amount of bubbles being returned to the tank and i attribute that to lack of a seal letting in air and resulting in cavitation. I haven't bothered doing anything about it as it's on a grow out tank and i'm too lazy. But if I was to do something i'd probably change the o-ring as a starter. Perhaps an option to consider? Strange on a fairly new filter though. Can you claim on a warranty or fair trading act breach? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godly3vil Posted July 17, 2013 Report Share Posted July 17, 2013 Try vaselining the O Ring before you think about replacing it. I have a few 2213s and never had to touch any of them other than replacing broken impellers that I break haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisP Posted July 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2013 I've already vaselined the O-ring. There is no air coming through the filter so it wouldn't be a leak. I'm curious as to what this cavity in the lid is for and why it is making a noise. Here is a picture of the cavity that I forgot I had taken. I'm talking about the dark hole. You can see on the left side, there is a small opening. This is interesting because the whole thing is supposed to be air tight (mostly) so there shouldn't be any air movement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted July 18, 2013 Report Share Posted July 18, 2013 I've already vaselined the O-ring. There is no air coming through the filter so it wouldn't be a leak. I'm curious as to what this cavity in the lid is for and why it is making a noise. Here is a picture of the cavity that I forgot I had taken. I'm talking about the dark hole. You can see on the left side, there is a small opening. This is interesting because the whole thing is supposed to be air tight (mostly) so there shouldn't be any air movement. I don't think the top there is meant to be airtight. It's basically just a cosmetic cover that could be eliminated if you adjusted the intake pipe a bit. As for that empty area on the top I suspect the powerhead mold is shared with the 2313 which has a heater in that area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisP Posted July 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 You're probably right that it shares its mold with the 2313. That explains the cavity. Last night/this morning when I was laying in bed and everything was silent, I could hear the humming quite clearly. It sounded almost as if the impeller wasn't quite central. Possibly due to an imperfect impeller. I don't think the shaft would be an issue as that is reasonably new as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted July 19, 2013 Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 I also suspect that now you know it hums, it seems even louder than ever :sml2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisP Posted July 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 That's certainly true now that I'm trying to silence it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted July 20, 2013 Report Share Posted July 20, 2013 humming = something vibrating when it shouldn't the one I had was rescued out of a shed and was given to my boss when they were first imported, it had run for a few years then had been "stored". still silent even though the impeller shaft is almost worn out. check that the impeller seating thingies (the rubber end caps for the impeller) are in correctly, also remove the o-ring and put it back in carefully, if it rolls slightly it can cause the top to vibrate slightly try fitting a screwdriver inside the impeller assembly while its together and see if the impeller shaft has any freeplay. put a bit of stress on the impeller cover and see if there is any small cracks in it, these are not visible until you very carefully bend it. filling the hollow spaces is akin to using algae fix to cure algae problems.... treating the symptoms not the cause Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DennisP Posted July 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2013 I'll check the rubber bits and o-ring next time I get the filter out. In running out of things to try though, so maybe this will be it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cartandpeg Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 Sorry to drag an old post up.Just wondering if DennisP is still about if you fixed this problem.Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinnadian Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 I have different filters to you and have similar problems. One is an expensive Marina hang on back and the top cover continually jiggers so I've removed it. Sticking it down with blue tac didn't silence it. It also vibrated against the glass where it hung over which has largely been shut up by putting a flannel between the glass and the filter. I also have an internal Eheim that makes too much noise but again I think it's a rattle in the outer casing somewhere. I don't hold much hope of these moving parts becoming silent. In short, unless someone knows exactly what is wrong, you've probably done everything you can do.+ :fshi: Since it's been dragged up, my internal eheim filter had the impeller hitting the internal plastic base every time it rotated, because the shaft was too low. The rubber end cap on the bottom of the shaft wasn't raising the impeller shaft high enough. I put a 5mm slice of silicon tube on the bottom of the shaft to raise it up slightly and it then became silent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cartandpeg Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 Thank you kinnadian, I have contacted the supplier I purchased it from as I only have had it a few days.Thanks for that info,good to know for future reference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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