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I just hooked up a brand new Aquaclear 500 and it's really loud. There's a very loud (and very annoying) buzz. I thought maybe it was the lid that sits on the top vibrating, but removing the lid makes it only slightly quieter. Anyone else had this problem? Is it something that will get quieter as it runs a bit more? Or should I take it apart and reassemble it?

I had that same problem with my AC 300, never had it happen with the others I had used (150, 200, & mini). I didn't take it apart (I was about to as it was rather shocking coming from an AC filter) but it has gotten quieter. My filter is running on a stock tank which had to have the lip cut out, it took a bit of ajustment to make sure that it was resting straight and level, you might want to check that on yours. With the ammount of weight in the filter itself it might be setting it somewhat off balance on the edge of the tank.

^_^

Thanks for the tip. I did take it apart and gave the impeller and the housing a quick rinse and that helped a bit. I'll double chekc the leveling. I just sort of eyeballed it. One of the things I like about ACs is their quiet operation, so this is a bit of a surprise to me. I'd love to hear anyone else's experience, as well.

I'd give it a bit under a month to quiet down (just make sure that you would be able to return it to where you bought it in under 30 days). I know its not a Marineland Penguin Bio-Wheel, but I'm sure the mechanics of the thing are similiar; Marineland says in the documentation that the filter may be loud for a month and will quiet down. I think it is just a matter of the grese/lubrication working its way through the gears of the impeller that does the actually pumping.

I have an AquaClear Mini, and sometimes it'll just fall a little out of place like Babel was saying, especially if I just cleaned it or something. Usually just takes a little random adjusting to get her silent again. Although MikeDwags idea sounds like it might be effective, never thought of it that way.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

I've adjusted it a few times, even moved it to a different part of the tank, but it's still a little noisy. While all my messing around with it has certainly reduced the noise, it's a far cry from quiet. The problem for me is that I bought it from a store that's about 225 km away from me and a quick exchange really isn't possible. Especially since the filter is actually in use. I guess I'll just have to wait and see if it improves after a bit of running in. If it doesn't, I'll buy a different filter, run that for a while, and then bring this one back. I have the receipt and it is warrantied, so that may be my only option. Thanks for the help, everyone.

Just to clear something up....The Aqua Clears do not have any grease in them.They are water lubricated.The motor is actually a stator and the impeller assembly is the rotor.Two opposing magnets! I am not sure about the noise or any breaking in peroid as the motor assembley should be quite from day one or something is out of balance. That is why they sell replacement impellers.
As for Marineland they may be completely different I have no idea about those.Hope this helps

I took it apart to take a look at it and I found a bit of plastic flashing sticking up from the motor near the impeller. I got out the trusty hobby knife and shaved it down and that helped a bit. Basically what seems to be happening is that there is some vibration that is being amplified by the lid. It gets a lot better when you go with two sponges in there instead of one. It dampens the noise a bit.

I'm running an AC500 on my tank and it's been quiet since day one. I run a foam in bottom, carbon or ammorid in the middle, and biomax on the top level. I change media once a month (staggering the weeks) but never change the biomax. Maybe you got a lemon AC? Keep your receipt and best of luck to you.