How to Make a Fish Tank Filter Quieter

Wondering how to make a fish tank filter quieter?. Well, you have come to the right place. In this guide, you will learn how to make your fish tank filter quieter.

What is a fish filter and why is it important
Are fish bothered by fish filter noise?
Ways to make a fish filter quieter
And more…

If you’re like me who like aquarium life, you would want to bring it closer to your home by having a fish tank.

The subtle bubbling water sound you hear in the background is soothing to the soul because is white noise.

And one component that is responsible for that is the fish tank filter that makes the water flow and keeps it clean and nice for healthy fish.

But there are some kinds of noise that the filter can make that screamed trouble that soothing sounds. Sounds such as grinding, rattling, and others.

These are annoying sounds that indicate all is not well with your fish tank and requires attention.

In this article, I will cover some of the tips that you can use to help you reduce your aquarium filter noise. Keep reading…

Also read:

Silent wheels for hamsters

What is a Fish Filter and Why is It Important?

Aquarium filters are critical components of both freshwater and marine aquaria. A fish filter removes physical and soluble chemical waste products from the aquarium making it maintenance easy.

This component is necessary to support aquarium life in relatively small, closed volumes of water compared to the natural environment of most fish.

This is because as you keep fish in these small tanks, they produce waste from respiration, uneaten food, and excretion.

The filter is basically cleaning all the debris in the water. It removes the toxic buildup of nitrates, ammonia, and aerates of water so you can give the fish freshwater for the fish to breathe.

You may be thinking, can you remove the fish and clean the water tank, replace the water and return the fish back?. Well, though that is possible, do you really want to do that?.

So if you don’t want to go that route like me, then using a fish filter will make your life easier. In fact, anything that cuts down on your household chores is a good thing.

That being said, there are a lot of different filters available in the market today. Ranging from internal to external filters. There are mechanical, chemical, and even biological ones to choose from.

The option you choose will depend on the needs of your fish and your personal preference.

However, one of the downsides of fish filters is that some of the models and brands do make a lot of noise that can make the fish tank quite an uncomfortable place to sit close to.

Here we’ll be talking about how to make your fish tank filter quieter.

Do Noisy Filters Bother Fish?

According to research, fish behavior and auditory sensitivity are often affected by underwater noise.

The noise spectra showed that all aquarium filters measured created a high amount of low-frequency noise and the water outflow above the surface created additional high-frequency noise components.

But most of the time, filters are not the culprits when it comes to aquarium noise. Generally, the noise problem is caused by the air pumps. But it is also possible for the filter to cause excessive noise if it is not running properly.

Things like dirt inside the filter, it can also get damaged or be placed out of place. Thereby causing more noise than usual.

How do I know if my filter is too loud?

Most aquarium filters and air pumps do hum, but that is as much noise as they should ever make while operating optimally, any other off sounds like rattling are a clear sign that something is wrong somewhere with the filter.

Ways to Make a Fish Filter Quieter

1). Find the Source of the Noise Within the Fish Aquarium

First of all, you need to determine where the noise is coming from within the fish tank. And because there are various sources of noise in the environment that may affect your judgment, you will need to try as much as possible to eliminate other noise in order to know whether the fish filter is indeed the source of the tank noise.

To do this, switch off other forms of noises in the surroundings and leave only the fish tank. This will let you know the source of noise within the aquarium.

Since there are lighting systems, heating elements, and other components in the aquarium, it would be best to turn them off.

Though this might affect the visibility inside the fish tank it is a necessary step to take in determining the source of the noise.

You can always use a torchlight to see well.

With this, you can now inspect the aquarium to determine which area the noise is coming from.

2). Determine the Sound by Touching the Filter

If by looking at the filter, you cant determine the noise, try investigating more by touching and holding it subtle.

However, keep your hands clean to avoid contaminating the aquarium water.

With your dry clean hands, dip your hand into the tank and hold the filter.

You can press it a little bit, very gently and carefully, just to check if you can locate the source of the problem.

If you find a kind of a slight shake while holding the filter, there is a very high possibility that there is a loose part inside the whole unit of the filter.

In this case, you will either have to fix it, if it is something small, or to buy a new one.

If you feel the filter is old and may need replacement, then you can get a new quiet fish tank filter.

3). Look for debris

if you have decorated the inside with some beautiful stones, or pebbles to decorate the aquarium, then you need to check to ensure these things are not clogging the filter.

This trapped debris inside the filter can clog it up and not let the water pass without interruption. This can cause the filter to start making unnecessary noise.

So, if a fish tank filter is making a rattling noise, this could be the cause. It can be irritating to deal with such noise.

Fortunately, the majority of filters are made with some most important parts easily detachable so you can remove them and clean them up properly before fixing them back inside the tank.

4). Adjust the Return Pump and Hose if Necessary

If you are hearing splashing water noise, it is possible the problem might be from the return pump.

Different sounds can come from the filter depending on what is going wrong.

If the hose is not set up properly, it will produce noise. You can fix this by pushing the water a little bit deeper into the fish tank. It can even be deeper than the waterline.

This would help in solving that splashy sound that is coming from the water that is re-entering the pump.

You can also try and attach the hose to one of the aquarium sides. If the hose is stiff, try using suction cup clips to adjust and keep the hose in place.

5). Adjust the Water Flow Rate and Water Flow on the Filter

The speed of the water can produce noise when it’s re-entering.

There is a simple way to solve this type of noise from the filter.

Simply reduce the rate of the flow. That will be the number of times that water is passing through your filter.

The good thing is there are water pumps that give you the option to increase or decrease the water flow rate.

6). Reset the Pump and the Filter Manually

If the steps above have already eliminated the sound. Great!. Otherwise, it will be good to reset the pump and filter manually.

Simply turn the power of the whole pump and filtration system off, keep it like that for about one minute and just turn the system back on again.

If you feel you can get a new one altogether, then go for it. This will be an investment for the future.

Final Thoughts on How to Make a Fish Tank Filter Quieter

‘Dont allow noisy fish tank filter to disturb your peace. With these tips, you can fix the noise coming from the fish tank.

Depending on the type and level of noise, one or two of these tips can fix the problem easily for you.

Keeping your aquarium clean is also a great way to keep your fish healthy. So, do regular maintenance on the aquarium and get quieter components.

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Josephine

Josy is a soundproof enthusiast who enjoys quiet and peaceful environments. Here, I share some of the soundproofing tips, quiet products, etc that work for me. Hopefully, they help you too.