Hi Forum !

I have a little question for any Icthyophiles out there ... I bought an Aquarium starter kit from Manor in Geneva and have set it up, looks really nice! But the filter is making a kind of "electric buzz" that is just, ever so slightly the wrong side of annoying and it's starting to really grate on my nerves ...

I took it back to the shop and asked advice and the guy said to ensure the whole filter was underneath the water, since the unit was waterproof, and the sound I was hearing was probably the motor ... so I did it but the buzzing noise is still there. I took it apart to see if there anything in there, but there's not .. the noise sounds a bit like a high-pitched generator hum ... just there in the background, caressing my inner ear with it's airwave, headache-provoking fingers ... Aggrh!

Q: Are filters meant to make a noise like that or is my dog-hearing finally getting the better of me ... Is it possible to buy super quiet filters that make no noise at all, because I think I need to leave it on permanentely, but at this rate I'll have to turn it off while I'm in the apartment which won't be nice for the fish ( once I eventually get them ... )

Thanks for your advice,
M

Perhaps an external filter would solve your problem?

TETRATEC EX 1200


cheers
SC

Yes most pumps internal or external for aquariums hum. If you go for an external you would also need to then change your system to an underfilter. As it sounds like your filter and pump are in one. Although external pumps also have a diagrahm system which makes them hum too. If you place them on top of a sponge they stop humming.

cheers guys --- definately something wrong with this one through - it's just literally stopped working dead and now won't function at all ... looks like I'll go back to the shop for a replacement...

Let us know what happened

From my personal experience, that "electric buzz" usually occurs when not enough water is passing through the filter. You said the filter was completely underwater, but maybe there was an obstruction, stopping water from flowing inside properly? Not enough water being pumped inside results in a burn out filter pump, which is probably what happened to you now dead filter.

If you've bought the tank recently, you can bring it back to Manor to have the defective filter replaced.

Did you use sand or very fine gravel inside the tank? Could it be that some ended up inside the filter, obstructing it?

I also noticed that, the noise also is louder when the filter touches any of the walls. I put some sponge around it and there is no noticeable noise, unless you go very close to the aquarium.

undergravel filters are old tech and hardly ever used any more, there will be no need to change anything as everything is supplied.

it sounds you are refering to air pumps and not a water filter - the very old filters did use an air pump to drive them though.

Momus:
The disadvantage of an in tank filter is it needs to cleaned very often and when you lift the filter out dirt often falls back into the water.

With an external filter - i would recommend the eheim range BTW is it can be left for 2-3 months before cleaning and has a large capacity for filter medium and in the long term is soooo much cheaper than the replacement elements of internal filters.

there is no need for an air pump to oxygenate the water just direct the filter output slightly upwards so you have a small amount of surface disturbance - that is all you need.

Thanks for your help - I used gravel, big chunks and there's nothing that fine that could have been trapped. Funny, but I took the filter apart yesterday just to see if anything was trapped and it promptly started working again, the propellor was intermittant at best, so I decided I will get the thing changed but use it as a spare and then buy another, decent filter for use everyday. I think the issue is that they put less high quality stuff in the "all in one" kits, but it's fine since I paid 80 CHF for a nice, attractive tank and it's all going well apart from the filter adventure.

Assuming the PH is going ok, 2 more weeks until the fish ! I really like clown fish but need to do some research to see if they would survive. Pleco are also really nice

I assume that you have a cold water tank. In that case you will only be allowed to have goldfish in and maybe some cleaning fish as well. But at least there are many types of goldfish.

If the guy that sells you the fish says otherwise, please let me know! I would love some weird looking fish but our salesman said not possible with cold water tank.

It's cold right now, but I bought a heater, which I'll stick in closer to the arrival date. I assumed I wouldn't need to heat the water for 3 weeks prior?

I guess so. No point wasting the energy. Im not really sure but i guess as long as the temperature is constant a couple of days before it should be ok. And we need pics!

goldfish can live in a tropical tank - its not ideal but i know many many people that have both in the same tank and the goldfish is still swimming around after 7 years

the PH wont change very much unless you have limestone or chalk type rocks or stones in the tank. you can do a fishless cycle or can do a cycle with fish, i have never had any problems putting fish straight into a new tank- quantity of fish is the secret.

your aim is to build up bacteria in the filter.

clown loaches grow large and need to be in groups so i would not recommend them.

Funny, Momus, we bought the exact same 80chf aquarium from Manor 3 weeks ago. We will soon go to get the water tested!
All very exciting!!

Good luck to you

How many liters, if you don't mind me asking? The smallest tank I have (also bought from Manor) cost me 120 francs and it is a 60-liter tank, so I am assuming yours is possibly even smaller?

If so, you should opt for either very small tropical fish or shrimps (tanks around 40 liters are typically sold/advertised as shrimp tanks, as they are usually unsuitable for most fish). In any case, definitely don't put goldfish there, as they need way too much room. Don't be fooled by how small they look as babies, they grow at an exceptional rate and will continue growing even after reaching maturity.

Also, bear in mind each goldfish requires at least 40-50 liters in its first years (and more as it grows), and since it is now illegal in Switzerland to sell a single goldfish (must be a pair or more), it means yo'll need at least a 100-liter tank to keep only two and believe me, they need every liter of it and will soon outgrow it. Also, they are exceptionally messy compared to tropical fish, so chances are your filter wouldn't be able to keep up with them.

VERY TRUE.. How big is the tank then people can suggest suitable fish etc.

Hi,

Well, the tank is 25 liters and cost 79 CHF ( if memory serves ) from Manor. But with the heater, the gravel, the fish, the decorations, the chemicals and the food it's getting close to 200 CHF now.

The filter seems to have quietened down a bit now, although maybe I'm just a bit more used to it, so I'm going to just keep the set-up as is. The guy in the shop told me I had room for 4 tetras and 4 rasboras and they seem pretty happy, although one does have a funny lip so am keeping an eye on him.

The thing is ... something is up with the shrimp. I bought a beautiful orange bamboo shrimp and it was super happy at the bottom of the tank - sitting on the coconut, he found a little hold in the rock and stuck his head out and ate a food pellet and I got all doe-eyed and proud and took a video of it ( imagine!) but the next day, it started swimming upside down and was dead a few hours later. Meanwhile, the fish seem perfectly fine.

I took the body back to the shop plus another water sample ( it had already been tested on Saturday ) but the right guy wasn't there, am going back tomorrow. In the meantime, I bought 2 cherry shrimp and 1 amano .. and guess what? One of the cherry is dead this morning ...

I was so careful putting them in, temperature equalising, water equalising etc but they all seem to be hanging out at the top of the tank, anything that goes near the bottom seems to die - so weird. I washed everything before I put it in, the PH is right, the temp is around 25c, it's not in the sunshine, if it was something to do with the water the fish would be dying, but they're not, I took them straight home, didn't stress them out and all the shrimp in the shop seem healthy and happy and, notably, not dead.

Has anyone had the same type of issues? I am a shrimp killer

PS - the bamboo shrimp was called Kenneth

and you ! I'm having a bit of bother ( see above ) but let me know how it goes, what fish are you getting? Exciting !