I know on my one tank the border is so wide that the tube sometimes pops out so i have to be sure to really place it in there and when it starts to come out it will rattle, does your tank have a thick border to where its not sitting right above the propeller? I ended up taping it down so it wouldnt pop out.
Does your Aquaclear Filter Rattle?
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i have 2 ac110 they are one of the best hob filters, i would just take it back or take the impeller out and make sure its clean
I have been using them for 20 years. had all sizes at time or another.
they have always been very quiet.
if you are getting rattling:
its either "buzzing" from the impeller chamber (which means the impeller and or shaft is worn or has sand/gravel in it)
or
the lid is not secured down properly and you are getting vibrations from this.
really, there is nothing else it can be besides one of these two things.
check it out and good luck.
you should get at least 10-12 years of service from your AC.
I have one that is 12 years old and counting. back when they said AC 500 on the lid..
they have always been very quiet.
if you are getting rattling:
its either "buzzing" from the impeller chamber (which means the impeller and or shaft is worn or has sand/gravel in it)
or
the lid is not secured down properly and you are getting vibrations from this.
really, there is nothing else it can be besides one of these two things.
check it out and good luck.
you should get at least 10-12 years of service from your AC.
I have one that is 12 years old and counting. back when they said AC 500 on the lid..
I have a 50 and the lid sometimes rattles if not set right, also the tube if it's not alligned right, i push the harizaontal part towards the back and it pops into places and quites down.
The only time Iv'e ever run into the AQ rattle syndrome is sometimes the cover can come awful close to the intake tube. I'm talking about the outer edge as it makes it's first bend towards the pump. Other then that, Iv'e got nothing but good things to say about them. Iv'e even replaced a few canisters for the 500's and never looked back.
If it's brand new, take it back and exchange it. Problem solved.
Like the others have said: check the black level on the bottom, check the lid (if loose it will rattle) check to see if anything is in the impeller.
I have 5 ACs (2x-110, 70, 30, 20). I have NO problem with any of them and have had them for many years. Wouldn't buy anything else.
For the guy complaining about the sand, that's your fault! ANY HOB would rattle and make noise if sand gets into the impeller. How do I know? I have HOBs on a tank with sand (Marineland and AC). If you don't want sand to get into the impeller, you need to SHORTEN the intake tube.
Like the others have said: check the black level on the bottom, check the lid (if loose it will rattle) check to see if anything is in the impeller.
I have 5 ACs (2x-110, 70, 30, 20). I have NO problem with any of them and have had them for many years. Wouldn't buy anything else.
For the guy complaining about the sand, that's your fault! ANY HOB would rattle and make noise if sand gets into the impeller. How do I know? I have HOBs on a tank with sand (Marineland and AC). If you don't want sand to get into the impeller, you need to SHORTEN the intake tube.
not necessarily.
if the lid isn't on right and causing the rattle, and you take it back, get another, and when you put it together the lid still isn't on right, the new one will rattle just like the old one.
the same issue could happen to the new one if it is something simple like this.
we need to identify what is actually causing the rattle first IMO.
I think you guys hit it with the lid/intake area. The clear plastic lid can get warped if exposed to heat or sunlight, but the real issue is the sliding intake tube--Its on a ramp & gets mis-aligned when the flow is turned down, then back up. There's too much movement in the "hinge" area. Its such a great design, I just wish they made the fit of the intake tube a bit tighter or made it out of heavier plastic.
EDIT: Forgot to tell you the fix... Put a bit of filter floss around the tube before popping it into the hinge to tighten up that joint, or put a scrap of foam between the back glass of the aquarium & the intake tube--You need to keep the intake strainer (bottom of tube) from moving toward the back glass & make sure that the top of the u-section stays totally level. Every time you move that flow adjuster, the top of the u-section dips forward & causes that tab to rattle on the lid... Putting a weight on top of the lid also helps, but thats ugly. If you're really brave, you can sand/shave about 1/8th of an inch off of the u-tube right where it meets the ramp.
EDIT: Forgot to tell you the fix... Put a bit of filter floss around the tube before popping it into the hinge to tighten up that joint, or put a scrap of foam between the back glass of the aquarium & the intake tube--You need to keep the intake strainer (bottom of tube) from moving toward the back glass & make sure that the top of the u-section stays totally level. Every time you move that flow adjuster, the top of the u-section dips forward & causes that tab to rattle on the lid... Putting a weight on top of the lid also helps, but thats ugly. If you're really brave, you can sand/shave about 1/8th of an inch off of the u-tube right where it meets the ramp.
two of my tanks have ACs on 'em . . . dead silent . . . if your's is making noise, I recommend you exchange it for another one
