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Completely SILENT filter?

27K views 62 replies 10 participants last post by  JDM 
#1 ·
I asked this question maybe a year ago. But I was looking for a bit more information.

I am just wondering if a completely silent filter is actually possible? I am looking for literally no noise. My aquarium is maybe 3 feet from my bed. I have trouble sleeping (which is why I'm awake right now) and I am very peculiar about noise when trying to sleep. I sleep in complete silence.

That said, all my fish died with some illness that I could not cure although I tried. Right now it has no filters running and only has one lone amano shrimp and some snails. :( It's been that way for a year. I feel like it would be fun to have a few fish again, and would be relaxing to watch.

Anyways, I always write a lot. Basically, I am looking into an Eheim filter because I heard they are quiet. I know a lot of people here have them, so how quiet are they exactly? I would probably be able to hear them in an absolutely silent room, no? I know I sound picky, but that's the quirky way I am -- the noise will drive me crazy trying to sleep and possibly even to study.

Thanks! It is 50 gallons.
 
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#2 ·
A canister filter is the way to go. In my experience with several brands, they are all pretty much equally silent.

They are so quiet that you'll have to feel them to know their working (if you don't look at the water movement).

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#3 ·
So would you say, in a 100% silent room, they are unnoticeable?
 
#4 ·
In my bedroom I have 3 canisters (2 BIG ones in the 125, 1 mini on the 10 which is on my bedside table), and they are as silent as filters get. 100% silent? No, there is a small amount of vibrational transference that results in a very low hum. So low that the only time I am aware of it is immediately after a power outage. Rolling around on my water bed makes more noise.

All I run are canisters (except on QTs) - people always comment on how quiet it is in my apartment considering how many tanks I have (fewer tanks now though). And that was with 2 canisters on each tank. At one point I had 10 filters running in my living room/dining room.


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#5 ·
Alright, thank you. :) I wish there was a way I could try it out to see how noisy it is before I make the investment:(
 
#6 ·
I'm sure you'll be happy with it. I hate noise as well - I don't even own an air pump, let alone use them because of the noise. That's one of the reasons why I switched to canisters - peace and quiet.


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#7 ·
I don't own a Eheim, but I do own a Fluval Aquaclear 50(good for 20-50g tanks) for my 20g, and when I'm around it while it's silent I barely hear anything. You can even slow the flow so it won't be so loud. Also, it helps to have the water right at the lip of the filter's flow so that'll reduce the water noise. Thing is, if you'd like to have fish again, keep in mind you'd have to buy an air pump for aeration or else your fish will "suffocate". Those can have a low humming sound with them, and sometimes it's just the airstone releasing air that causes the noise.

Also, do get that amano shrimp some company of his own kind. I had one Amano shrimp before who'd hide in this piece of bogwood I have in my tank all the time until I got him two more of his kind. Little bud now wanders the entire tank with a better aura, if you will. Best way I can put it. Plus the more you have, the better the cleaning crew.

- Taven
 
#9 ·
Thing is, if you'd like to have fish again, keep in mind you'd have to buy an air pump for aeration or else your fish will "suffocate".
That is not true. I do not own an air pump and my fish do not suffocate, even at temps approaching 90 degrees. The vast majority of tanks do not require an air pump for aeration - the filters handle it. The gas exchange occurs when the surface tension of the water is broken, which filters do with the return flow. The air bubbles themselves don't directly add oxygen to the water - they just burst at the surface, thereby breaking the surface tension of the water. If the filter is already doing that, then the air pump is not needed for that purpose.
 
#10 ·
I have an eheim canister in my bedroom. Noise was a big concern and I am very happy with the eheim. No noise that I can hear unless I open up the cabinet it's in and stick my head in there lol. You'll like it
(also my 72g is only 3-4feet from the end of my bed)
 
#11 ·
Well, my aquarium was initially planted. A few crypts, java fern, and Anubis survived my neglect probably because they are fine with low light. I'd probably need more plants than that but plants were initially intended to provide the oxygen. Ill buy more if I have to.

The Amano shrimp seems fine to me he doesn't hide he swims around the tank and is pretty active. I don't have to search for him even though he's nearly invisible. :)


It sounds like the eheim is pretty sound-free so maybe I will try it. I'd be going with the 2213 for my aquarium?
 
#12 ·
Both the 2213 or the 2217 are well suited for your aquarium. I'm going to be doing 2 2217s soon in my 72 but for reasons of intentional overstocking plus reasurance during my travel season there is always extreme filtration.
If the instructions are confusing feel free to post again. Eheim is famous for super abbreviated instructions.
 
#13 · (Edited)
Out of curiosity, is there any reason you did not mention 2215? 2217 is for up to 159 gallons. :p I know it would probably be better but I don't have much money to spend. :( I saw the 2213 for $80.00 at one place. I could maybe spring for 2215. I think I'm going to keep it under-stocked if possible to lower the maitainence. A place called Big Al's seems to be cheapest... Has anyone ordered there before?

And thank you I will post if I need help. I think there's guides on YouTube :) I was searching the filters to see if I could hear them xD

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#14 ·
Actually no.. No reason I didn't mention the 2215. I think the two I mentioned were more often ordered at my trusted store. No reason why the 2215 should be overlooked. From my understanding all 3 of those are the same except for gph it filters. I love it for how quiet it runs and it works well but for fun in my other tanks that will be upgraded( dinning and living room..not willing to play with noise in my bedroom) and switched around in the next 6mnths I'll be trying other brands so I have a comparison. But I find it hard to believe anything is any more quiet then what I have if thats your main worry.
 
#15 ·
Well, I think I'm get an Eheim filter :) probably after my birthday though, so next month.

So, would the filtration capacity of the 2213 be good enough for a average stocked 50 gallon tank? Or should I spring for the 2215 at least? An extra $30.00 investment for something that will last years and be healthier for my fish may be worth it, but I also don't wanna overdo it if not necessary. :)
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#16 ·
I would say go ahead for the 2215
I don't know what type of fish you plan to keep ..however the 2213 is 116gph which would only be your tanks volume about 2times per hr. the 2215 is 164 gph which sounds a little more appropriate for a 50g. Or alternatively you could get a 2213 now and add a 2nd one later on down the road.
 
#17 ·
hmmm well I will see next month then how much money I have. ^^

I am thinking maybe 1 or 2 angelfish and some guppies, platies, or tetras, or something. I'm still deciding! :) Any suggestions? I have hard water... but I had angelfish that lived for years, had babies, and those babies (well, 3 of them) grew up and lived for years as well... the last one just died a few weeks ago.. :/ was probably 5 years old.
 
#18 ·
I am in the same boat as you OP. I have 4 tanks running in my room and needed something that didn't make so much noise I couldn't sleep.

I will agree with what others have said. Canisters are going to be as quiet as you get. However, I am finding that a sponge + a quality powerhead is actually fairly quiet as well. The only risk is sometimes they can start to be rattly. But I dunno if that's just specific to the brand I have.
 
#19 ·
I currently/used to have (not running it anymore atm) an internal filter and it would kind of rattle against the glass a bit. :/ It is fairly quiet though. But occassionally it would position itself so it would be loud... I remember waking up at night to adjust it lol.
 
#20 ·
Can anyone tell me if the 2215 is as quiet as the 2217? I just am not sure if the higher capacity may be louder. :) And would a 2217 be too powerful?
 
#21 ·
if the higher capacity is louder.. I would LOOOVVEE to hear how absurdly silent the lower capacity ones are.
Well seeing as on a 72g I'll be running 2 2217s (as soon as the 2nd one gets here in a few days) and completely sure that is not too much.. then for your tank no the 2217 is not too powerful. I am very specific about keeping both perfect water quality, happy fish(or healthy ..who is to say they are happy really), clean tank, and in my bedroom tank- silence.
 
#22 ·
Dang. :p I went from the 2213 to the 2215 to the 2217! XD $60.00 more D: :p I'll probably get it though.. :) thanks.
 
#23 ·
I have ONE 2215 on each of my 75 gallon tanks. Both are silent unless I hear a trickling noise from the spray bar. That's it. Love them.
 
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#26 ·
I'm happy to hear more good reviews. :) now I can't wait to get one! But I will have to wait a little to get the money. :( Those are definitely simple problems to fix.
 
#27 ·
Another option is a sponge filter and a very small powerhead. I use that in some breeder tanks and they are dead silent.

I have three Eheims. An Ecco (works ok, silent, but I'm under-impressed by the design), a 2215, and a 2217. The 2215 makes noise sometimes, darn if I know why. Other times, the 2215 is dead quiet. My 2217 is really quiet, all I hear is water flow noise from the spraybar.
 
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#28 ·
I'm not exactly sure what those are. I have some internal filters. They tend to make too much vibrational noise.


Anyways, I searched my room for money and found $50.00 in an old birthday card! :D So I can now manage to scrounge up $132.00 and I need $142.00 for the 2217, so I can probably buy it sooner than I thought, so I have a few questions before I purchase it:

1. Someone mentioned that oxygen might be an issue here (and my dad mentioned that I may be getting a canister filter to his coworker who keeps fish and he said the same thing). It sounds like it actually won't be? I will have some live plants. I'd like some more opinions, because everyone thinks different!

2. I can't rememberthe second one :D I'll post when I do haha
 
#31 ·
Oxygen won't be a problem with live plants. If you think it may, you can just aim the output in a manner to disturb the surface more to allow more gas / water exchange. My tank's surface is still with my canister directed through a DIY spray that is completely submerged.

Someone mentioned that their canister makes noise sometimes, I found that the bio balls and ceramics rattled at times... Seeing as they are both useless and, even if they were useful, they are completely unnecessary I just tossed them and added more floss for better filtration.

Jeff.
 
#29 ·
In my experience with air pumps and sponge filters... I've never found an air pump that is quiet. I end up having to place them on a towel in the cabinet under the tank cause they vibrate and rumble. I also seem to find they don't last very long.

IF you buy an Eheim.... You are buying a good reputation and solid product that can last you 15-20 years. My LFS even refused to sell me a new filter when mine wasn't working and insisted I have it repaired before buying new. Eheim is the Work Horse of Canisters. JMO!!
 
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