Impellor noise help, please!!

[rosita]

Hey guys. A few weeks ago I brought home the Emperor dual filter from the tank at work; it was making a horrible racket and not pushing water well. It must be the 400 BioWheel with spray bars. (Tank is like a 40 tall, very narrow.)

I soaked all the plastic parts in water with white vinegar and scrubbed to get rid of (sigh) old salt deposits (FW tank), soaked in just water and rinsed, soaked a few days in water/bleach (very mild solution, @ 2-3 T to a 5 gallon bucket), then rinsed really well and soaked a few days in water with dechlor.

I finally set it back up today at home, and it's still making noise--it comes from the impellor area, which I had broken down and scrubbed and soaked gently. The level of sound isn't as loud, but will still be obnoxious in the entry way (not that I really care at this point).
Does anyone have any recommendations at this point? I have a big Whisper dual on the tank now, came with my 55g kit. Can this filter be fixed? Thank you for any suggestions.

[DaisyTattoo]

Did you pull the impeller completely out? Look at the little rubber piece on the end, if it looks a little off, then you will need to replace the impeller. Pretty common problem in those. They only cost about 15 bucks.

[Roan]

Nod to what DT has said.

Also, if you don't seat the impeller just right, it'll make a racket. Try taking it out and reseating a few times.

Roan

[TwoTankAmin]

Older Emperors can be a pita in this regard. It is not always due to bent shaft or worn rubber. There seems to be an issue with two other parts- the flow control mechanish and the intake tube end inside the filter. You may be able to quiet it down by messing with the flow control level and pushing down/back on the top of the intake tube. You are basically trying to find a happy position between where the end of the tube meets the flow control piece.

I have also found with mine (I have it for 7+ years now) getting noisy after a thorough cleaning where I pull the whole filter and bleach soak it. It seems to rattle a bit until some new gunk builds up in the impeller area- kind of a natural, slimey lubricant.

[wesleydnunder]

It's not always just the wear on the impeller that causes the vibration. The housing that the impeller fits into wears as well. The more it vibrates, the more it wears, like a loose bearing. It could be that the solution is to replace the powerhead, which on my Aquaclears is what that motor assembly amounts to. I've had to replace them before and the noise and vibration go away.

Mark

[rosita]

Originally Posted by DaisyTattoo

Did you pull the impeller completely out? Look at the little rubber piece on the end, if it looks a little off, then you will need to replace the impeller. Pretty common problem in those. They only cost about 15 bucks.

Thanks Jodi, I have looked at it very carefully and it is perfectly intact--must be seated wrong the way it noises.

[rosita]

Originally Posted by Roan

Nod to what DT has said.

Also, if you don't seat the impeller just right, it'll make a racket. Try taking it out and reseating a few times.

Roan

Yup, I spent an hour or three on that last night--remove, fidget, reseat and repeat. Perserverence.
BTW, I can't believe I spelled it wrong in my title. It's driving me bonkers.

[Riverfishgirl]

I have several emperors and several are noisy because they were in tanks with sand, specifically cichlid tanks, and the fish seemed to find it amusing to spit sand directly into the intakes.

Sorry to say, if the filter ever sucked sand or something in or is just worn you may have replace the impeller and/or housing.

[rosita]

Originally Posted by TwoTankAmin

Older Emperors can be a pita in this regard. It is not always due to bent shaft or worn rubber. There seems to be an issue with two other parts- the flow control mechanish and the intake tube end inside the filter. You may be able to quiet it down by messing with the flow control level and pushing down/back on the top of the intake tube. You are basically trying to find a happy position between where the end of the tube meets the flow control piece.

I have also found with mine (I have it for 7+ years now) getting noisy after a thorough cleaning where I pull the whole filter and bleach soak it. It seems to rattle a bit until some new gunk builds up in the impeller area- kind of a natural, slimey lubricant.

I could add in some mulm gunk from another filter . . .

Originally Posted by wesleydnunder

It's not always just the wear on the impeller that causes the vibration. The housing that the impeller fits into wears as well. The more it vibrates, the more it wears, like a loose bearing. It could be that the solution is to replace the powerhead, which on my Aquaclears is what that motor assembly amounts to. I've had to replace them before and the noise and vibration go away.

Mark

Sounds like you're all on the money. However, now that They don't wan't me back, I sure as hmml ain't gonna put out another penny on this school--I've spent close to a thousand bucks on books, extra materials, candy bribes, extra time and energy and heartache, and additional gas, and I've had it. I put one of my dual Whispers on it--I can just leave that and tell the principal the Emperor is shot. So, thank you all very much for your input, I've learned alot as always and greatly appreciate it. Happy trails, Renee

[Roan]

Rosita,

Find out for sure what model that Emperor is. I have several 400s sitting here gathering dust and can sent you an impeller and housing. No charge, of course.

Roan