HoosierJeff

Thank you! I've solved the problem for now, but like your idea about the pump with the sponge filter. Good trick to keep up my sleeve. I've seen a video about the air pump in a glass bottle idea, and tried it, but it was still a bit more than I cared for. You've been happy with it, though, clearly, so perhaps I did something wrong. Thanks for chiming in!

@reefhugger, I did. I appreciate the prompt to come back and share the update. Silence is what I wanted above all, so I chose a Sicce Shark Pro 700. Even on the lowest setting with the spray bar it was creating more flow than I wanted, so I put a pre-filter sponge on the output scoop (used zip ties on the scoop to create little tabs the sponge grabs onto). Now I have the filter on high and the sponge diffuses the water, leaving just enough flow to move things around a bit, without blowing my future fish around. I'm 100% satisfied with this as the solution! The filter made a bit of noise for about the first 24 hours, but I have yet to hear it since then (and it is on my desk in my bedroom, so I spend a lot of hours right next to my tank.) The internal filter is kind of large for the 10 gallon, but I have a black background and the black filter sits in the back corner behind some plants, so I don't see it. Since the water surface is fairly undisturbed, I had to add a surface skimmer that runs for 30 minutes twice per day and keeps the surface nice and clean. Not the simplest solution, for sure, but the absolute silence is wonderful. And I really like the leak-proofness and power-outage friendliness of internal filters, plus their silence, so I have them in almost all my tanks now (different models---Sicce Shark ADV 400/600's in a couple 20 talls, Oase BioCompact 50 in a couple 5 gallons, and this Sicce Shark Pro 700 in this 10 gallon.) Let me know if you have any other questions.

Very helpful! Thank you! Apology totally accepted! Keep sharing the wealth…I know you help lots of folks with your contributions to conversations around here. Keep it up!

@Flipper I understand the question. My intent isn’t to reject every idea that comes in; I’m hoping to find a solution I haven’t yet explored. Coming to ask here wasn’t my first step in researching options; I’ve gone down all sorts of rabbit holes and was trying to find new ones. In my initial post I tried to provide enough information about what I had tried and ruled out (including sponge filters and nano-USB pumps) and then I specifically request ideas I might not yet have tried. Input on this thread has put some new options on the table I hadn’t yet considered, which was my hope with asking the question in the first place. In fact, your comments about the Marina S10 ruled that one out for me since I want the option of biomedia. I also appreciated hearing your experiences with the Tidal 35’s, and I have to decide how to square that with my experience that was different. Not sure what else to say. Research leads to lots of dead ends, but that’s part of the process. 🤷🏼‍♂️

Thank you, @TeeJay! I appreciate your input and the suggestions. Do you have any experience with the Forza series and restarting after power outages? We have fairly frequent power blips.

Thanks! I have three of Aquarium Co-op's tiny USB pumps, and they do do a great job powering sponge filters. Unfortunately, they are neither as quiet as I'd like, nor have I found them to last very long. (AC replaced the ones that went bad, but it still doesn't seem like a sustainable long-term solution, plus the noise still being more than I care for.) Good point on the lube, though. I will take a look. Thanks for the tip!

Thank you! Great input on the Marina Slim. I like using biomedia, so this is really helpful information. Thank you. I had a couple noisy ones before, but found a separate post that talked about using silicon lube on the impeller when it was new to silence it. Might go that route.

Thanks for the idea, but, no, I can't do that.

Greetings, folks. Have a 10 gallon tank in my room. It is dirted, deep sand substrate, and fairly heavily planted. I've had an Oase BioCompact 50 (with a pre-filter sponge on the output) on it and that has worked well for my Betta. I'm considering moving him to a different tank and stocking this one differently, and the BioCompact is pretty small, so a larger filter is on my mind. But, I hate mechanical noises in my bedroom. Don't mind water movement noises, but can't stand mechanical ones (and I have sensitive ears.) Sponge filters are out because of the racket air pumps make; I've tried a lot, including the nano-USB ones, and none have passed muster for me. I have Sicce Shark ADV's in a couple other tanks and love how quiet they are, but they're too tall for this tank. If I switch to a HOB, I prefer one that has the pump in the water. I've tried a couple Tidal 35's, but both were noisy. The Marina Slim has been recommended to me. What other suggestions do you have for a truly quiet filter for a 10 gallon? Thanks for your input!

Thank you! That filter is for sure on my list if I am looking for a HOB. Right now I’m really happy with the internal filters I’m using (Oase BioCompact 50 on two tanks, and Sicce Shark ADV 400 on two tanks.)

Following up on this magnet attachment idea I tried out. It was a COMPLETE bust. The adhesive (or metal? I’m guessing adhesive) on the metal plate I attached to the filter (and thus was inside the tank) was massively messing with the water parameters. As soon as I removed that the returned to normal and stayed stable. I reverted to the suction cups that came with the filters, and have been very happy with everything. I have these Oase BioCompact 50’s in two tanks: 5.5 gallon one with a few guppies, and 10 gallon betta tank. The guppies like the flow in their small tank, so I leave it on high. However, even turned all the way down, the flow still blew my betta around in his tank, so I ended up putting a pre-filter sponge on the outlet and that diffuses the flow plenty (even with the flow turned all the way up.) I’m very happy with these filters. They’re pretty quiet, and the filtering performance is great. I left the blue sponge that came with the filter on the one side, and filled both pillboxes with Seachem Matrix and have been very happy with the condition of the water in both tanks.

Well, folks. I found the culprit: it was the metal plate I attached to my filter so I could use magnets to hold the filter in place (magnets on a metal plate on the outside of the tank holding the filter on the inside of the tank.) Whether it was something in the finish of the metal plate or the 3M adhesive tape that was on the metal plate, removing those solved the problem 100%. It’s been about a month since I identified the problem. After a couple water changes and monitoring water parameters, I confirmed all was well and added a few guppies. Love the tank! I wanted to report back since you all were so helpful when I was trying to figure it out. (I am also going to update my post about the magnetic mount idea with how terrible it turned out.)

Thank you, @Flipper! I really appreciate the encouragement!

I've wondered. I want to try some Seachem Flourish Tabs; they don't seem as problematic when it comes to rising above the substrate and releasing their contents straight into the water column. Have another suggestion?

Thanks! I love the look of this tank, too. Can't wait for it to be fish-safe. I'm not sure what to do about the root tabs. They're needed, and I suppose I could add some more gravel, but its still a pretty loose gravel that is going to allow a lot of leaching. (My other tanks have only sand, which traps the root tabs in much better...when they don't pop up to the surface.) Thanks for your input. I'll give it more time and see what comes of it.

Update: on Wednesday I did three 80% water changes back to back to get down to 0ppm of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrite. Then I squeezed a sponge from an established tank and added some fish food and an algae wafer to continue providing ammonia for the beneficial bacteria to work on. Tested the water today: no measurable ammonia, and INSTANT dark pink for both nitrite and nitrate (sorry…forgot the values and don’t have the test kit handy). I haven’t added anymore chemicals other than Prime to the water during the water changes. The only other variable I can think of is there is a grid of 8 Aquarium Co-op root tabs in the gravel under the plants. attaching a picture of the tank in question. The Val and stem plants are all propagated from my other tanks. (I’m unsure how those stem plants are going to do…) I appreciate any continued input or advice!

@nabokovfan87 it is my first time with the filter, and it is small. For a 5 gallon tank that will be lightly stocked, I think it’ll be sufficient. I can add a small sponge filter if needed down the road, but I like the flow the BioCompact adds to keep things from getting stagnant. There’s no livestock in it yet. The smallness of the filter will limit what I can stock, but so does the smallness of the tank in my mind. What’s got me scratching my head is the nitrate/nitrite spike even immediately after a water change. Thanks, @Ben P.. I appreciate your input and sharing your perspective. I have a heavily planted 20 gallon that mostly runs on auto pilot these days. The balance is just perfect, and it is a joy to sit and enjoy. i know smaller tanks are harder to balance out, and I’m looking forward to figuring out what “balanced” looks like for this one. thanks again for your perspective…refreshing and encouraging for sure.

Thanks for the thorough reply, @nabokovfan87 ! I started with the Fritz, and after a couple water changes with such weird results, switched to Stability. I'll lay off these for now and focus on the water changes as you said. It is just a five gallon tank that will be heavily planted and lightly stocked, so I'm using an Oase BioCompact 50. I am using the coarse sponge it came with on the left, and Seachem matrix in both "pill boxes" on the right. I started things out with a pile of biorings from an established tank in there for the first couple weeks, but have since removed them. My intent is to leave the tank animal-free until it is fully and properly cycled. Except for a three small pest snails that snuck in with the plants. I was surprised to see them listed as a possible culprit in your reply. Should I remove them? And, it is proper aquarium gravel I'm using. The natural river stone style, purchased from my LFS (although I don't recall the brand.) I had no issues when it was new and went into a previous tank, but this fiasco has me wondering if there was detritus or bacteria left on it that is somehow messing with things. Again, thanks for your input. I appreciate any further insights, and will reply with updates along the way.

You're right. Patience is so hard for this! Will do. Thanks again for chiming in.

Thanks for the reply! I didn’t think it was tap water because I have no such issues with my other tanks, but checked on your request, and, straight tap water has no measurable nitrite or nitrate on Aquarium Co-op’s test strips. Have any other suggestions?

Great idea. Thank you!

Hi, folks. I'm three weeks into attempting to cycle a new tank, and it isn't going as intended at all. (The only critters in the tank are a couple pest snails that hitch-hiked in on the plants.) I used old gravel in this new tank (not at all as a source of beneficial bacteria; just because it was lying around and already paid for.) The gravel came out of an established tank a few months ago and laid on a towel in the sun for several days to dry before being stored in a closed bag in the garage. Before putting it in the new tank, I thoroughly rinsed it off bit by bit in a strainer (with tap water) then added it to the new tank. When I filled the tank, there was no cloudiness or floating debris/detritus, which told me the gravel was good and clean. I am using a new filter, but seeded it with some filter media from an established tank, as well as attempting to kick start things with both Stability and Fritz 7 (whatever it is actually called), and using Prime to condition the tap water. There are live plants in the tank (fairly heavily planted), so I added some Easy Green to further feed the cycle and provide some nutrients for the plants as they got established. I let things run for about 10 days, then tested the water. 0 ppm on ammonia, but both nitrites and nitrates completely spiked on the Aquarium Co-op test strips as soon as I inserted them in the water. I mean instant dark pink as soon as the water touched them. Did an 80ish% water change and tested immediately after...same result. Added more Prime and Stability and gave it a few days. Tested again, and again, same instant spike on nitrite and nitrate, but trace amounts of ammonia this time. Did a large water change...same result when I tested after the water change. Added more Prime and Stability. Waited a week or so, tested again...same exact result (instant spike on nitrite/nitrate, and trace amounts of ammonia.) Did a water change, tested again. Same results. Waited a few more days and tested again...same results. (FWIW, I've been using that same set of test strips on my other tanks and they're reading normal, so don't think it is bad test strips.) This is my fifth tank (MTS is real!!), and the others all cycled as expected. The only difference I can think of this time around is the re-used gravel, which has me wondering if I imported a bunch of something or another that is causing me so much hassle. If I break it down to re-clean the gravel, how would you suggest I go about cleaning it to make sure it isn't the cause of the problems? Thank you! Jeff

Thanks, but the magnets are all on the outside.

Good input! Thank you! I will report back once it is cycled, grown in, and stocked.

Agreed! A few more details. I used metal plates like these, and magnets like these. On the back of the filter, I used the adhesive on the metal plate to attach the plate to the filter (so far it has stayed in place). Then I added two layers of cut out (and thoroughly washed!) bike inner tube. I super glued these to each other and to the plate. I'm sure other kinds of rubber would work, but this is what I had laying around. I tried at first without the rubber, and more hum/vibration transferred from the filter to the glass, which made it larger. I was concerned this might happen, so had the rubber option ready to go. With that in place, and a few days of operation, I can't hear the filter at all, and I'm sitting right next to the tank it is in (on my desk.) As for the aquarium part, at first I didn't attach the metal plate to the glass (with the adhesive.) I ended up putting six magnets on the backside of the metal plate on the outside of the aquarium. This allowed me to move the filter around and figure out the placement I wanted. Once that was settled, I did use the adhesive to attach the metal plate to the outside of the tank, with the magnets sitting on the metal plate. It is strong enough that I can move the filter around some and it holds just fine; I don't have to line it up perfectly for it to hold. I have a second Oase BioCompact 50 in another tank, and haven't yet done the magnet trick on that one, but will be doing it soon now that I know it works so well. (The suction cups are a pain on the one that still has them...can't wait to be done with that!) I'd send you a picture of the setup, but the side of the tank with the filter is up against a wall, so can't get a picture from the outside of the tank. Edit: Attached the best pic I could grab of the outside part of the magnet setup. Hope this helps. Let me know if you have other questions. EDIT: For anyone who stumbles upon this and thinks it is a great idea to try. Don’t! The adhesive on the metal plate I attached to the filter (ie, inside the tank) wreaked havoc on my water parameters. It might work with a fish-tank-safe super glue, but I’d still be aware that using the metal plate transmitted much more vibration from the filter than the suction cups do (which comes as no surprise.) All in all, I liked the idea, but call it a failed experiment.