My Experiences With A Loud Seachem Tidal Hang-On-Back Aquarium Filter!
If your Seachem Tidal filter sounds like this… don’t panic, because you’re definitely not the only one 😅
When I first set mine up, the rattling noise was way louder than I expected. After searching online and checking social media, I realised this seems to be a surprisingly common issue with Seachem Tidal filters. There are loads of posts and comments suggesting different fixes, but there doesn’t seem to be one universal solution that works for everyone.
Before trying random fixes, I wanted to narrow down the cause. I removed the impeller and motor and tested them separately to make sure they weren’t defective… and surprisingly there was absolutely no rattling.
From there I started testing some of the most recommended solutions I found online.
I tried adding sponge in one area that somebody swore fixed their filter. Then I tried another placement someone else recommended. Then another. I also tested the trick of placing a tiny piece of sponge inside the impeller housing.
For me? None of it worked.
At that point I basically accepted defeat and decided to just keep running the filter as normal.
But something interesting happened…
Over time the noise gradually started getting quieter.
This clip shows what the filter sounds like today after 11 weeks of continuous use.
The rattle hasn’t completely disappeared, but it’s dramatically reduced. At this point I can barely hear it unless I’m standing within about 2 metres of the tank.
My personal theory (and this is only a theory) is that biofilm slowly built up inside the filter and ended up cushioning or dampening whatever was causing the vibration.
So if you’ve just bought a Seachem Tidal and it’s making a horrible rattling noise, there may still be hope even if none of the popular fixes work for you.
