I set up my 29 gallon today because I may be bringing home a few fish in need of a home, permanent or temporary. My filter is the biggest regent model I believe...not completely sure though. Its making a kind of mechanical grinding noise. Honestly, I can't remember if it was like that or not last time I had it up. Is something wrong?

Its pumping water for sure? Also make sure the tubes are tightly connected.

You may also want to check for a piece of gravel or carbon in the impeller area

put water in the filter to help pump it

You might also want to check the whole intake pipe to make sure it is securely in place my penguin makes horrible grinding noises if it isn't snapped completly in place.

Thats what I meant by "tubes". lol. My U tube wasnt lined up correctly with the impeller area thingy(lol) and it sounded aweful. Then I just pressed it down and it was quiet again.

Everytime I buy a Regent Aqua Tech, or any Marineland filter (except for Tetra Whisper which is now Marineland) it makes an awful racket and doesn't pump water effeciently. It typically slows down by the next day. Whispers take a really long time to slow down, and they trap more debris.

Yah...I took it all apart, put it back together, and turned it on. The noise isn't any better <_<

Fishieperson, what do you mean by "they slow down the next day?" Does that mean less noise, or less efficient?

It means that the water flow goes down to a drizzle, even though you keep the parts that makes it pump clean. I prefer Whisper, maybe you should try it.

Okay since I cant find this filter on the net, Im assuming this is a HOB filter, if so the noise your hearing is the peller, meaning that its not setting in the channel correctly. you need to make sure that its snug in it hole and it should not be making a rattling noise....

Thanks Koko. I'll try and re-set it again. You're right, the Regent is a HOB. Its made by Marineland and its the same thing as a penguin, except without a wheel. I got it second hand, but I think they are only sold at nnnnnn (not sure though because we don't typically shop there)

I'm having the same trouble with an AquaOne hob, from past experience they always seem to get noisy after about 6 months or so, don't think I'll get another one.

Hubby is going to take it apart on the weekend to see if that helps.

Its much better now The second time I re-assembled the impeller and its chamber, that aweful grindy noise stopped. Its still not as quiet as my aquaclear or red sea nano, but those are pretty much silent so that sets the bar pretty high. I don't mind its humming and now I can sleep at night ^-^