The filter will collect detrius, but can also become a nitrate factory. If you are using it I'd get another and change it 2 times a week. Wash the otehr one out and add a couple of drops of bleach. rinse well, and let dry while the other one is in the tank.
yeah, noticed last night that the flow seemed reduced, so i pulled the foam out. it was pretty gunked up and rinsing it didn't do much. think i run foamless from now on too
Nope not noisy at all but I didn't think the mag drives were either. You can try puttting foam under the pump to stop vibration that may be causing any noise.