What's the funny noise?!

[FizzPop06]

I have a Cascade canister filter (700 series I believe) filtering my 55 gallon turtle tank and a couple weeks ago it started making a funny noise. I thought it was just super dirty and needed to be cleaned. I cleaned the filter and found some sand in it (there is sand on the bottom of the tank and I think it was sucked up when my female decided she wanted to burrow and kick up sand) so I tried to get it as clean as I could. When I plugged it back in and got the water going I still heard the noise, not nearly as loud now but still there. I miss my quite filter!! I think there might be sand in the bearing or the wheel, but I'm not sure. I was wondering is there a way to take the top apart without completely destroying it? I would like to get in there and give it a nice cleaning to see if I can get the noise to stop and to also prevent it from further damage... but as it's a $150 filter, I don't want to break it. Especially since my turtles are full of poop and leaving the water unfiltered for an extended period of time would result in a fungal infection and lord knows what else.... Can anyone give me some good tips on getting the top nice and clean?? Or how to get the sand out? I flushed it til the water coming out was clear, but like I said, the noise is still happening so I don't think it's all out.


Please and thanks!!

 

[ocean]

Did you take out the impeller and clean it?