HOB not doing it's job?

[Tigerbarb]

My Whisper HOB previously did a pretty good job keeping my tank clean, and now I can't spot a single spec going up the suction tube. All it seems to be doing is adding water movement and oxygenation, like I might as well run it on no filter media... The floating particles just keep moving around.
I was thinking that if this problem persists, I will buy an Aquaclear HOB.
My current filter looked flimsy to begin with, and it didn't look like it would do much.
Any suggestions on what I should do/what might be happening?
This week has been extremely stressful to my fish because of this: Whenever I even stick my hand in (I always wash my hands first) TONS of floating particles come up and float around until they settle, while I am pretty sure they are supposed to be sucked up the HOB.

[goleafs]

Something could be clogging the intake or the motor could be jammed giving it less power.

[goleafs]

Something could be clogging the intake or the motor could be jammed giving it less power.

[Tigerbarb]

For the last few weeks, it has been going eunusualy fast. This gives my the illusion that it is a very powerful filter, though it is not doing it's job at all. I think I will have to put my fish in my parents' 22g until I get a new HOB.
Before getting an Aquaclear, I will first get a new bio-bag for my current HOB to see if it at all helps.

I do have an old Penguin 125 bio-wheel that looks to be size 10-20, and I think it is worth a try to get a wheel/filter cartridge for it, though I will need a new fish safety thing at the bottom of the suction tube. I can't find the one it came with.

[cocoa_pleco]

maybe the filters had its time and burnt out, or maybe somethings just clogging it

if its busted it would be good to upgrade to a AC mini

[Tigerbarb]

I have only had the filter for a few months, cuz I got it in December

Anyway, I think I've fixed the problem. I cleaned out the bio-bag and black sponge-like thing, and now it is working-like new again.

[Taurus]

I have only had the filter for a few months, cuz I got it in December

Anyway, I think I've fixed the problem. I cleaned out the bio-bag and black sponge-like thing, and now it is working-like new again.

Gently rinse both the bio-bag and bio sponge in used aquairum water once per week when you vacuum and do a water change. You may have to swish them around a bit. Sounds like it almost time for a new bio bag\filter change.

[A340]

A friend of mine has an Aquatech 10-20 on her 10g tank (actually, it's my 10g tank, but I gave it to her ... :ezpi_wink1: ). The Aquatech filters are pretty well identical to the Whispers and it has the same problem as you're having Tiger. It's only about 6 months old and it just doesn't filter the water like it used to. If you change/clean the media, it'll be OK for a couple of hours, but then it'll cut back to about half of what it should be pumping.

I'm running AC's on my tanks and will be getting one for her as well in the coming weeks. That would be my recommendation to you.

Also, I had the Aquatech 30-60 on my 29g up until about a year ago. It's since been replaced by the AC110 and the difference is very obvious, not only in water clarity, but in overall performance.

[Lady Hobbs]

How often do your run a brush up thru the intake tube? That gets pretty gubby in there, especially at the elbow.

[A340]

How often do your run a brush up thru the intake tube? That gets pretty gubby in there, especially at the elbow.
I do mine (and her's) at least once a month. I like clean things.