AC20 not working properly.

**mermaidwannabe** · 05-03-2012, 11:57 PM

Once filled with water, those ACs are supposed to self-prime. That is, start up on their own, as long as the water level is above the tip of the intake tube. Even so, I find I nearly always have to help mine along after a water change by scooping tank water into the media box and the impeller chamber. Before I do it, it just sits there and goes "grrrrrr." After scooping water into it, it begins the familiar "chug-chug-chug" and primes up and goes silent once the waterfall starts.

That's why I've always feared they might not start up again after a power outage, when the juice comes back on. Apparently, if the water level hasn't lowered, it's not a problem, but after a water change, even when the tip of the intake tube remains submerged in water, it's not high enough for the AC to prime itself. Once in a rare while, it will, but usually it needs my assistance.

-- mermaidwannabe

**genocidex** · 05-04-2012, 12:32 AM

Originally Posted by mermaidwannabe

Even so, I find I nearly always have to help mine along after a water change by scooping tank water into the media box and the impeller chamber. Before I do it, it just sits there and goes "grrrrrr." After scooping water into it, it begins the familiar "chug-chug-chug" and primes up and goes silent once the waterfall starts.
-- mermaidwannabe

thats odd, mine will self prime once i get the back completely filled (ie some spilling out the spout area) then it does the rest quite well. tho i have to admit i help them out sometimes lol