Filter Failure

**Nokota** · 07-30-2012, 04:42 AM

I got a new tank for my two tiny comets roughly 5 months ago after living in a 2-gallon vase with a small filter for a year. They are both three inches long or so, and there are a couple of tiny crawfish in with them. They get along just fine and have been very healthy, though with an occasional fin nipping.

My filter has spontaneously stopped working. It is rated for a tank far larger than the one that my fish are currently using and while I have a bubble stone and do regular water changes the tank is getting dirty very fast now. Instead of the usual waterfall, the filter simply drips slowly into the tank. I worry there is no suction. I have changed the filter, changed the carbon, even lightly rinsed the bio-filter because it had algae in it, though I know that is ill-advised, and I rinsed water down the tube. I cant seem to do anything about the fact that there isn't any suction at all! This filter is only 3 months old and rated for a 20-gallon tank (this being a 10-gallon, I know how dirty goldies can be so I got a bigger one. It is supposed to do 100 gallons an hour, I doubt it is managing 2 now) and yet... help! anybody got any ideas?

**Lady Hobbs** · 07-30-2012, 04:45 AM

You need to get a tube brush and run it thru that tube. It probably is getting full of gunk at the bend. Also make sure the strainer is free of debris.

I have brushes for all my filter tubes including my canister hoses. The gunk in there gets shocking.

**Goes to 11!** · 07-30-2012, 04:47 AM

help! anybody got any ideas?

Yep, The best advice I can offer is this: Return your GF and get stock that is appropriate for a 10G tank.

I would look into giving your filter a good cleaning also without destroying any remaining BB [Considering you apparently changed the cartridge].

**Nokota** · 07-30-2012, 04:52 AM

Originally Posted by 850R

Yep, The best advice I can offer is this: Return your GF and get stock that is appropriate for a 10G tank.

I would look into giving your filter a good cleaning also without destroying any remaining BB [Considering you apparently changed the cartridge].

They're very tiny fish and there are only two. I don't have room for a larger tank and when they grow too large they get to live in the decorative pond nearby. I know what I am doing with the fish, thanks, I need to know what is going on with this filter.

**Nokota** · 07-30-2012, 04:54 AM

Originally Posted by Lady Hobbs

You need to get a tube brush and run it thru that tube. It probably is getting full of gunk at the bend. Also make sure the strainer is free of debris.

I have brushes for all my filter tubes including my canister hoses. The gunk in there gets shocking.

I already went through the tube, there wasn't anything in the bend. I suspect the problem may be in the main body of the filter since the motor seems to be just fine. Any idea on how to clean that?

**mermaidwannabe** · 07-30-2012, 05:56 AM

Is this a cannister filter or an hob?

You mentioned waterfall and a bend in the tube -- that sounds like it might be an AquaClear. It has a u-tube that is bent-- in the shape of a U.

Sometimes the impellers in those get stuck. You'll need to access the impeller chamber and tweak it so it moves again. You should also clean out any gunk accumulated within the impeller chamber. If you rinse your filter parts in tank water, you shouldn't lose too much BB. Never immerse the motor housing itself in water, however. Just lift out the impeller and rinse it, and take an impeller brush or Q-tip and swab the chamber out. The impeller is magnetic, and will draw itself back over its spool.

Also, see that the impeller end of the u-tube is properly seated over the chamber hole. It has to be all the way down and firmly in place. If it isn't, the filter won't work.You'll sometimes, but not always, hear it click when it's in place.

Is you filter completely level on the back of the tank? If not, try adjusting the little levelor mechanism until the filter hangs straight. That, too, can affect water flow.

Finally, is you flow control valve fully open? You might have it closed down so the water flows minimally.

If these measures don't fix the problem, then you may have a faulty motor and you should return that filter and exchange it for one that functions properly.

If your filter isn't an AC, then I'm not sure if you can access the impeller. You may just have to take it back and get a new one.

-- mermaidwannabe