What happened to my Eheim flow?

[ZooTycoonMaster]

I just cleaned it last Sunday the 21, and the flow was excellent; like the day I first set it up. After a couple of days, the flow significantly decreased. Before, there was alot of surface movement, and now there's almost no surface movement. I just cleaned it right now (cleaned the inside and the pipes), and the flow didn't change at all. What happened?

[Aquarist_Fist]

Tubes gunky? Impeller bad? Impeller shaft bad?

Something stuck anywhere? This happened to me once. One of those little filter balls got stuck in the tubing. Needless to say, it was not very good for my flow.

[ZooTycoonMaster]

Originally Posted by Aquarist_Fist

Tubes gunky? Impeller bad? Impeller shaft bad?

I tried cleaning the impeller shaft, but I couldn't get that far.

[zzyzx85]

air trapped in system?

if you're using the blue sponge filter, how old is it? I realized that even though I wringed the living heck out of it, it's still dirty and I need to get it replaced.

[adamkerrnz]

Is it possible that the magnet the impellor attaches to could affect flow rates?

[CL]

I cleaned my impeller today. When you have the pump head apart from the canister, the is a little thing covering where the impeller is. twist the "bar" looking thing and it will come off, the lift on the little tab and you can get the impeller out.
It's really hard to explain, so congrats if you can understand me.

[ZooTycoonMaster]

Originally Posted by zzyzx85

air trapped in system?

if you're using the blue sponge filter, how old is it? I realized that even though I wringed the living heck out of it, it's still dirty and I need to get it replaced.

Yeah it's trying to get the air out now...but doesn't some air always get trapped in it before you plug it in?

And I haven't replaced the blue sponge since I got it...Christmas of 2008 But it was working fine last week, and all of a sudden the flow decreased overnight....

Originally Posted by adamkerrnz

Is it possible that the magnet the impellor attaches to could affect flow rates?

I have no idea

Originally Posted by clwatkins10

I cleaned my impeller today. When you have the pump head apart from the canister, the is a little thing covering where the impeller is. twist the "bar" looking thing and it will come off, the lift on the little tab and you can get the impeller out.
It's really hard to explain, so congrats if you can understand me.

I know to twist the bar that locks it in, but I don't understand how to get the impeller out

[CL]

Originally Posted by ZooTycoonMaster

I know to twist the bar that locks it in, but I don't understand how to get the impeller out

There is a little tab on the lightbulb shaped piece of plastic that lifts it out, which means that you can take the impeller out.

[CL]

I just happened to find a very useful image

[Aquarist_Fist]

Just pull. There is quite some resistance due to a magnet that keeps the impeller in place. Just make sure you pull it straight out, otherwise you'll break the impeller shaft (a white plastic stick the impeller revolves around).

[ZooTycoonMaster]

Okay I'll try that tomorrow...it's too late now.

I think I'll also buy a replacement blue sponge...

[CL]

Originally Posted by ZooTycoonMaster

Okay I'll try that tomorrow...it's too late now.

I think I'll also buy a replacement blue sponge...

you can just wash the blue sponge. Just replace the white one (the black one can be washed as well IME)

[ZooTycoonMaster]

Originally Posted by clwatkins10

you can just wash the blue sponge. Just replace the white one (the black one can be washed as well IME)

I got rid of the black and white ones a long time ago

I'll try cleaning the impeller tomorrow...I just hope I don't break it.

[ZooTycoonMaster]

Is it possible that a dried out O-ring could cause slower flow?

[zzyzx85]

the sealing O-ring between the motor and canister? unlikely unless it was letting air in or leaking.

Are you using some sort of pre-filter or sponge on the intake? could it be clogged?