Filter problem, no known cause....

SNPiccolo5 · 08-06-2003, 01:41 AM

On my 10 gallon non-planted tank, I have always ran a little HOB filter. It started with a Whisper, then that broke (was plugged in, but not working). I replaced that with a Biowheel HOB filter, and it worked, but know it has died as well and I got it less than 4 months ago!! What happened to it, is there anything I can do to revive it? If I can't what is a good filter to buy that lasts more than 4 months for a 10 gallon? Thanks for all the replies!

-Tim

m.lemay · 08-06-2003, 01:48 AM

Sometimes the impellers get jammed up with crap. Remove the intake tube and stick your finger in the impeller and jiggle it around a little till it starts spinning free, then reinstall the intake tube. That should take care of it for another 4 mths. I've had this problem with HOBS and as a matter of course thats the first thing I'll do to get it working. 90% of the time it works. The other 10% I usually have to buy a new impeller.

Marcel

chinaboy1021 · 08-06-2003, 01:54 AM

aquaclear line is best for the price. its quite, and it works. i recommend it to everyone.

**KyleT** · 08-06-2003, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chinaboy1021

aquaclear line is best for the price. its quite, and it works. i recommend it to everyone.

I agree Tim, I ran a mini on my 10 gallon nano saltwater for a year, and am now running it on a 10 gallon planted tank and it has never let me down. It is pretty cheap as well. Definately try it out if you can't get your current one working.

Kyle

cich · 08-06-2003, 01:57 AM

everything I was going to say has already been said by these two. Go for the Aquaclear if you get a new one; I've used them for years without too many problems.

--cich

SNPiccolo5 · 08-06-2003, 02:42 AM

I'll try jiggling the impeller, and then plug it back in. Thanks for all the quick replies!

-Tim

SNPiccolo5 · 08-06-2003, 02:59 AM

Hmmmm, I wish I had the "jammed impeller" problem... I really couldn't jiggle it, but I I took it out, washed it off, washed the filter out (to make sure it wasn't going to be jammed again) and then put it back in. It is interesting what happens. If I push it in all the way, it doesn't work, but if I lift it up just slightly, I can hear it "trying" to work. But still no flow, what should I do? I'm not sure a new impeller would do the job, maybe it's aquaclear time.... Thanks for all the help, again.

-Tim

cich · 08-06-2003, 03:01 AM

probably better to just get a new filter rather than the new impeller.
As you said, the impeller is not a sure fix, and can be kind of costly relatively. Hope things work out for you :-)

--cich

Work In Progress · 08-06-2003, 12:28 PM

Right now on my 5gal, I am having the same prob as you. Every few days I have to giggle and lift the intake to get it churning again. Every power filter I have had, has done this.
I hear the Aquaclear is best.
if I was gonna do one again it would be either the Aquaclear or the Eheim Liberty, you could get either of them for like $13 at Big Al's if I remember right. 8)

**GulfCoastAquarian** · 08-06-2003, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SNPiccolo5

Hmmmm, I wish I had the "jammed impeller" problem... I really couldn't jiggle it, but I I took it out, washed it off, washed the filter out (to make sure it wasn't going to be jammed again) and then put it back in. It is interesting what happens. If I push it in all the way, it doesn't work, but if I lift it up just slightly, I can hear it "trying" to work. But still no flow, what should I do? I'm not sure a new impeller would do the job, maybe it's aquaclear time.... Thanks for all the help, again.

-Tim

Sounds like a worn endcap bushing. Some filter manufacturers sell replacement service parts. Those little rubber caps seem to disintegrate after a while, leaving the impeller magnet misaligned with the field windings. Hmmm, I might be able to machine them out of brass. Would be neat to offer them as a replacement. Would be too noisy, though.

Guttboy · 08-06-2003, 04:26 PM

GCA has hit the nail on the head Im pretty sure!

I kept marine reef tanks for years and that was the biggest problem at tank cleaning/maintenance time.

The endcaps can wear out. What you are describing seems to be the problem....I have found on powerheads it was actually cheaper to purchase a new powerhead than get the replacement impeller.

The only other thing that might be happening in my mind is that there was a piece of debris etc that got caught up in the impeller area where that bushing is and actually caused the inside where the impeller is to be damaged. THIS IS NOT COMMON! I have only seen this once in 15 years of keeping tanks.

Mike

SNPiccolo5 · 08-06-2003, 04:27 PM

The problem is, I just ordered from Big Als! I got my Filstar XP3 coming, hopefully it will get here today, I ordered on Thursday. So, it would have been much more convenient had this happened a week ago. Anyway, my LFS has pretty decent filter prices, so I'll probably just stop by there. Thanks for all the help and replies!

-Tim

**KyleT** · 08-06-2003, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SNPiccolo5

The problem is, I just ordered from Big Als! I got my Filstar XP3 coming, hopefully it will get here today, I ordered on Thursday. So, it would have been much more convenient had this happened a week ago. Anyway, my LFS has pretty decent filter prices, so I'll probably just stop by there. Thanks for all the help and replies!

-Tim

With how cheap the Aquaclear mini is it probably won't make a difference whether you buy online or from a store, even if in theory you would have gotten free shipping. I think I got my mini for $13 inc. taxes @ petsmart. Bigals has it for $9.99

Kyle

Carpet-Pond · 08-12-2003, 11:58 PM

Did you give it enough time to fill up? Sometimes some of the brands can take up to a minute to start working... even if you've filled it up all the way with water.

NFish · 08-14-2003, 01:30 AM

I would try one last time by putting in back on the tank, plugging it in, filling it with water while jiggling the intake tube. I have had hob filters stop, but I have allways been able to fix them this way, or buy cleaning the impeller. Make sure the impeller is in all the way and in right.

08-06-2003, 01:41 AM	#1
SNPiccolo5 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 859	On my 10 gallon non-planted tank, I have always ran a little HOB filter. It started with a Whisper, then that broke (was plugged in, but not working). I replaced that with a Biowheel HOB filter, and it worked, but know it has died as well and I got it less than 4 months ago!! What happened to it, is there anything I can do to revive it? If I can't what is a good filter to buy that lasts more than 4 months for a 10 gallon? Thanks for all the replies! -Tim __________________ Tank in transition! 55 gallons, hard water.

08-06-2003, 01:48 AM	#2
m.lemay Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Naugatuck, CT. Posts: 2,647	Sometimes the impellers get jammed up with crap. Remove the intake tube and stick your finger in the impeller and jiggle it around a little till it starts spinning free, then reinstall the intake tube. That should take care of it for another 4 mths. I've had this problem with HOBS and as a matter of course thats the first thing I'll do to get it working. 90% of the time it works. The other 10% I usually have to buy a new impeller. Marcel __________________ FILSTAR Pimp #2 75 gal heavily planted,50/50 Black beauty,Eco-complete substrate, Pressurised CO2 with solenoid, ph controller, AB Reactor 1000, 330 watts 9325K GE PC lighting,Ehiem Liquidoser, 2-Filstar xp3 canisters.

08-06-2003, 02:42 AM	#6
SNPiccolo5 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 859	I'll try jiggling the impeller, and then plug it back in. Thanks for all the quick replies! -Tim __________________ Tank in transition! 55 gallons, hard water.

08-06-2003, 02:59 AM	#7
SNPiccolo5 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 859	Hmmmm, I wish I had the "jammed impeller" problem... I really couldn't jiggle it, but I I took it out, washed it off, washed the filter out (to make sure it wasn't going to be jammed again) and then put it back in. It is interesting what happens. If I push it in all the way, it doesn't work, but if I lift it up just slightly, I can hear it "trying" to work. But still no flow, what should I do? I'm not sure a new impeller would do the job, maybe it's aquaclear time.... Thanks for all the help, again. -Tim __________________ Tank in transition! 55 gallons, hard water.

08-06-2003, 12:28 PM	#9
Work In Progress Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Peaches, Peanuts & Cotton Posts: 288	Right now on my 5gal, I am having the same prob as you. Every few days I have to giggle and lift the intake to get it churning again. Every power filter I have had, has done this. I hear the Aquaclear is best. if I was gonna do one again it would be either the Aquaclear or the Eheim Liberty, you could get either of them for like $13 at Big Al's if I remember right. 8) __________________ *~~Kelly~~*

08-06-2003, 01:54 AM	#3
chinaboy1021 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: May 2003 Location: toronto Posts: 283	aquaclear line is best for the price. its quite, and it works. i recommend it to everyone.

08-06-2003, 01:57 AM	#5
cich Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Kelowna, BC, Canada Posts: 1,062	everything I was going to say has already been said by these two. Go for the Aquaclear if you get a new one; I've used them for years without too many problems. --cich

08-06-2003, 03:01 AM	#8
cich Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Kelowna, BC, Canada Posts: 1,062	probably better to just get a new filter rather than the new impeller. As you said, the impeller is not a sure fix, and can be kind of costly relatively. Hope things work out for you :-) --cich

08-06-2003, 04:26 PM	#11
Guttboy Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Albuquerque, NM, USA Posts: 752	GCA has hit the nail on the head Im pretty sure! I kept marine reef tanks for years and that was the biggest problem at tank cleaning/maintenance time. The endcaps can wear out. What you are describing seems to be the problem....I have found on powerheads it was actually cheaper to purchase a new powerhead than get the replacement impeller. The only other thing that might be happening in my mind is that there was a piece of debris etc that got caught up in the impeller area where that bushing is and actually caused the inside where the impeller is to be damaged. THIS IS NOT COMMON! I have only seen this once in 15 years of keeping tanks. Mike __________________ Mike 100 Gal Planted, two Filstar XP3, Milwaukee SMS 122 pH controller, Milwaukee reg/bubble, compressed CO2, reactor 1000, 7 WCMM, 12 Ottos, 14 neons, 1 SAE, 3 German blue rams, 2 Florida Flag Fish 10 Gallon...20 Endler's live bearers planted, peat/kitty litter/sand substrate 15 Gallon...Just Schultz Aquatic Plant soil

08-06-2003, 04:27 PM	#12
SNPiccolo5 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 859	The problem is, I just ordered from Big Als! I got my Filstar XP3 coming, hopefully it will get here today, I ordered on Thursday. So, it would have been much more convenient had this happened a week ago. Anyway, my LFS has pretty decent filter prices, so I'll probably just stop by there. Thanks for all the help and replies! -Tim __________________ Tank in transition! 55 gallons, hard water.

08-12-2003, 11:58 PM	#14
Carpet-Pond Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 124	Did you give it enough time to fill up? Sometimes some of the brands can take up to a minute to start working... even if you've filled it up all the way with water.

08-14-2003, 01:30 AM	#15
NFish Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Colorado, USA, North America, Planet Earth, Milky Way Galaxy Posts: 235	I would try one last time by putting in back on the tank, plugging it in, filling it with water while jiggling the intake tube. I have had hob filters stop, but I have allways been able to fix them this way, or buy cleaning the impeller. Make sure the impeller is in all the way and in right.

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