Why does my internal filter keep clogging?

[nickmcmechan]

I have a Fluval 2+ in my 90l tank.

It keeps clogging up, the yellow indicator goes down and I have to keep washing the media to get it going again...this is happening every 2-3 days just now.

Heres a short history of whats been happening lately in the tank


outbreak of Ich currently, with heat + salt treatment
two shoals of guppy fry
possibly a dead fish in there somewhere, cant find it but no ammonia spike
very heavily planted tank
first time it happened replaced the impellar
UGF in tank as wellI really cant work out why its clogging. When I wash the sponges theres a little (couple of bits) of plant matter and they are a bit 'thick' with matter, but IMO might not be enough to clog, so I'm not sure if its that or not?

Tonight when I washed it I put pantyhose round the outside so only finer matter will get through - is that the best solution?

Opinions?:help:

[J double R]

keep washing it, eventually the dead plant matter will go away, assuming your plants are alive. :)

[nickmcmechan]

will my pantyhose idea help / work?

[bghill]

I have a Fluval 3+ in my tank and was having the same problems. What worked for me was to clean the impeller housing. That little area where the impeller spins around, not impeller itself. It worked for me.

[nickmcmechan]

Thanks bghill, will do that if it clogs again, so far the pantyhose going well but only day 2, so next step clearly the impellar housing - how did you clean it?