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View Full Version : RUGF problem? For those with experience...



jpappy789
02-22-2008, 7:03 PM
Lately I have been noticing that my pre-filter seems to be getting "sucked in". It is no longer a nice, round cylinder but ends up bent in the middle. I have tried washing it in tank water, and while a lot gets out, it seems to keep happening. I have a hard time beleiving that it is getting clogged that quickly. This seems to be in correlation with some odd noises my powerhead (connected the the uptake) is making. Kind of a rattling noise, like it is working to hard.

At the same time I am noticing quite a few bubbles, large ones as well, being pushed down the tube. At the bottom, where the tub meets the gravel level, there is a VERY large bubble that seems to be blocking the tube? When I dig through the gravel near the tube a lot of larger bubbles come out and the ones in the tube disappear. Is something getting blocked in the plates? My tube has had problems unhooking in the past when bumped too much and I think some gravel had creeped into the plate. It would probably be situated right under the tube. Is this what is restricting the flow? What should I do? I would really not like to mess too much with this filter...

wataugachicken
02-22-2008, 7:14 PM
it just sounds like the sponge is getting old. the same thing has happened to me with a couple sponges. small particles get trapped deep inside the sponge blocking it, and also the sponge loses its "springiness" over time, so when it gets sucked in, it is less able to literally bounce back after cleaning. like buying a chair, sitting it in all the time, and eventually there's just a big dent in the cushion the exact shape of your butt. if this is a new sponge i would try a different style or brand.

no ideas on the bubbles.

jpappy789
02-22-2008, 7:15 PM
weird...its only like 3 months old

TwoTankAmin
02-23-2008, 12:24 PM
Prefilter sponges must be thoroughly rinsed weekly. If this is not done they will clog fairly fast especially if you have a fine pored sponge rather than a coarse one. If its a fine type you may need to rinse it more than once a week. Once fine waste begins to build up in a fine pored sponge it is almost impossible to get it out just by rinsing and it will clog.

The purpose of the prefilter sponge is to trap mech waste, not to provided bio.

jpappy789
02-23-2008, 12:31 PM
ok, thanks! I will have to remember to do that. I think I will look into a new sponge as this one seems to be useless...