View Full Version : aquaclear stopped working after unplug...am i missing something?
This happened before and I returned it to the store, thinking it broken...but maybe I'm missing something.
Aquaclear mini 20. Working fine.
I unplugged it, took some water out of the tank, moved the tank, put the water back in, then plugged in the filter again...and nothing happens. No sound, no water movement...like it's dead. I've searched a bit and haven't seen anything about them dying like this, and since it happened twice I thought maybe there's something I'm doing wrong here.
Any ideas? Thanks!
ok, i got it working again. there was a post on Tom's Place about it and they said to just use a chopstick to touch the fan and make it start going again. And to clean it out better on a regular basis.
Cheers!
JSchmidt
10-27-2003, 8:05 AM
Get used to the chopsticks routine. My Aquaclears are terribly difficult to restart, no matter how much I clean them impeller and impeller well. Not a bad filter otherwise, but annoying...
Jim
125gJoe
10-27-2003, 8:48 AM
Also, watch out for small snails getting in there.... They will stop an impeller.
I have 1 AC mini that does fine and always restarts no matter what. Then my parents have an AC200 that always fails to restart without a little help. And my mini is close to 10 years old. At least in the end it is a fairly simple fiix.
somefinnfishy
10-27-2003, 3:42 PM
mini thru 300 ac,s use the same under powered motor:mad:
My last ac died yesterday jumping for joy can now use chopsticks for eating not farting with my filters.
Captain Hook
10-27-2003, 4:52 PM
I'm surprised to hear you guys have so many problems getting the ACs to start. I have a few over the years, 2 minis and now a 200 and haven't had a problem. The only thing that is annoying is when I plug it back in there has been a decent amount of water in the motor and filter otherwise it won't restart.
somefinnfishy
10-28-2003, 3:33 PM
we are full of water impeller wont turn.
BTW the cure is to pull the intake tube and dont unplug it. This also allows you to change more than a few inches of water.
thanks everyone - this board rocks!
TwoTankAmin
10-28-2003, 5:19 PM
I currently have 16 ACs running, from mini to 300. I used to clean them all the time and never had problems. however as my maint. routine got longer I looked to cut down and now only clean them when they need it. How do I know when they need it/
We usually have several power outtages/year. Some last only a few seconds or minutes, others as much as a few hours. The filters that dont restart when power returns get pulled and have the motor well and the impellor cleaned with a brush.
If you want to minimize restart problems simply clean the impellor and well monthly.
AquaVelva
10-28-2003, 6:55 PM
I have 2 AC300's running on a 75 gallon tank. Both were purchased 5+ years ago. One of them always restarts. The other one may or may not re-start after a power outage, or just after unplugging it or after cleaning it. I have never been able to figure out why one always restarts, but the other one doesn't. Once going, both work great.
I find this to only be a minor inconvenience. I still think that the AquaClear filters are the best filter out there for the money. AC 300's only cost about 20 bucks. I figure even if they ONLY run for 5 years they are a bargain! I had Penquins once (can't remember the model number) but they didn't come close to the AquaClears in reliability, flexibility, or filtering capacity!
...AV
somefinnfishy
10-28-2003, 10:47 PM
for HOBs I dislike anything other than EMP 280 and 400 the earlyer models like the 330 with the wheels sucked IMHO
I'm sick of all of them.
Running most eveything on one 1/3hp air pump and sponge filters.With a few H.O.T. magnums floating around the room.
jdheff1982
11-09-2003, 6:34 AM
Hi! I have an AC300 on my tank. Whenever I change the water, I just let it run. It makes a lot of noise, but at least it will prime itself once proper water level is established. You might try this. I haven't had to prime it at all!! Good luck!
mtdewlover
11-14-2003, 5:28 PM
Hmmmmmmm........doesn't this sound familiar. I had the same problem I though I killed it. Crazy things :rolleyes:
Gealcath
11-15-2003, 8:51 PM
Most impellers are drivin by a magnet. If the insides of the slot you stick the magnet into (its on the other end of the impeller) gets coverd with algae or some other stuff, when it stops spinning (the centripital force keeps it spinning when it gets dirty) it wont respin until both the magnet and the slot are cleaned well.