stupid powerhead problem(?)

[pistilli]

Hi, I just bought a tank from someone who hadn't been using theirs in a while, and they included a bunch of filters, heaters, a stand, and gravel. They also stuck a powerhead in, a Penguin 1140, that I don't really know how to use. I don't have an undergravel filter so I just stuck the powerhead on the side, with the top sticking a little out of the water and the tube sticking above the water, and nothing seems to be happening. The impeller is spinning around but no water is being pushed around and no bubbles are coming out. If I blow into the tube the bubbles just come straight up from the flow diffuser, not out or in whatever direction it is pointing.

I've never used a powerhead before so I'm perfectly happy not using one now if it's broken, and I still got everything for half the price I would have paid for the tank alone, so I don't mind too much. But is it broken or am I just a complete powerhead idiot? Thanks!

-Max

[ashdavid]

There seems to be no water geting to the impeller, to fix this is as easy as pie!!! Put the powerhead under water and turn it upside down and release all the bubbles from the intake then while you leave it running stick it to the side of the tank.

[ashdavid]

I forgot to mention if you put the water outlet on the powerhead beneath the surface the air will automaticly be driven out of the intake. But if you want to have the water outlet out of the water do what i said earlier. Goodluck..

[pistilli]

Ok, so I did that and got the air out, but now I'm noticing that the impeller is actually not moving until I take the housing off. The motor is running, but with the housing on the impeller seems to stick. I took it out and it doesn't seem to rotate very freely around the little metal rod that holds it in place, isn't it supposed to though? It's not stuck so much as providing some resistance. I took it off of the rod but I can't think of any way of cleaning it to see if it moves more smoothly. Any suggestions?

-Max

[ashdavid]

Take it apart and give it a good cleaning, if it has been used for a long time it will lots of gunk in it.