Does anyone know how to jump start a whisper filter?

Emaan

Emaan

Fish Keeper Still in training
May 1, 2004
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My power blinked out today and when I got home I noticed that the filter on one of my 10g's is not working. I have unplugged it and let it cool off and done everything else I can think of to get it started again, what should I do? Does anyone know of any trade secrets to getting them running again? It happens to be the filter on my planted tank. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

It is a whisper power filter for a 10g tank.

Emaan
 
Thanks for the reply. I just went to Wal-Mart and bought another filter. It is still the whisper, but this one is an internal filter instead of the hob. I am hoping that this one will work better (last longer). Lucky for me, it uses the same filter that I already had, so I didn't have to worry about losing my bacteria. I'm really hoping that my other filter won't go out soon, it is the same as the one that quit. So far our power has blinked off for 2 days, I don't think it has stayed off long, just a blink, but it must have been long enough to ruin my filter.

Once again, thanks for the reply.

Emaan
 
hmmmm..... did you try forcing the propeller to spin before you went out and bought the new one? I have a whisper and from time to time, the flow ceases because the propeller sticks. What I've learned is that if I take the intake tube out, and stick a straw to where the propeller is and budge it a little, the propeller will start to spin again. This is in the case that the propeller is not tangled with plant debris.... if you still have the old filter, you might want to look at it to see if the propeller is clean.... that being the case, maybe it woulod've just taken a little nudge with a straw (or something long and thin enough to get in the space).
 
Thanks for the advice dangerdoll, but I have already tried that. I'm going to put it up since I have another just like it on my other tank and use what ever parts I can for that one if I need them.

Emaan
 
I've been doing the same thing as dangerdoll for 15 years...when that thing finally does quit though, (all whisper impellors are only good for about 3 years,) just get another impellor, don't buy another whole filter.
 
My Whisper 40 stops every time I do a big water change and turn it off.

I usually have to take the whole intake tube out and monkey with it till the impeller starts up again. Basically end up just m oving it up and down several times and it eventually catches and starts up again, My Aquaclear 150 never has such issues though. It's a pain to do, but aside from that it's a great filter I think.
 
I just take any kind of rod (like one Dangerdoll descirbed) and spin the impellor around.

Whisper impellors tend to need that jumpstart after about 2 years of use. About 2 years after that, you'll need to replace the impellor altogether. It'll either be to noisy or will simply stop turning.
 
When mine "stops" (after a water change sometimes, or power outage), I move the intake tube up and down a few times to get it going. They can last more than just a few years. I have one that Ive been using almost continuosly for 10 years or more and Ive never replaced the impellor. Im not sure how old it is, it was used when I got it.
 
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My Emporer 400 starts back up everytime without fail. However, the Wal Mart Regent filter on my 20g stops every now and then for no reason, but moving the intake tube starts it back up. Is it time to maybe clean the impeller?? :(
 
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