EMERGENCY hob filter just stopped

petitpoisson

AC Members
Aug 15, 2006
16
0
0
Montreal,Quebec,Canada
:help:

The cheapo aquatech 5-15 filter on my 10g just stopped working. I cleaned it and the motor seems to work when there is no water (I can hear it spinning) but as soon as I put water in it, it just seems to lack any power (I can hear a low buzzing tone, like it's stuck).

Even if i would be able to make it work, I just lost faith in it... So I've got to go buy something else to replace it.

The hole in the back of the cover is 5" large, but can be easily cut to 6".

I'm going to Big Al's in Montreal today, because my fish can't stay without filtration for too long...

What do you suggest? (stocking details are in my signature)

Thanks a lot!!!!!!
 
make sure the intake tube is in properly and there is enough water in it. outside of tht im not sure wht else it could be
 
I had one completely die on me 2 days ago. No sound at all... just dead. I got an AquaClear rated for 5-20 gal (it's for one of my 10-gal) and it seems to be working really well. It was only about $20 too so I didn't have to spend too much.
 
Sometimes impellors on those things need a kick start. A tooth pick can be used to start the spin on it. Rather annoying.

Aquaclears are my choices for HOB filters and are fairly inexpensive.
 
Thanks for all the responses.

I bought a Penguin bio-wheel 100. Since it uses the same cartridges as my old aqua-tech 5-15 (same manufacturer) I inserted my old cartridge in it so I didn't loose my bacteria colony (I kept both the cartridge and the bio-filter in water while I went to the store). When you put the 2 cartridges side by side they are identical in shape, but the Marineland one seems to have more carbon in it (it's the only difference that I saw).

I also tried to fit in my old bio-filter and it fits nicely between the filter and the bio-wheel, it's a perfect fit so now I have the bio-filter AND the bio-wheel at the same time!

I'll try to repair the old filter and I'll keep it as a temporary spare for future emergencies.
 
That's great news. yes, have a spare if you can. I learned that lesson (luckily I did have a spare). Redunant systems are best if possible. And the backups don't have to be in the same league if you can't afford the best stuff, they just have to last long enough.
 
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