Filter for a 5 gallon Eclipse

[beeZer350]

I don't know what it is but the filter on my 5 gallon Eclipse doesn't seem to be moving much water at all. I pulled the impeller, scrubbed all the gunk off, ran some hot water into the impeller area and still not much more than a trickle from the output. I placed some filter sponge in the intake guard, rather than placing a sponge over the intake (which I think looks tacky), to prevent any shrimp from being sucked in. Thing is, the filter flow isn't any better with the sponge removed.

Any ideas for replacements or how to make this one perform better?

 

[beeZer350]

By the way, the filter is about six years old.

 

[fwiffo]

my buddy had a nano reef in his eclipse for years. he had it jury rigged so that he could fit two aquaclear filters, 20 and 30, on the sides with the light above hanging using a spray painted plywood platform. he had the filters loaded with chemi pure and foam.

 

[Bubbles2112]

Did you check the pathway that the water takes from the impeller into the outlet? Is that clear of built up gunk? You can also pop the top of the motor housing off to take a peek into the flow-way (the motor is sealed with epoxy so no water will leak into it). Mine had a build up right at the top but you couldn't see it from the outlet and the only way at it was to pop the lid off it. My Eclipse unit is also about 6 years old, maybe 7.