What to do if...

[Swimfins]

I was removing some dead leaves from my filter tube, I lay the filter down on its side after unplugging it, and removed the tubes. When I went to start it up again, it wouldn't run. (Its an aqua-clear 200, only 2 months old) I primed it by adding the water and waited. The motor didn't seem to work, nothing was happening. So, I panicked, ran out a bought another. Anyway, when I got home I heard sound coming from the old one, I added water and it began pumping fine.


What things should we have on hand for such a dilemma? Obviously a back up filter is a nice thing. Would an airpump and airstone suffice in a pinch and for how long? How long could the tank sustain itself without filtration? I guess daily water changes would be in order too.

Thanks.

 

[Signus]

I'm sure you did this, but did you check the impeller for signs of gunk buildup?

 

[Swimfins]

Nope Guilty as charged. I'll take my sentence now.

 

[OrionGirl]

That's likely my only complaint about the AC line--if you don't put a pre-filter on the intake, you accumulate a lot of junk inside, and the impeller can get clogged and stop or slow down. I keep a wooden chopstick handy--usually just a little prod will get them going again, and I've added prefilters to most of my setups--that almost eliminates the problem. 6-9 months of bio-film can still stop them, but at least it takes longer.

 

[Hound]

At least now you realize that gunk around an impeller is a common ailment of aquarium filters. If its practical for you keeping a spare filter on hand is a good thing. If its the same model as your normal filter you can easily transfer media. I myself use a Fluval 404 cannister filter so keeping a spare one around isn't all that practical from a money stand point. I do have an extra impeller shaft though and also have my old Penguin 330 HOB filter that includes media baskets. Worse case scenario I would just have to remove my bio-media from my fluval and stick them into the Penguin. Being honest an AC 500 would probably be a better backup, but I already have the Penguin.

As far as the air pump and air stone idea? I don't believe it would be worth the effort as far as your fish concerned when it comes to filtration. It would aerate the water however. My guess would be without filtration most any aquarium would be in serious trouble when it comes to controlling ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates.

 

[Twelve]

Swimfins, I have the same filter and a sand substrate. Without a pre-filter, you can guess how long it took before my filter just shut down. That was after having the filter two days, and I was convinced I had ruined it!

Luckily, the filter is very easy to take apart. Unplug first Remove your filter holder/cartridge thing, dump out the water, then remove the gray plastic piece that holds the impeller in. Turn the filter over and tap gently -- the impeller will come out and you can then clean it off along with the compartment that it goes into. The impeller seems to be held in place with a magnet(? ...not sure), so putting it back in is no problem. After you finish cleaning it out, put the impeller back in, snap the cover back on, replace your media, and try it out.

I've done this with my filter several times and it has worked perfectly after each cleaning. Now I have a prefilter on the intake that I made from a AC filter sponge, so things have been running smoothly! If you want to make one like I did, all you need to do is get an extra AC sponge -- the kind that goes inside the AC 200, and cut it in half. In the very center, with a sharp knife, cut a slit in the sponge, do this slowly so you don't accidently cut it all the way through. Then slide it over your filter intake -- cut the slit a little small so that it fits snugly and won't come off easily. I had to tug on mine a bit to get it on the first time. Very easy to do and it's kept my filter running fine. Great for planted tanks too, stray leaves now stick to the sponge instead of going straight up into the filter.

But like Oriongirl says, I'm sure after a few months it'll need to be cleaned up again so that it doesn't stop.

 

[Swimfins]

Thanks so much.
I returned the ac 200 that I bought yesterday. Now, I'm wondering if I should have kept it. But thanks for the info, I will cover the intake pipe with an ac sponge this weekend, and look more carefully at the impeller as to how it works etc. Being stuck like that was scary. I think I'll pick up a back up just in case.... The thing is guaranteed for 2 years, but even a few hours of malfunction can be deadly to the fishies, I would assume.

And I have chopsticks on hand too.