Filter keeps slowing down

[Molliesncats]

Can anyone think of why my Aquaclear 200 keeps slowing to a trickle? I just replaced it because it was outright stopping. Now, the new one (which hasn't accumulated gunk) doesn't seem to really be doing what it should either. The water used to come pouring out smoothly, and now it's reduced to a small trickle. I'm changing the poor things every few days to keep up with the difference!

Could the filter be at a weird angle...or not getting all its power? I have mesh around the end of the tube, so it shouldn't be picking up clumps. How far down should the tube extend? That is, should I use the tube extension for an 18" high tank?

Thanks in advance.

Emily

[default]

Molliesncats wrote:
> Can anyone think of why my Aquaclear 200 keeps slowing to a trickle?
I
> just replaced it because it was outright stopping. Now, the new one
> (which hasn't accumulated gunk) doesn't seem to really be doing what
it
> should either. The water used to come pouring out smoothly, and now
it's
> reduced to a small trickle. I'm changing the poor things every few
days
> to keep up with the difference!
>
> Could the filter be at a weird angle...or not getting all its power?
I
> have mesh around the end of the tube, so it shouldn't be picking up
> clumps. How far down should the tube extend? That is, should I use
the
> tube extension for an 18" high tank?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Emily


Some things to consider and check on:

It really sounds to me like it is getting plugged up. What is your
filter media? If it's just a sponge, rinse that bugger out real well
in a big bowl of aquarium water. Hey, here's a great idea! Take out
all the media and run the filter. Nice waterfall? If not, then it
must be the mechanics or placement of the tubes. Is the tube sitting
nicely in the recess above the impeller? The aquaclear filters have an
adjustable outflow, by the position of the tube. It should sit to the
left, directely above the impeller.

The uptake tube length is only relevant to the height of the surface of
the water. It only has to be able to reach the water and have a
constant draw, without sucking air. How far is it from the lip of the
waterfall to the surface of the tank water? If this is a great
distance, the pump will work harder, but mine still pour out the same
amount when I'm emptying my tank, until the intake tube starts to suck
air.

steve

[Starfish]

Its the impeller...sometimes hair or anything else can get wrapped around
the impeller
"Molliesncats" > wrote in
message m...
>
> Can anyone think of why my Aquaclear 200 keeps slowing to a trickle? I
> just replaced it because it was outright stopping. Now, the new one
> (which hasn't accumulated gunk) doesn't seem to really be doing what it
> should either. The water used to come pouring out smoothly, and now it's
> reduced to a small trickle. I'm changing the poor things every few days
> to keep up with the difference!
>
> Could the filter be at a weird angle...or not getting all its power? I
> have mesh around the end of the tube, so it shouldn't be picking up
> clumps. How far down should the tube extend? That is, should I use the
> tube extension for an 18" high tank?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Emily
>
>
> --
> Molliesncats