AquaClear filter won't start
 

I sincerely feel like the biggest idiot. I got a new filter, the
AquaClear 200, for my 10 gallon freshwater tank; it won't start
pumping water through. I followed the directions, nothing; I bent my
arms in all weird directions to get the air out of the tube and the
tube then inserted into the intake side of the part of the filter that
hangs out the back of the tank; all that did was suck all the water
out of the filter back into the tank! I filled enough water into the
tank so that I almost overfilled the tank, thinking that maybe that
would start the water flowing. The little engine that (I assume) runs
the filter is warm, it must be doing *something*, but it is totally
quiet.

What am I doing wrong? I checked out the websites in the FAQs, but
they dont' go into troubleshooting (or filters for dummies, which I
must need).

Sorry if you guys get this all the time...

--
teresa
--
~teresa~
AFH Barwench

^..^ "Never try to outstubborn a cat." Robert A. Heinlein ^..^
http://pixelmeow.com/ && http://heinleinsociety.org/
http://pixelmeow.com/Book_Exchange/index.htm
http://www.storesonline.com/site/thesurvivalstation/
http://rose-n-thorn-llc.com/
aim: pixelmeow

AquaClear filter won't start
 

Two things:

1) Fill filter box until it starts to flow back into tank BEFORE
attempting anything else. Then insert the input tube into position.
(Power to pump should be off during this entire phase). Make sure
that the input tube sits completely down into the input of the motor
housing (if you look down inside the filter top, you will see an open
section just above the filter motor, typically it is sort of oblong
with a slight curve sort of like a letter C turned onto it's side.
One end of this oblong will be copletely open to the filter
(impeller), the other end will be completely blocked. The input tube
should go directly over the completely open section above the
impeller). Now turn power on... you will see the input tube slowly
pulsate with water until it fills completely and the pump starts
running, water now flowing back out into the tank.

or
2) the impeller is magnetically stuck to the side wall of the motor
housing. I typically just stick something thin, straight and long
down into the opening and wiggle until the impeller starts spinning.
Note: you would have to remove whatever you use to start the process
fairly quickly and it should not be something that can break the
impeller. A plastic coffee stirrer or a straw usually works well and
is not strong enough to break the impeller... once the impeller
starts moving, simply slide the adjustable input tube completely over
the impeller opening until the syphon starts.



On Sun, 01 Feb 2004 03:15:47 GMT, pixelmeow
wrote:

I sincerely feel like the biggest idiot. I got a new filter, the
AquaClear 200, for my 10 gallon freshwater tank; it won't start
pumping water through. I followed the directions, nothing; I bent my
arms in all weird directions to get the air out of the tube and the
tube then inserted into the intake side of the part of the filter that
hangs out the back of the tank; all that did was suck all the water
out of the filter back into the tank! I filled enough water into the
tank so that I almost overfilled the tank, thinking that maybe that
would start the water flowing. The little engine that (I assume) runs
the filter is warm, it must be doing *something*, but it is totally
quiet.

What am I doing wrong? I checked out the websites in the FAQs, but
they dont' go into troubleshooting (or filters for dummies, which I
must need).

Sorry if you guys get this all the time...

--
teresa

AquaClear filter won't start
 

On Sat, 31 Jan 2004 23:19:29 -0500, in rec.aquaria.tech, bannor
bannor -at- echoes - net - mind the spam block scribbled:

Two things:

1) Fill filter box until it starts to flow back into tank BEFORE
attempting anything else. Then insert the input tube into position.
(Power to pump should be off during this entire phase). Make sure
that the input tube sits completely down into the input of the motor
housing (if you look down inside the filter top, you will see an open
section just above the filter motor, typically it is sort of oblong
with a slight curve sort of like a letter C turned onto it's side.
One end of this oblong will be copletely open to the filter
(impeller), the other end will be completely blocked. The input tube
should go directly over the completely open section above the
impeller). Now turn power on... you will see the input tube slowly
pulsate with water until it fills completely and the pump starts
running, water now flowing back out into the tank.

This is exactly how I've tried to do it time and time again. Never
worked.

or
2) the impeller is magnetically stuck to the side wall of the motor
housing. I typically just stick something thin, straight and long
down into the opening and wiggle until the impeller starts spinning.
Note: you would have to remove whatever you use to start the process
fairly quickly and it should not be something that can break the
impeller. A plastic coffee stirrer or a straw usually works well and
is not strong enough to break the impeller... once the impeller
starts moving, simply slide the adjustable input tube completely over
the impeller opening until the syphon starts.

Tried this, I didn't get any observable results. I may have to call
the help number tomorrow. :-( I've lost one of my fish in this mess.

On Sun, 01 Feb 2004 03:15:47 GMT, pixelmeow
wrote:

I sincerely feel like the biggest idiot. I got a new filter, the
AquaClear 200, for my 10 gallon freshwater tank; it won't start
pumping water through. I followed the directions, nothing; I bent my
arms in all weird directions to get the air out of the tube and the
tube then inserted into the intake side of the part of the filter that
hangs out the back of the tank; all that did was suck all the water
out of the filter back into the tank! I filled enough water into the
tank so that I almost overfilled the tank, thinking that maybe that
would start the water flowing. The little engine that (I assume) runs
the filter is warm, it must be doing *something*, but it is totally
quiet.

What am I doing wrong? I checked out the websites in the FAQs, but
they dont' go into troubleshooting (or filters for dummies, which I
must need).

Sorry if you guys get this all the time...

--
teresa

--
~teresa~
AFH Barwench

^..^ "Never try to outstubborn a cat." Robert A. Heinlein ^..^
http://pixelmeow.com/ && http://heinleinsociety.org/
http://pixelmeow.com/Book_Exchange/index.htm
http://www.storesonline.com/site/thesurvivalstation/
http://rose-n-thorn-llc.com/
aim: pixelmeow

AquaClear filter won't start
 

On Mon, 02 Feb 2004 01:06:26 GMT, pixelmeow
wrote:

snip
Now turn power on... you will see the input tube slowly
pulsate with water until it fills completely and the pump starts
running, water now flowing back out into the tank.

This is exactly how I've tried to do it time and time again. Never
worked.


Hmmm.... shoot.

or
2) the impeller is magnetically stuck to the side wall of the motor
housing. I typically just stick something thin, straight and long
down into the opening and wiggle until the impeller starts spinning.
Note: you would have to remove whatever you use to start the process
fairly quickly and it should not be something that can break the
impeller. A plastic coffee stirrer or a straw usually works well and
is not strong enough to break the impeller... once the impeller
starts moving, simply slide the adjustable input tube completely over
the impeller opening until the syphon starts.

Tried this, I didn't get any observable results. I may have to call
the help number tomorrow. :-( I've lost one of my fish in this mess.

Did you acctually feel and/or hear the impeller start to move?
Another thing you can try to do, is first, empty all water from
filter, remove the motor and impeller assembly. Take motor and
impeller next to your sink. Remove impeller and make sure that it is
clean. should be no soft plant matter or grungy stuff in the impeller
well. re-insert the impeller and then plug it in and see if the
impeller turns. if not, hold it under high pressure water stream and
try to use that straw or coffee stirrer to force it to start turning.
again, nothing hard enough to break the blades on the impeller, just
hard enough to manually make it turn in the motor assembly.

If that works, re-assemble with filter, again at the sink and see if
adding water while the motor is plugged in allows the pump to pump the
water back out. just to make sure that motor is sealed again, and
that it is still working.

I have about 4 of these filters. My smallest one, a 200 model, does
sometimes get stuck. Actually so does my oldest one which is a 300
but is over 10 years old. Once restarted, both work fine.

Good luck!

AquaClear filter won't start
 

On Sun, 01 Feb 2004 22:32:19 -0500, in rec.aquaria.tech, bannor
bannor -at- echoes - net - mind the spam block scribbled:

On Mon, 02 Feb 2004 01:06:26 GMT, pixelmeow
wrote:

snip
Now turn power on... you will see the input tube slowly
pulsate with water until it fills completely and the pump starts
running, water now flowing back out into the tank.

This is exactly how I've tried to do it time and time again. Never
worked.


Hmmm.... shoot.

Sorry! :-)

2) the impeller is magnetically stuck to the side wall of the motor
housing. I typically just stick something thin, straight and long
down into the opening and wiggle until the impeller starts spinning.
Note: you would have to remove whatever you use to start the process
fairly quickly and it should not be something that can break the
impeller. A plastic coffee stirrer or a straw usually works well and
is not strong enough to break the impeller... once the impeller
starts moving, simply slide the adjustable input tube completely over
the impeller opening until the syphon starts.

Tried this, I didn't get any observable results. I may have to call
the help number tomorrow. :-( I've lost one of my fish in this mess.

Did you acctually feel and/or hear the impeller start to move?

Nothing. Not sure if what I felt was important, I didn't feel any
resistance.

Another thing you can try to do, is first, empty all water from
filter, remove the motor and impeller assembly. Take motor and
impeller next to your sink. Remove impeller and make sure that it is
clean. should be no soft plant matter or grungy stuff in the impeller
well.

It's new, there won't be any of that in there. :-)

re-insert the impeller and then plug it in and see if the
impeller turns. if not, hold it under high pressure water stream and
try to use that straw or coffee stirrer to force it to start turning.
again, nothing hard enough to break the blades on the impeller, just
hard enough to manually make it turn in the motor assembly.

If that works, re-assemble with filter, again at the sink and see if
adding water while the motor is plugged in allows the pump to pump the
water back out. just to make sure that motor is sealed again, and
that it is still working.

Thanks, I'll try this.

I have about 4 of these filters. My smallest one, a 200 model, does
sometimes get stuck. Actually so does my oldest one which is a 300
but is over 10 years old. Once restarted, both work fine.

Wonderful!

--
~teresa~
AFH Barwench

^..^ "Never try to outstubborn a cat." Robert A. Heinlein ^..^
http://pixelmeow.com/ && http://heinleinsociety.org/
http://pixelmeow.com/Book_Exchange/index.htm
http://www.storesonline.com/site/thesurvivalstation/
http://rose-n-thorn-llc.com/
aim: pixelmeow

AquaClear filter won't start
 

On Sun, 01 Feb 2004 22:32:19 -0500, in rec.aquaria.tech, bannor
bannor -at- echoes - net - mind the spam block scribbled:

Another thing you can try to do, is first, empty all water from
filter, remove the motor and impeller assembly. Take motor and
impeller next to your sink. Remove impeller and make sure that it is
clean. should be no soft plant matter or grungy stuff in the impeller
well. re-insert the impeller and then plug it in and see if the
impeller turns. if not, hold it under high pressure water stream and
try to use that straw or coffee stirrer to force it to start turning.
again, nothing hard enough to break the blades on the impeller, just
hard enough to manually make it turn in the motor assembly.

Okay, coupla questions. First, the impellor (column that comes up
from the sqare-ish housing of the motor) comes out of that housing? I
could not get this part to budge, and was about to ruin the column, so
I stopped (was using pliers, can't get ahold of it otherwise).
Second, is there supposed to be something inside that column other
than a metal stick? I see nothing else in what I have.

Do I have a bad piece of equipment? If so, I'll take it back to
Petsmart on Saturday.

--
~teresa~
AFH Barwench

^..^ "Never try to outstubborn a cat." Robert A. Heinlein ^..^
http://pixelmeow.com/ && http://heinleinsociety.org/
http://pixelmeow.com/Book_Exchange/index.htm
http://www.storesonline.com/site/thesurvivalstation/
http://rose-n-thorn-llc.com/
aim: pixelmeow

AquaClear filter won't start
 

On Wed, 04 Feb 2004 00:36:16 GMT, pixelmeow
wrote:
Okay, coupla questions. First, the impellor (column that comes up
from the sqare-ish housing of the motor) comes out of that housing? I
could not get this part to budge, and was about to ruin the column, so
I stopped (was using pliers, can't get ahold of it otherwise).
Second, is there supposed to be something inside that column other
than a metal stick? I see nothing else in what I have.

Do I have a bad piece of equipment? If so, I'll take it back to
Petsmart on Saturday.

Ooooppppssss... sounds as if the actual impeller is missing. The
impeller should be (in your case) hollow at one end so that the metal
shaft will fit inside and at the other end would have plastic blades
perpendicular to the shaft... like fan blades or maybe a better
description would be like the letter "X" if viewed from the top down.

If that part is NOT inserted into the motor assembly, then it is
missing and you should either take it back or call whomever you
ordered it from and explain that the actual impeller is missing.

No wonder you can't get any water movement! The base of the impeller
will be larger in diameter, and is magnetic. the upper section (the
fan blade part) is plastic. The two sections are usually connected
with a metal shaft. Again, the base will be hollow and just large
enough opening to get that shaft you were grabbing with the pliers to
fit inside...

should drop right in, and come right out with just finger pressure. No
tools should be necessary.

AquaClear filter won't start
 

The scary part I hear is, I used plyers and it did not budge.. My bear paws
barely fit in the housings of a 300 and I can remove the impeller easily..

Tim


""bannor" " bannor -at- echoes - net - mind the spam block wrote in
message ...
On Wed, 04 Feb 2004 00:36:16 GMT, pixelmeow
wrote:
Okay, coupla questions. First, the impellor (column that comes up
from the sqare-ish housing of the motor) comes out of that housing? I
could not get this part to budge, and was about to ruin the column, so
I stopped (was using pliers, can't get ahold of it otherwise).
Second, is there supposed to be something inside that column other
than a metal stick? I see nothing else in what I have.

Do I have a bad piece of equipment? If so, I'll take it back to
Petsmart on Saturday.

Ooooppppssss... sounds as if the actual impeller is missing. The
impeller should be (in your case) hollow at one end so that the metal
shaft will fit inside and at the other end would have plastic blades
perpendicular to the shaft... like fan blades or maybe a better
description would be like the letter "X" if viewed from the top down.

If that part is NOT inserted into the motor assembly, then it is
missing and you should either take it back or call whomever you
ordered it from and explain that the actual impeller is missing.

No wonder you can't get any water movement! The base of the impeller
will be larger in diameter, and is magnetic. the upper section (the
fan blade part) is plastic. The two sections are usually connected
with a metal shaft. Again, the base will be hollow and just large
enough opening to get that shaft you were grabbing with the pliers to
fit inside...

should drop right in, and come right out with just finger pressure. No
tools should be necessary.

AquaClear filter won't start
 

On Wed, 04 Feb 2004 02:50:07 GMT, "T" wrote:

The scary part I hear is, I used plyers and it did not budge.. My bear paws
barely fit in the housings of a 300 and I can remove the impeller easily..

Tim


Yep. Sounds like someone 'opened' the box before he bought it. Our
local Petsmart has that problem. I have to make sure that if I buy
anything from them that the packaging is still sealed. I have come
home from there with missing motors, missing media etc when buying
filters! That won't ever happen again!

AquaClear filter won't start
 

On Tue, 03 Feb 2004 23:19:05 -0500, in rec.aquaria.tech, bannor
bannor -at- echoes - net - mind the spam block wrote:

On Wed, 04 Feb 2004 02:50:07 GMT, "T" wrote:

The scary part I hear is, I used plyers and it did not budge.. My bear paws
barely fit in the housings of a 300 and I can remove the impeller easily..

Tim


Yep. Sounds like someone 'opened' the box before he bought it. Our
local Petsmart has that problem. I have to make sure that if I buy
anything from them that the packaging is still sealed. I have come
home from there with missing motors, missing media etc when buying
filters! That won't ever happen again!

I *wondered* about that empty hole when I was putting it all
together... I'll be going back to Petsmart on Saturday! *whew*!!!

I wonder if they'll replace my spotted catfish... :-((( I really did
love that booger. Such a feisty fish... and getting soooo big.

Thanks so much for your help, guys; this group is LOTS friendlier than
the programming groups (well, only a few people, but it does color
your perceptions for everywhere else) where I tend to go looking for
answers...

And if you're ever over in alt.fan.heinlein, let me know and your
drinks are on my tab! :-)

--
~teresa~
AFH Barwench

^..^ "Never try to outstubborn a cat." Robert A. Heinlein ^..^
http://pixelmeow.com/ http://www.heinleinsociety.org/
http://pixelmeow.com/Book_Exchange/index.htm
http://www.thesurvivalstation.com
aim: pixelmeow msn: