Aquaclear 50 power filter question

[seangee]

One of the reasons I like the Tidal is the pump is in the tank - so no priming and no worrying about power failures.

 

[Innesfan]

I’m trying to visualize what you do. I open the housing holding the impeller and motor and give the impeller a spin with a finger. Of course when I open the housing I loose all the water in the filter box. Can I get the motor going without opening the housing box?

Yes. Just remove the water intake tube, then stick the dedicated chopstick down into the impeller well and give it a jiggle.

I too do not turn off the aquaclears during water changes so I only need to do this when there's a power interruption.

 

[gwand]

My water change takes the water level below the intake tube so I have to shut the motor off.

 

[MaloK]

if the filter pump become unprimed. Once refilled run the filter at low flow the first few sec, until the air come off, this will kick off priming.

But if the filter stops and remains primed and does not restart, are two different issues.

If your water changes are always going lower than your intake, consider a longer one.

I'm lazy and a few inches of tube that saves repetitive hassle is a no brainer.

 

[MaloK]

One thing I like about Aquaclears is their incredible "Hackability"

There's nothing that requires heavy modification. Buy another intake, cut it the length you want, pop it in the other one.

Done, on your 110 I would do the same, bring intake near the bottom.

 

[Innesfan]

My water change takes the water level below the intake tube so I have to shut the motor off.

i siphon to below the intake tube also but I leave the aquaclears on. No harm is done and some have been running for over a decade and one has been nonstop for two decades-plus.