Filter Broke On Me.. No Space For The Fish.

[cooledwhip]

I went on vacation for the past 2 weeks and am back today. I checked my tanks and they are all ok, there was a massive heat wave so LOTS of water evaporated. some tanks were at half water level...
 
Because of the evaporation the water level went below my HOB filter water levels, so I came home and one of the HOB filters on one of the tanks was off, and the part where the water flows out of the filter assembly and into the tank was dry as a bone. I don't know how long the fish went without a filter but they will go without a filter tonight as well until I can fix this. IT is an Aqueon 55/75 quiet pro filter, and I felt the pump part and it was HOT so I unplugged it. I gave it a day (I arrived here last night actually but I didn't even to uch the tanks until this morning, I noticed it last night though) and then plugged it in and the impeller doesnt move and it wont do anything. 
 
Whats wrong with the filter? Is there any way I can fix this or is there a new part I need? 
 
It's only home to like 5 boesemanis and 2 millenium rainbowfish. If I really need to I can relocate them into some other tanks but they are small tanks.

 

[Fishmanic]

Remove the intake tube and using a pointed long tool like an icepick, locate the impeller blades from above and give the impeller a push. Hopefully that will start it spinning again. Reattach the intake tube and then prime the filter. Hope that works, otherwise u may need to order a new motor and impeller assembly.

 

[StevenF]

This happened to me last December.  I was at my parent houe longer than expected and more water than expected evaporated and the pump had gone dry.  Water level was below the pump intake.  The impeller rides on a metal shaft.  Water lubricates it.  Additionally the water keeps the pump motor cool.  My pump melted a little bit and the impeller fused to the plastic of the motor housing.  The plants in my aquarium did a good jobe oxygenating the water and controlling nitrates and I didn't loose any fish.
 
There is no fixing this. You need to replace the pump or more likely the entire filter. You probably cannot get a replacement pump that fits the filter.  I just went to the local fish store and purchased a new filter the day i got back.  If possible look for a filter with a pump that sits lower in the tank so that it stays wet longer. 
 
In the future you can maybe move the filter down lower into  the tank so that it stays wet longer.  Another option is to install a float switch in the tank.  When water level drops the switch will turn on a pump in a container of distilled water.  This would automatically refill the tank during your next extended vacation.  
 
Another option is to reduce evaporation. You can do that by putting a cover over the tank to slow evaporation.  You will need a hole in the cover for the automatic fish feeder.  Attach a tube to the fish feeder hole and make sure it comes in contact with the water.  This would minimize evaporation loss through the hole.  I am working on a new aquarium cover.