Filter Problem

[darklight]

I got a filter with my 2nd hand setup. Its a 160 Litre tank (3ft), and the filter is an Eheim - one of the old box-shaped ones, not the new sphere ones. It seemed fine when first plugged in about two months ago - strong flow and plenty of air bubbles coming from it.

Since then a few times it has crawled to a halt, with little or no flow, and the tank will go cloudy.

I've taken it apart and given the sponge a good squeeze, and this does seem to fix it. However the sponge is not full of gunk at all (except for the first time), and the filter mechanism & case is pretty clean too. I've made sure the intake and the outflow are all clear of obstructions. It is basically in good shape.

Any idea what might be making this filter grid to a halt so often? Or is this normal?

 

[fatheadminnow]

No, this is not that normal.

Do you have sand as a substrate? If so, sand will usually get into where the impeller is and start to slow things up.

Does the filter make any kind of sound when it is giving out?

You could be just looking at a bad motor.

-FHM

 

[darklight]

No, this is not that normal.

Do you have sand as a substrate? If so, sand will usually get into where the impeller is and start to slow things up.

Does the filter make any kind of sound when it is giving out?

You could be just looking at a bad motor.

-FHM

No I have very coarse gravel - so nothing except bits of dead plant, poo & food can be clogging it up. But it doesnt seem clogged when I examine it. Saying that, if I take it apart & give the sponge a good squeeze it normally fixes it.

No it makes little to no sound. Not even a whirring that I think it might make when going at full pelt. That kind of suggests the motor is struggling, right? Bugger.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Can you describe what is sounds like, or what it does when spinning and full tilt?

I think you are looking and a bad motor. You should be able to replace the motor with a new one.

-FHM

 

[waterdrop]

You could talk it over with eheim and perhaps a few likely parts as replacements. I've ordered from them before and the stuff was at my door the next day.

~~waterdrop~~