Help! Filter Not Working Properly!

[fee de mer]

A week ago, i noticed there was not as much activity in the tank as usual and all my fish were breathing deeply and by ram ciclid was mouthing at the surface, and bristlenose kept coming up for air! Soon noticed the jet of water released from my tank was no where near as powerful as usual. I cleaned out the jet as best i could and then I had to go to school, I came back and the ciclid was dead! I took out the filter and cleaned it too, after that everything was back as normal.

Yesterday I added two platys and two young guppies, I came back from babysitting and they were at the surface mouthing as before. Again I followed the same cleaning progress, there was not much improvement. I went up to bed with fingers crossed.

This morning I checked my tank and there were no deaths, but the same fish were still at the surface.

Help!!! What can I do, I have a Juwel Rekord 800, had anyone got tips on how to fix/clean this properly, if I do have to replace my filter (last resort) what can I do in the short term whilst I wait for it to arrive (I only have one other tank which is still cycling) . Any advice you can give would be very much appreciated.

 

[shelaghfishface]

dont panic


how did u clean the filter?
also, what temp is the tank and what are your test readings coming back as... i really think this is something other than a malfunctioning filter x

 

[ultimatebob]

don't know what's going on with your filter, but sounds like when it's not working right, your fish have a hard time getting oxygen. a solution to that part of the problem might be to use a small air pump. tie the end of the tubing to something, so it is a few inches beneath the surface. probably better not using an airstone. when the surface of the water is moving, your fish have an oxygen supply. hope this helps and hope you get your filter fixed.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Massive water change (~75%, the mixing of water in the buckets will give it plenty of oxygen) and then either raise the filter outlet or don't fill tank up so high so that it fires horizontally no lower than 1cm below the water surface.

Have you tested the water with a liquid test kit?

 

[fee de mer]

Thanks for the help so far guys...

Temperature 26degrees
Nitrite 0
pH 7.0
Yes I have used liquid testers
I cleaned my filter with a cotton bud around the prepella
The surface of the water is still moving
Can I afford to do a 75% water change?
And also should I oxygenising tablets?

 

[fee de mer]

 

[fee de mer]

Great news guys i managed to fix my filter! such a relief my fish are already acting normal again

 

[fluttermoth]

That's great news!

Could you possibly post how you fixed it? Might be useful if anyone else has this problem in the future

 

[fee de mer]

How I fixed my Juwel 800 (same principle for 600)


1. Disconnect the pump and the heater from the power supply.

2. Remove the nozzles.

3. Remove the pump from the pump holder of the filter.

4. Remove the pump housing from the motor and remove the impeller.

5. Thoroughly clean all parts and particularly check the impeller for signs of wear at

the magnet.

6. Clean the space where the pump sits.

7. After that, reassemble the pump in reverse order in the filter.

8. Push the spounges down as far as they go.