I Think My Filter Is Over-heating!?

[fry_forever!]

Hi. My filter that is about 3-5 years old is starting to malfunction. It one of those external waterfall aquaclear filters for my 20 gallon tank. It's actually meant for a 30 gallon, but that's the point. Anyhow, lately the water flow has been severly slowing down and almost stopping, even though the impeller is unplugged and running normally. There is nothing in the filter that shouldn't be in there. The only thing in my filter is healthy beneficial bacteria. I was fixing my filter tonight to make it level, when I noticed that where the motor was, it was extremely hot. It didn't burn me or anything, but I'd never noticed that heat before! I felt my 10 gallon filter, and it wasn't hot at all, though it is a Whisper power filter. (a different brand...)

My Mom said that I can get a new filter tomorrow, but is this the right thing to do? Does this happen often? Should I worry about a fire during the night? And if I do get a new filter, will my fish be okay if I put my old filter cartridges in the new filter? I don't want the ammonia/nitrite to kill them!

Also, this old filter I have is failing to keep up with it's biological work. The ammonia isn't going down as fast anymore, and I have less fish now than I did earlier on! My tank has been established for at least 2 years, though it was established a year before the room it was in got major, major water damage. (Long story short -- I restarted my aquarium then.)

What should I do!?

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Tolak]

AC's tend to run warm, they have a stronger motor than a Whisper. 3-5 years is not a long time for an AC, I have a 5 year old one running, no problems. I have an old one in a box that ran for 10 years easy, only reason I don't run it is that I switched the fishroom to a centralized system.

 

[fry_forever!]

AC's tend to run warm, they have a stronger motor than a Whisper. 3-5 years is not a long time for an AC, I have a 5 year old one running, no problems. I have an old one in a box that ran for 10 years easy, only reason I don't run it is that I switched the fishroom to a centralized system.

Okay... so do you think I need a new one, considering the water flow is bad? If I do get a new filter, will the ammonias and nitrites go up really high even if I do have my old filter cartridges in there?

Thanks for the help so far!

 

[CKutz]

try opening things up a little..there could be some build up in the motor or something..i wouldn't do this till you were soon going to get a new filter though since you might not be able to get it back together....that's probably what i would do, just out of curiosity.
also check any pipes or anything for build up or clogs.
also try washing off your filter cartridges in tank water, maybe they are slowing the flow.

if you get a new filter and put the old filter media (cartridges) in it there shouldn't be an ammonia spike because the same amount of beneficial bacteria will be there...you will actually reduce your ammonia and nitrite because of the increased circulation. and if you add a new pad with your old ones there will be more room for beneficial bacteria to grow, it multiplys pretty quickly so it will really help (but there is probably enough surface area on your current pads to support the beneficial bacteria..but adding another pad couldnt hurt). your circulation is decreasing because of your filter not running right which is probably why you are getting the higher levels.

if you can't figure out what is slowing down the filter you should definitely get a new one.

 

[fry_forever!]

Thank you very much! My filter is not clogged at all, I've checked twice already, and I've also squeezed out the filter cartridges in the sink. (I didn't rinse them with tap water though, no worries!) I think it has something to do with the motor, so I will be getting a new filter after school. Thanks again for all the help!