Just Gotta Vent!

[jag51186]

Sometimes equipment just needs thrown out the window! So, I got one of those Aquaclear HOB filters for my 20 gallon long that is basically just a tank with a couple platies in it that I bought on a whim from Petco. I setup this tank originally as my QT tank, but typical noobie mistake, I couldn't help but put fish in it. So, long story short, I got some platies (cuz I've always loved them). Anyway, it has been running great for a few months now, but the filter has been giving me non-stop issues. I have play sand in the tank as substrate, and it has just ruined the impeller. Every time I do a water change, I stir up some sand, which is inevitable for the most part because it is a shallow tank, and I just siphon in the water. Well, the sand inevitably ends up in the filter and tonite it finally had enough.
 
I guess I can't really blame the filter for my own ineptitude, but it's really frustrating. I'm going to buy a new one tomorrow, so I can just transfer my media over to it...then I am going to get a sponge filter and get that up and running because I can't handle this HOB nonsense anymore!!!
 
The tank has a decent number of plants in it, and I actually just put a ton of frogbit in there because I got sick of it in my main tank. So, I'm assuming the two platies will be ok filter-less for one day??
 
Anyway, just needed to vent.

 

[Fishmanic]

I've had my impeller jam on my aquaclear after doing water change where I shut off the filter and then turn it on after wc.   I get the impeller restarted by removing the long tube that goes into the water and then using a sharp object, I give the impeller a small push and it starts right up again.  Give that a try on yours.

 

[Far_King]

A couple of platies in a 20gal will be fine for a day.  Is there an airstone for aeration?
 
Often the impeller is a removable part (not sure on that filter specifically), as suggested, it may just need a bit of a clean/nudge to get it going.

 

[Baccus]

I once made the mistake of getting an Aquaclear HOB filter, and NEVER again will such a breed darken my tanks. The one I had was hell from day one, the filter was prone to stopping on a whim and if we had a power out no matter how short it would not restart again on its own.
As soon as I could I went back to my tried and true trusted HOB brand. Thankfully I was able to just transfer the media from the horrid HOB into the better HOB and have not had any issues since. The only part of the new HOB that I didn't use was the fibre part with the built in charcoal because I used all the other bags of media out of the nasty one to basically instant cycle the new HOB.

 

[jag51186]

I once made the mistake of getting an Aquaclear HOB filter, and NEVER again will such a breed darken my tanks. The one I had was hell from day one, the filter was prone to stopping on a whim and if we had a power out no matter how short it would not restart again on its own.
As soon as I could I went back to my tried and true trusted HOB brand. Thankfully I was able to just transfer the media from the horrid HOB into the better HOB and have not had any issues since. The only part of the new HOB that I didn't use was the fibre part with the built in charcoal because I used all the other bags of media out of the nasty one to basically instant cycle the new HOB.

 
May I ask what your trusted brand is?? I thought Aquaclear was supposed to be great, I like that they simulate the stages of filtration at least, rather than a stupid cartridge! I have just had the same experience you did with the impeller being junk.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I've heard almost all good things about the aquaclears, though the negative I have heard is related to their ability to self prime, or more correctly their inability.

I have had a similar problem with an HOB and sand that you are relating, and the problem was that i had set the intake too low and it sucked up sand. I raised the intake, and replaced the impeller, the problem vanished. Ever now and then I'd replace the impeller when it started to make some noise and it was fixed. My HOBs were Marineland Penguins. The problem with HOBs and sand is that they are all designed to pull the water through the impeller chamber first. I think the canister filter and sponge filter options are much better for sand, because the canister compartments go through the media first and the impeller last (much better design with sand), and th sponge filter has no moving parts to get gummed up by the sand.

 

[jag51186]

I've heard almost all good things about the aquaclears, though the negative I have heard is related to their ability to self prime, or more correctly their inability.

I have had a similar problem with an HOB and sand that you are relating, and the problem was that i had set the intake too low and it sucked up sand. I raised the intake, and replaced the impeller, the problem vanished. Ever now and then I'd replace the impeller when it started to make some noise and it was fixed. My HOBs were Marineland Penguins. The problem with HOBs and sand is that they are all designed to pull the water through the impeller chamber first. I think the canister filter and sponge filter options are much better for sand, because the canister compartments go through the media first and the impeller last (much better design with sand), and th sponge filter has no moving parts to get gummed up by the sand.

 
Yeah, once I remedy the immediate need, I plan on setting up a sponge filter and just leaving it run for a couple months at the same time as the HOB to get some bacteria going. Or should I just take the sponge and wedge it into the HOB for a month and then switch??

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Best to put the media you want into the filter... But remove as little of the original as possible.

 

[RainboWBacoN420]

If you want to talk nonsense, try having a AquaTop Filter for a day. Sheesh, talk about cheaply made. I bought it for my 15 gallon, it was always over flowing, the way it's designed is so poorly constructed and whoever approved of this should be reconsidered on their position... I mean, usually, good HOB filters have the water pass through the fan and into the chamber, but this one has the fan at the bottom of the filter, so it just sort of pulls the water towards it and out to the side filling up the chamber, the water doesn't pass through it, if that makes sense. The only reason I purchased it was for the UV sterilizer it came with, that was the only redeeming quality of this filter. But compared to the Aqueon filter I was using which filtered 100 gph, this one only filtered 64 gph.
 
The fish should be mine without a filter for a day though, I would maybe do a couple small water changes throughout the day, though. 

 

[Baccus]

I actually have two brands of HOB, one is something like Aquaworld and the other I think is Aqua-one. Its been a while since I purchased them. So far I have found the Aqua-one marginally better than the Aquaworld, but both are above and beyond the Aquaclear.
The only reason we had tried the Aquaclear was because a guy who really knew his marine fish (and some of his fresh water) recommended it, and since they didn't have the brand or size that I needed for the tank I figured I would give Aquaclear a go.