Please Help!

[-Jo-]

Just when i thought everything was going ok! Am still doing my fishless cycle - Day 43 - and have been doing a water change as my ph levels have dropped so was advised to do a water change as the cycling may have stalled.

My filter has now just stopped! its working as i can hear it - but its not sucking up the water I dont understand how its just stopped. i left it all on while i was taking out the water - could I have taken out too much whilst having it on?

I have the Aquastart 340 aquarium.

Please help

 

[tribalbrit]

If its an external filter you may have lost suction. Switch it off and re-prime it then switch back on.

 

[jenjen_82]

Have u tried turning it off for a while or opening it up?

 

[-Jo-]

it has definitly lost suction. i have turned it off and will leave it for a bit. Is this going to effect the bacteria in the filter?

its a built in filter.

 

[jenjen_82]

Is the bacteria submerged?

 

[-Jo-]

The filter system is at the top of the tank - so the water essentially flows over it - without the filter going the water isnt going over it Im so annoyed! I will turn it back on and see what happens! Thank you all so much for your quick responses!

 

[phoenixgsd]

is it clogged, bit of plant or something caught in the propeller? just guessing

 

[tribalbrit]

if you can get to the impeller check that its not stuck. Mine stuck on the fluval edge the other day, I poked it with a little screw driver and away it went again. BE CAREFUL THO.

 

[-Jo-]

I dont have plants in there yet. I took the tube off the motor and also the platic bit on the end and theres nothing stuck in there. When i turn the filter off and turn it on theres usually a huge gurgle and it starts sucking up the water. Ive just turned it on again and theres nothing - just the humming of the motor. Cant believe this i really cant. have turned it off and will turn it back on again a bit later in the hop it will just start.

 

[tribalbrit]

Sounds like the impeller is stuck.

 

[-Jo-]

whats the best thing to do with the impeller if its stuck?

 

[-Jo-]

ive just opened in the impeller and removed the little propeller out and rinsed it in the tank water. ive put it back in but nothings chaged. do i need to try and clean the hole that the propeller sits in?

 

[tribalbrit]

remove it, clean it, and clean it's housing. Replace it in its housing and switch it back on.Is it possible to fill the filter tray manually to ease the suction process?

 

[-Jo-]

whats the best way to clean the inside of it? and at the risk of sounding stupid - is it safe to clean around the inside of it? i know the impeller is submerged, but im always conscious about doing stuff like that!

 

[tribalbrit]

Make sure the electric is OFF. clean it with a cotton bud or similar. safe if power is off. when you switch it back on you might have to give it a nudge..