I love my AquaClear, hang on the back filters, but I'm running out of them. I bought a bunch new 20 years ago, and more used 15 years back. After about ten years the impeller post inside the motor wears out, and you can buy replacements. I find that repair only works once, but it lets you get 15 years out of a filter.
I just had a filter die yesterday, a once repaired 15 year one, the model rated for 40 to 50 gallon tanks. But when you unscrew the motor on an older aquaclear, it doesn't care what you put back in. Motors from smaller models fit. I found a motor from a 20 gallon unit I'd stopped using, screwed it in and it powers the larger, far more pricey model effectively. I've done this many times - these devices are very easy to cannibalize for parts. Only the very largest HOB model doesn't work this way. My previously busted filter is running at a high flow rate, still cycled and still likely good for another 5 years. It is fine for a larger tank than the motor was rated for, as it's the plastic shell that determines media volume, not the flow rate that decides how many gallons it can handle..
I just had a filter die yesterday, a once repaired 15 year one, the model rated for 40 to 50 gallon tanks. But when you unscrew the motor on an older aquaclear, it doesn't care what you put back in. Motors from smaller models fit. I found a motor from a 20 gallon unit I'd stopped using, screwed it in and it powers the larger, far more pricey model effectively. I've done this many times - these devices are very easy to cannibalize for parts. Only the very largest HOB model doesn't work this way. My previously busted filter is running at a high flow rate, still cycled and still likely good for another 5 years. It is fine for a larger tank than the motor was rated for, as it's the plastic shell that determines media volume, not the flow rate that decides how many gallons it can handle..
