filter question

tinymitymo

The boys are in bed and we are setting up the new tank. It is a 28g bowfront Topfin. It came with a filter, heater top and light. We put the gravel and about 5/6 of the water in so that there will be room to add plants and decorations later before we top it off. When we plugged in the filter it made a horrible sound. Then I reread the instructions which said to add water into the filter on the intake side until it overflowed to the cartridge side. We started to do that and noticed water flowing out the bottom back of the filter down the back of the tank! Is my filter broken? Right now it is unplugged for safety.

Lupin

Hi.

Any pics of your filter? It would help as it seems I can't figure out what your filter is.

Merry Christmas to you. Hope your kids will be happy to see the tank.

tinymitymo

Merry Christmas back atcha!

It is a TopFin Power Filter 30 and is the first one pictured on this page
http://www.popular-freshwater-tropic...er-filters.htm

bettababy

You'll want to check the filter where the pump is located underneath, make sure it's a tight seal. There should be an O ring in there... and when it's snug, no water should leak out. When starting the filter, fill it up with water first. With new filters I always do this over the sink first, to make sure all of the connections are tight... then, if no leaks, I will install it on the tank, refill the back of the filter, and then plug it in.
If this doesn't work, post more details and maybe a pic or 2, and we'll do what we can to help you.
Merry Christmas!

weaselnoze

on my aqua clear the motor goes into the bottom at a 90 deg angle to the rest of the filter. then you turn it 1/4 turn where it locks in place. just make sure its all tight there. be careful not to run it dry. once aint gonna hurt anything but after awhile it will do damage.

tinymitymo

It looks like there is a defect. Where the motor connects to the holding tank it looks like there is a loop of red wire sticking down out of the connection creating a gap in the seal. This is where the water is comming out. This is a picture of the back of the filter showing what I see.

caferacermike

It was put together incorrectly. That is the or ing and should not be sticking out. All may not be lost, you can try and reseat it. take it apart and put it back together as the instructions say. if it still leaks you can get an oring from Hdepot ofr abotu 50 cents.

tinymitymo

so do I just pull it apart? We tried to take it apart a little bit last night but didn't want to force it and break it. I'll try again

Thanks everyone and Merry Christmas

tinymitymo

Yay! it twisted off and we reseated the o ring and now we have a pump merrily pumping away!

you guys rock!