Ugh... broke my filter

2944 Views 23 Replies 9 Participants Last post by 1077, Mar 24, 2013

Geomancer

Discussion Starter · Mar 19, 2013

So I was changing the water in my 125g today and decided to clean out the filter while I was at it, as it has been a few weeks. When putting it back together though, I must of pushed on the impeller just the wrong way and it snapped. Doh!

So here I sit with a 125g and no filter. Dang. Now for those who don't know me, this tank is 100% planted. One might say over planted to jungle proportions.

I ordered a replacement, but it won't get here until Thursday. Unfortunately due to the size of the tank filter options are extremely limited. Not many people make canisters large enough and the local environment is not friendly at all to the wallet. Buying the same filter locally (if I could find it in the first place) would cost me a whopping 32% higher and like most people I'm not made of money. I decided on a new canister rather than a replacement impeller because I actually haven't been all that happy with my old one anyways and have been thinking of replacing it. The broken impeller just forces my hand sooner than I was ready.

So I'm not too worried about needing the filter for filtering while I await the replacement. I'm also not worried about oxygen, my plants take care of both those concerns. However, I am a little worried on the business of water movement for temperature. I have two 250W heaters, one on each side of the tank.

Think this will be fine until Thursday (two days from right now)?

As a lesson learned though, probably not a bad idea to have a spare impeller on hand.

1 - 20 of 24 Posts

MoneyMitch

· #2 · Mar 19, 2013

id say your fine since both heaters are on either side of the aquarium, make sure to remove the activated carbon if the cannister includes it

Mikaila31

· #3 · Mar 19, 2013

Powerhead or bubbler for the tank if you are worried about circulation. You could make a DIY sponge filter if you wanted to keep the media alive.

Reactions: 1

jaysee

· #4 · Mar 20, 2013

I think you'll be fine - with a heater at each end, and fish swimming around (assuming they have room to swim in the jungle...), it should mix well enough.

You clean your canister every few weeks? Seems a bit excessive. I'm certainly at the other end of the spectrum though - WAY at the other end. I don't clean mine more than twice a year.

Geomancer

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 20, 2013

jaysee said:
I think you'll be fine - with a heater at each end, and fish swimming around (assuming they have room to swim in the jungle...), it should mix well enough.

You clean your canister every few weeks? Seems a bit excessive. I'm certainly at the other end of the spectrum though - WAY at the other end. I don't clean mine more than twice a year.

After 3-4 weeks it gets a ton of plant matter in there. I clean it out to keep the flow up.

I don't use carbon, never do, and I don't need beneficial bacteria to keep alive, as I clean all my media with tap water anyways

Plants are great.

jaysee

· #6 · Mar 20, 2013

Ahh, plant matter - I don't have that problem. I'll just add that to the list.

jentralala

· #7 · Mar 20, 2013

Wait, just curious. I thought canister filters were supposed to be cleaned every week? Like rinse out the sponges, swish the media...etc. And hoses cleaned every month or so...

jaysee

· #8 · Mar 20, 2013

jentralala said:
Wait, just curious. I thought canister filters were supposed to be cleaned every week? Like rinse out the sponges, swish the media...etc. And hoses cleaned every month or so...

Why would they, or any other filter for that matter, need to be cleaned every week?

In my experience, they don't need to be cleaned very often. I also don't have plant matter fouling up the system. Since I don't use carbon, I don't open them up except to clean them, which is every june and december. I've never cleaned the hoses :dunno:

Romad

· #9 · Mar 20, 2013

The decaying plant matter in the filter makes a big difference in having to clean it out more often. I generally clean mine once a month meaning empty, rinse baskets, swish media. I clean the impeller area maybe every other month.

Geo, I'm sure you'll be fine for a few days as far as heat goes.

Chesh

· #10 · Mar 20, 2013

Urg, Geo! That really stinks! My experience with unfiltered tanks don't go above a 29, but it sounds like you've gotten all the advice you need - good luck. And we DO need some updated tank shots of your jungle!!! Just sayin'

Geomancer

Discussion Starter · #11 · Mar 20, 2013

jentralala said:
Wait, just curious. I thought canister filters were supposed to be cleaned every week? Like rinse out the sponges, swish the media...etc. And hoses cleaned every month or so...

They may not need to be. The frequency is really tank dependent. As said by myself and others, plants can increase the frequency as little bits and pieces find their way in there and will clog up the media. Plants are always dropping old leaves and growing new.

But regardless, if you say find yourself with a cyanobacteria problem, you may need to clean it out to reduce organics in the water.

Otherwise, if your flow is still strong, no there isn't a reason to clean it out weekly. I usually get to mine every 3 to 6 weeks or so, I don't have a set schedule. I just do it when I notice the spray bar not doing as much. In a planted tank, the only need for filters is water movement, with the secondary effect of making the water look clear by removing fine particles. The plants handle all the ammonia.

Geomancer

Discussion Starter · #12 · Mar 20, 2013

Chesherca said:
Urg, Geo! That really stinks! My experience with unfiltered tanks don't go above a 29, but it sounds like you've gotten all the advice you need - good luck. And we DO need some updated tank shots of your jungle!!! Just sayin'

I know, I know, I'm really bad about that

AbbeysDad

· #13 · Mar 20, 2013

Hmmm....sounds to me like a subconscious plot to rough house an impeller to get a new filter. (somebody had to say it!) ;-)

Chesh

· #14 · Mar 20, 2013

Geomancer said:
I know, I know, I'm really bad about that

Well... in your defense, it isn't an easy thing for you to do, considering that you can't get the whole tank in one shot no matter what you do, lol! I'd love to see how things are going in there, 'tis a beautiful tank. Hope all goes well until the new filter arrives

Geomancer

Discussion Starter · #15 · Mar 22, 2013

AbbeysDad said:
Hmmm....sounds to me like a subconscious plot to rough house an impeller to get a new filter. (somebody had to say it!) ;-)

Haha, no, but almost...

The shaft of the impeller was made of plastic and not stainless steel like most I've seen, it was only a mater of time before it snapped.

New filter is up and running, went with the Rena XP3 (which was apparently bought by API recently). It's flow rate is like a jet engine compared to the old! Poor fish, going to have to find a way to tone it down a bit.

So much easier to prime this filter than it was my old one! Unfortunately it IS quite a bit louder.

I had looked at Eheim however their newest filters have frankly gotten pretty bad reviews. Maybe just a new design fluke that got fixed, but they cost twice the price and I didn't want to take the risk.

Reactions: 1

Chesh

· #16 · Mar 22, 2013

Glad to hear the tank made it through without issues, and the problem is resolved!

I noticed that with Eheim when I was looking, too. . .the newer models don't seem to be getting the same 5-star ratings. I went with the Classic

AbbeysDad

· #17 · Mar 22, 2013

Geomancer said:
New filter is up and running, went with the Rena XP3 (which was apparently bought by API recently).

This threw me recently at Petsmart as well...'wait a minite, API didn't used to make Rena Filstars?' - just as Hagen has recently rebranded Aquaclear filters as "Fluval Aquaclear". Just BIDNESS and marketing I guess.

Geomancer said:
It's flow rate is like a jet engine compared to the old! Poor fish, going to have to find a way to tone it down a bit.

Hmm, the Rena doesn't have a flow control valve?

Geomancer said:
I had looked at Eheim however their newest filters have frankly gotten pretty bad reviews. Maybe just a new design fluke that got fixed, but they cost twice the price and I didn't want to take the risk.

I thought I heard/read somewhere that the country of manufacture changed and they're not as good but I may just be spreading an unfounded rumor - sometimes it's tough to separate the wheat from the chaf on web info!

1077

· #18 · Mar 22, 2013

No flow control for rena XP3 which in my view,, should not be too much flow for 125 gal.
I use Rena XP3 on eighty gallon with small tetra's,shrimp's, and they mangae just fine.
Were it my 125 gal tank,,I would consider two such filter's regardless of fishes.
Good circulation help's deliver nutrient's throughout the tank,prevent dead spot's,even heat distribution.
Two filter's provide more capacity for mechanical media as well, to help catch suspeneded particulates.
Opinion's vary.

Reactions: 1

Geomancer

Discussion Starter · #19 · Mar 22, 2013

I personally go for minimal flow, enough to keep the water looking clear.

The Rena doesn't come with a spraybar (as I understand it they did before it was branded under API). It just has a nozzle. I have it pointed towards the front, rather than down the long side of the tank. It's blowing all my tall plants down a bit. The use to reach to the surface, now they're 3-4 inches down.

I may look for a spray bar I can use, I like how they make it more gentle without changing the overall flow rate.

As 1077 said, there is no flow control (in line ball valve). All it has is the quick connect valve, which if you close releases the hoses from the filter

jaysee

· #20 · Mar 22, 2013

1077 said:
No flow control for rena XP3

Yes there is flow control for XP filters. All 4 of mine have them.

See less See more

1 - 20 of 24 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.