One of my Aqueon 55 HOB filters is dead.

[parker002]

The power flickered on and off a few times today so I decided to go get a UPS. I bought a Kill-a-Watt meter to measure power draw on all my devices and noticed when testing my tank gear that one of the HOB filters was not pushing water.

The functioning filter was pulling 24.5VA continuous while the non-functioning one was pulling almost 40. I can only assume that the motor is charged but cannot spin, meaning it's irrevocably broken.

I can go get a replacement for about $40 but frankly I'm tired of maintaining two HOB filters. I would really like to use only 1 filter, and I would really like to move my tank closer to the wall. I have two Hydro Sponge filters running right now, so I would be using them as my biofilter backup.

Should I just get a bigger HOB filter to replace the two? Or is it time to invest in canister filtration?

[bikeguy33]

i am a big pusher of canisters...carl sells some good ones very reasonably and closer to home....you can spend the money on a nice rena or cascade or something....

[parker002]

I've read through all of Carl's material - I would go with the Filstar XP if I make the change.

I like to keep my filters clean, so I'm not worried about the things he lists as negatives for a canister - I won't let it get too dirty.

My big thing is that the Aqueon 55 has two filter cartridges, and I have two of them, each with a Filter Max #3. I also have two Hydro Sponge #2's running off of an air pump. So that's 8 things to rinse every time I clean.

[Carl]

Oct 28, 2010 22:24:58 GMT -5 bikeguy33 said:

i am a big pusher of canisters...carl sells some good ones very reasonably and closer to home....you can spend the money on a nice rena or cascade or something....

I agree.
Although I do list negatives as to canister filters, I do this to honestly provide as much information to readers as possible.
Over all the canister filter has much more positives, most of capacity.

I would go with the one canister filter along with the two Hydro Sponge Filters (& maybe 1 Filter Max on the Rena Filstar, if this is the canister filter you choose)

Carl

[parker002]

I will likely continue to use the Filter Max because of the probability of baby fish getting pulled into the filter. I really like them for that alone even without their bio capacity.

[parker002]

Here's another couple of questions:

1) Should I go with the XP2 for a 55G? Or should I go bigger?

2) Can I get by for a few weeks with just the one Aqueon? I have to drop $200 on a UPS today, otherwise I may end up having to buy a new filter, new wireless router, new PC power supplies, etc. I don't have the money right now to do everything and the UPS is really a bigger priority? I could get a replacement Aqueon for less than $40 but that seems like a waste of money.

[bikeguy33]

well there is power going to your second canister so all hope may not be gone yet. usually a good cleaning of all parts...most importantly the prop may get it running again. if there is a lil hum coming from it, that usually means it is trying to turn. sometimes a lil wack can get it turning again. if you are stuck with 1 - 55...make sure your water changes are larger and more frequent. also...if you dont already have one....an airstone will help alot for surface movement in the mean time...hope this helped...

[parker002]

I have two airlines attached to two Hydro Sponge 2 filters, so I have the surface movement and the biofiltration of those.

I may end up just replacing the Aqueon for now...changing to canister would be a big job and I don't really need the stress right now.

[Carl]

If & when you go with a Filstar, the #2 should be more than adequate.

Back to your Aqueon Filter, as bikeguy noted this may still be usable until you can afford to buy something else.

I would pull out the impeller, make sure the magnet does not spin without eventually locking.
As well make sure the impeller well is not impeded by any "junk".
If possible, feel inside this well to make sure that it is smooth and not bulging from an over heat (which unfortunately is a problem with the Aqueon and Whispers due to the way their impeller can easily run dry). If there is a small bulge, this may still be sanded down with a round file, if larger, this cannot be fixed.

Lubricate the impeller as well with petroleum jelly.

Carl

[parker002]

Unfortunately, the design of these filters (with the motor housing actually in the water) makes accessing the impeller or anything pretty much impossible. The top end of the housing, which attaches to the HOB reservoir, is sealed with some kind of rubber or epoxy, preventing any user access. There's no screws or anything.

Even though I had washed it thoroughly trying to get it to work, I had not yet just gave it a good whack. Doing so got it running again!

Thanks bikeguy!

[bikeguy33]

my pleasure....keep an eye on it in the mean time to make sure it is still working....

[babygeige]

Glad you got it working again! I had to smack my AquaClear quite a few times when I was using it Sometimes it wouldn't draw water and that got it going again, but usually I had to hit it because the lid rattled.

I highly recommend the filstars. I have a Filstar 1 on my 30 gal, and a 2 on my 50. The only complaint I have is that the filstar 1 will spit out a bunch of gook when I clean the filter out and start it again. I haven't had this happen with the 2 yet, but it could just be because it's only been set up for a couple of months. So to keep it from dirtying my clean tank, I just have the outlet go into a bucket for about 30 seconds until all the gunk is out of the system.

It must be from one of the hoses, but I can't figure out how to prevent it.

[parker002]

Don't the canisters have a backwash function? The canisters we've used with my mother-in-law's koi pond to that...

[Carl]

Nov 1, 2010 9:36:21 GMT -5 parker002 said:

Don't the canisters have a backwash function? The canisters we've used with my mother-in-law's koi pond to that...

No this is feature that is proprietary to many pressurized pond filters, not aquarium canister filters

That said, I have found this feature to only do a 1/2 way job on every pressurized pond filter I have ever used, so I generally still open them for a good cleaning

Carl

[parker002]

I improved my filtration a bit today.

We were cleaning out some stuff and found leftover parts from an undergravel filter for a 90G tank. In the mess were 4 lift tubes about 18-20" long.

I took the stock tubes off of my Hydro Sponge 2's (I think they're about 4") and replaced them with 1-foot lift tubes I cut from the UGF tubes. Now the lift tube comes within about an inch of the water's surface.

It dramatically improved the flow through the sponges.

[bikeguy33]

good thinking....glad there was an improvement...