AquaClear 70 Outside Power Filter

[steelhealr]

Hi...I've had an AquaClear 70 since I started my new 46 gallon FW tank mid November '04. Recommendations are:
1) Change the sponge every 2 months
2) Change the charcoal every one month
3) Change the Biomax media every three months.

After 2 1/2 months, I have changed the charcoal twice, changed the sponge after a month (after treating ich) and washed the new sponge twice in aquarium water (from a water change) during filter maintenance. The cartridge insert basket now keeps floating up out of the power filter despite being engaged. Does anyone else have this problem? Is this a clogged sponge that needs replacement? Does it shrink over time and lose contact with the walls? Thanks. Frank

 

[NickT]

i use a 70 and dont have this problem..... look inside the filter and see if theres something keeping the try from locking in tight... thats my only guess....

im on almost 3 months with the same sponge......

 

[steelhealr]

Thanks....will pull the filter and recheck today. SH

 

[TwoTankAmin]

I am running 18 assorted AquaClears. I use almost exclusively sponges and filter floss in them all in some configeration. Almost all have a pre-filter sponge over the intake also. I rinse the media almost weekly when doing water changes. I do not think I have replaced more than one sponge so far- and that was because it began to fall apart. I do reverse the order of sponges so that the top and bottom sponges are inverted each cleaning.

The basket will rise when the media is clogged.

 

[DannyBoy17]

I am running 18 assorted AquaClears.

My lord. Your name must be a mistake. You must have 10 tanks!

 

[steelhealr]

Replying to Nick T.....after the grey insert holder floated up last night, I rechecked it, washed the sponge, etc. I can't find anything wrong that would cause the insert holder to float up and push up the top cover. However, I think there is a design flaw. On the left side/motor side, there is a plastic tab that fits into the slot on the left side of the insert holder. On the right side, there is a slot on the insert holder but NO TAB on the inside right of the filter tank to engage the slot on the holder. It is the right side that keeps floating up. I've emailed Hagen. We'll see. My buddy who got out of the aquarium hobby gave me his Eheim canister filter and if this keeps happening, I'm going to switch over to the Eheim despite the cost. I don't want to lose filtration when no one is home and lose my fish. Thanks for your input. SH

 

[Inchworm]

Hi steelhealr

I've been running an AquaClear 300, which is the same as the new 70, and love it so much that I just bought another, and a larger one, the 100 (old name 500.)

The basket usually floats up when it has gotten clogged up or if the sponge needs rinsing. It means that the water cannot circulate through. A simple rinse in tank water is all that is necessary to correct the problem. How often this happens just depends on how much gunk is being collected in it. If your tank is heavily stocked or you have exceptionally waste producing fish, it will have to be cleaned more often than it you are lightly stocked. You cannot go by a schedule.

As for the charcoal and those grey pellet things, I just put them away. The grey things are something new that they added to sell you more supplies. What I suggest doing is either buying another sponge and stacking them in the chamber, or filling it with plain, old fashioned filter floss. This will give you additional surface area for beneficial bacteria to cling to and permit you to safely increase the number of fish you keep in the tank.

Both the sponges and the filter floss can be reused until they just about fall apart. In time, the sponge will start to lose its elasticity and begin to shrink. Replace it then.

When that time comes, you can either replace the floss or one of the sponges while keeping the other to maintain a good level of bacteria. In such close contact, the bacteria will rapidly reproduce to fill the new media. Then the other can be changed.

It's a great filter, really it is.

 

[steelhealr]

Thanks Inchworm..VERY HELPFUL. I recently added some beginner plants and I think the detritus helped gunk up the sponge. Since rinsing, the cartridge is staying down. It's great to hear the little things that time and experience has given others here. EG......the AquaClear instruction book says nothing about adding floss, stacking sponges etc. Back to the 'lfs' to get more stuff. Thanks for your help. SH

 

[steelhealr]

Washed...cleaned....filter floss added...no floating so far. Thanks. Frank