Filter Advice

[jcdj]

Hi all, I have an interpet PF1 and a small elite mini in my 48l tank, as far as I can make out the interpet filter does not seem to be sucking in much compared to my elite mini filter that I added to help mature the interpet one, now my levels all seem to be perfect.

I have just done a 20% water change and the elite mini is working I can see the dirt being sucked in but the interpet one looks like its not sucking anything in I checked the filter and it looked pretty clean its pumping away pretty good I checked the elite mini and it was pretty gunked up.

Any advice on this filter E.G throw it in the bin,

 

[OldMan47]

I don't know about you but I can't afford to toss a dirty filter. I always start by cleaning mine well with used tank water from a water change.

 

[jcdj]

I was asking do you think the PF1 is working as the Elite mini has gunked up and yes I did clean it in old tank water before putting it back in, the foam in the PF1 still looks clean after I cleaned it, almost like the filter is not sucking in anything.

Its been 2 weeks since I cleaned the filter why would the mini one be really gunked up but the bigger one that should shift more water look like nothing is going through it ? hence why I want to scrap it if its not working and get a fluval U2

 

[atuin]

I have bigger model from PF range and one thing i found out fast is that cleaning only sponge/insert is not enough.
1. at the bottom of filter thers removable inlet protecting bit which covers "aqua valve" (non return valve) remove that bit and you will see light blue(atleast its blue in mine) plastic part. it can and should removed and cleaned as its primary point where sludge builds up and blocks silicon bit which works as non-return valve (watch out to not loosing it )
2. "bio chamber" - sometimes ceramic elements inside get blocked by sludge as foams dont pick all dirt

 

[jcdj]

Yeah I had the aqua valve out as well the only part that was not cleaned out was the top part with the impeller the PF1 does not have the Bio section all it has is a normal white filter and a carbon one, I might contact them and ask, or the other thing the smaller filter in the tank might just be picking all the crap up before the PF1 does

 

[OldMan47]

One part that I never skip cleaning is the pumping parts in my filters. That part usually has a fairly snug fit between the well the impeller magnet sits in and the impeller magnet itself. If it is not kept almost spotlessly clean, the pump will not be able to turn. I remove the pump head from my filters and carry them to a bathroom sink where I use a bottle brush to clean the well and also give the magnet and impeller a good cleaning. That part of the filter is not a place to be worrying about keeping good bacteria, it is a part that needs to be clean. Be careful and do not lose the rubber bearings that are usually stuck onto the ends of the impeller shaft. I have no idea where I could find another bearing to fit the filter although I would start with the manufacturer.