filter problems

[stivhixon]

hi, i was wondering if anyone could help me with this problem Ive been having with filters. I have a 30 US gallon tank with a Whisper 40 hang on the back filter. This problem has happened twice the first time I panicked and bought a new filter, Im trying to save myself that expense again if anyone has any ideas. The current that the filter produces is going way down, before the fish couldnt even swim straight through the current but now they just sit in front of the filter, also the reservoir where the intake tube is, is overflowing water back into the aquarium, it was not like this before. It almost seems as if something is clogged but i took the filter out cleaned the bio bag cartridge (white thing), I dont know if this needs to be replaced already, its been running with the old one for 2 months but I thought these biobags are supposed to hold beneficial bacteria so I dont want to replace it unless I have too, any ideas??

 

[Bloo]

I don't know anything about whisper filters so can't go into specifics - but what all filters need is a bit of maintenance and to ensure that the filterhead / motor / impeller is kept clean. That's what drives the filter and if that is gunked / sludged up the filter is going to decrease it's output and finally stop working.

So take apart what you can take apart and give all the bits a good clean.
But any filter media (sponges / floss etc.) should only be rinsed in some siphoned tank water.

Edit:
Just had a look at the filter on the Tetra website and on another website the parts that can be bought for it.

This is what the impeller looks like.

 

[SkiFletch]

Dont mean to argue, but from what it sounds like, the pump/powerhead portion of the filter sounds as though its functioning properly. He mentions, "the water where the intake tube is, is overflowing water back into the aquarium." That to me means that his powerhead is working and pushing the water, but it cant go through the filtration screen that is usually to the right or left of the powerhead resevior. Since the water isnt going through the screen, its flowing back into the tank...

Like you said, he should clean the filter media with tank water that he flows through the media backwards from normal.

 

[Durbkat]

Well I use whisper power filters and also use whisper filter 40 for my long 20g and when I had it at full power it also blew the fish around but water from the resivor poured back into the tank so I turned it to half power and now it doesn't over flow and it gives plenty of oxygen to the 6 fish I have in thier so like that other person said the filter cartridge is clogged or something so take it out and see if power returns to the output part of the filter and see if it stops overflowing. If it does then you need a new cartridge only $4.50 I think. Pm me if you have further questions about the filter.