Filter Suddenly Not Working.

[Anathema]

I have the Emperor 280 or 400 filter, I'm not sure which, I just have the bag of filter cartridges with me, not the filter box. It's always been working fine, but now it has stopped working altogether. The filter is less than a year old. I have done everything I can possible think of: I've dumped water into it, I've turned it off and back on again, I've even taken it off and scrubbed it completely clean (which was probably not the smartest thing to do..) and it still is not working. It is not sucking, and it makes really terrible noises when it's on.

So I have it turned off now. And I don't know what to do. I can't afford to buy a new $75+ filter for it, and even if I could, I can't get out to Petsmart today to get anything. Does anyone have any ideas?? I know my fish can only last so long without the filter..

 

[cujoho78]

Hi. The Emperor 280 will only have one bio-wheel, and the 400 will have two. In any case, while you were cleaning the filter did you check to see that the impeller is able to spin? Is it seated properly? If you don't know what the impeller is, it is way down at the bottom of the filter. You'd have to take the intake tube out of the filter to be able to see it. It will come out so you can clean down there with a small brush. Maybe there is gunk, algae, or perhaps a piece of sand or gravel or an errant piece of carbon.
If the filter is clean, the impeller in good shape, seated properly and able to move freely then you are off to a good start. If the filter makes noise when you turn it on then that should mean that the impeller is turning. If there isn't any water in there it will make bad noises. Make sure there is water in the filter, and make sure that there is enough water in the tank. Do you have an extension on the filter intake piece? If the water in the tank is below the joint where the pieces join, then air can enter and prevent the filter from sucking the water up.
So if the impeller is turning, and there's water in the filter and tank and it still doesn't suck, then there must be air getting in somewhere, or perhaps the impeller is damaged. It's hard to say without looking. Hope this helps, good luck.

 

[Anathema]

Heh, yeah, there was a lot of gunk in there. I got it all out, but it still didn't work, no matter what I did. But I never really cleaned the filter, so I must imagine it just worked itself to death.

But a friend of mine heard of my plight and went out and got me a new filter which is working wonderfully, bless his soul.

Thanks for your help.

 

[cujoho78]

You're welcome. I'm glad you got a filter back up and running.

 

[RedShark]

Nice friend you have