Filter Too Weak

[TomShootsPhoto]

Hey Forum ,

when i got my fish tank i got a kit, so it came with a filter and a warmer.
It worked fine for a year, but now i see the filter getting weaker. I have a 20 US gallon tank, so it is supposed to pump 80 gallons / hour . It is an internal filter, Vita tech.It isn't just effecting the water , it's effecting the fish too.
Usually we didn't clean the tank once a week, but now i started it . Last time i took out the filter and cleaned it entirely. a week after the water is dirtier than it used to be when i clean it once / 3 weeks. So i am looking for a new filter.

I live in UK .

I currently don't have more money than 30 £.

Any suggestions ?

i need it fast, the water gets too dirty .

I'd like a power filter or a smaller canister.

I know it is non of those, but i was looking at thia : http/www.amazon.co.uk/All-Pond-Solutions-Aquarium-Internal/dp/B002NLIBVO/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top


PLEASE HELP !

 

[Joshwainwright]

What filter is it?

The impeller may be clogged up with debris which could be cleaned, saving you from having to buy a new filter...

 

[scvrs]

Check out ebay. There are some bargain filters to be had. Fluval 204 externals seem to go for less than £20 quite often. I have a 305 on there at the moment which is at £16.00 so this gives you an idea.

 

[Miles_hot]

Have you cleaned the tubes to and from the tank - I understand that these can get very gunked up...
Miles

 

[TomShootsPhoto]

Have you cleaned the tubes to and from the tank - I understand that these can get very gunked up...
Miles

Yes i have cleaned the tubes ....
It looks better now, i pulled it closer to the water surface now it works fine.

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP !!!

Tom

 

[OldMan47]

Cleaning the tubes was a good idea and probably helped a lot. Another place that sometimes helps immensely is cleaning the impeller itself. The impeller on almost any filter sits in a well and has fairly tight clearances in that well. I use a small diameter bottle brush to remove any trace of dirt from the inside of that well and scrub the impeller magnet as well. When I get done, the impeller turns freely in the well no matter how bad it was when I started. Sometimes the flow is 2 or 3 times what it was before that cleaning.