Fish Filter Suddenly Stopped Working

[Rollxr]

Hi all, my aquarium’s filter suddenly stopped working, (one circled in blue) but however alongside that i have a sponge filter that is working unlike the other filter. So what to do here? My filter suddenly stopped running and it contains bio foam in it and some seachem matrix, the benefical bacteria in my filter wont get killed right? For reference. Its a 20 gallon tank with 1 female molly and 1 female platy in it.

 

[10 Tanks]

Hi all, my aquarium’s filter suddenly stopped working, (one circled in blue) but however alongside that i have a sponge filter that is working unlike the other filter. So what to do here? My filter suddenly stopped running and it contains bio foam in it and some seachem matrix, the benefical bacteria in my filter wont get killed right? For reference. Its a 20 gallon tank with 1 female molly and 1 female platy in it.

Hello. If you're a very good tank keeper and change half the tank water in that 20 gallon tank twice a week, then a down filter isn't a problem. That filter has just been taking in clean water and returning that same water to the tank. You've got plenty of time to repair or replace the bad filter. A sponge filter is likely the best. They're cheap and need nothing more than an air pump to run them. An air pump is another cheap item. Just keep up on the water changes until the replacement filter gets to you. The fish won't even know the filter is missing, because they always live in clean water.

10 Tanks (Now 11)

 

[Rollxr]

Hello. If you're a very good tank keeper and change half the tank water in that 20 gallon tank twice a week, then a down filter isn't a problem. That filter has just been taking in clean water and returning that same water to the tank. You've got plenty of time to repair or replace the bad filter. A sponge filter is likely the best. They're cheap and need nothing more than an air pump to run them. An air pump is another cheap item. Just keep up on the water changes until the replacement filter gets to you. The fish won't even know the filter is missing, because they always live in clean water.

10 Tanks (Now 11)

I dont know what do you mean change the half tank water twice a week. I mean i dont do 50% water changes i mostly do 20-30% water changes weekly, is that fine?

 

[Byron]

One substantial water change (50-70%) each week is sufficient (or should be, and here with to fish it will be). On the filter, have you tried to get it running? Sometimes they need priming (adding water to the filter before you plug it in). I can't see the filter, what type is it? Is it still under warranty?

If the media remains wet the bacteria will survive. Chances are the sponge will handle things anyway. You just won't have the water current.

 

[Fishmanic]

disassemble the filter to get access to the impeller. Thoroughly clean the filter housing and impeller area. Reassemble, prime with water, and hope for the best.

 

[sharkweek178]

disassemble the filter to get access to the impeller. Thoroughly clean the filter housing and impeller area. Reassemble, prime with water, and hope for the best.

This happens to me all the time. Sometimes knocking on the side by the impeller is enough. But usually I have to disassemble it and clear off the impeller. The it goes right back to work.

 

[Rollxr]

One substantial water change (50-70%) each week is sufficient (or should be, and here with to fish it will be). On the filter, have you tried to get it running? Sometimes they need priming (adding water to the filter before you plug it in). I can't see the filter, what type is it? Is it still under warranty?

If the media remains wet the bacteria will survive. Chances are the sponge will handle things anyway. You just won't have the water current.

I have tried but seems like the filter itself has worm out, but seems worn out or something. Also the sponge padding inside the filter, it’s head is out of the water but rest of its body is submerged in the water. Will this kill my bacteria? Heres what i mean by this photo. See how the head is poking out?

 

[Colin_T]

Take the filter media (sponge, etc) out of the broken filter and squeeze the media out in a bucket of aquarium water. When the filter media is clean, put it in the aquarium. There is plenty of oxygenated water in the aquarium and it will keep the beneficial filter bacteria alive.

You could tie the power filter sponge to the other sponge on the air operated filter and that would keep the sponge from moving around the tank and help provide water movement around the sponge.

 

[Rollxr]

Take the filter media (sponge, etc) out of the broken filter and squeeze the media out in a bucket of aquarium water. When the filter media is clean, put it in the aquarium. There is plenty of oxygenated water in the aquarium and it will keep the beneficial filter bacteria alive.

You could tie the power filter sponge to the other sponge on the air operated filter and that would keep the sponge from moving around the tank and help provide water movement around the sponge.

if the filter media is washed with aquairum water wont that disrupt benefical bacteria? Also the way the filter media’s head is poking out, is that going to affect or kill my benefical bacteria? As seen in the photo

 

[Byron]

if the filter media is washed with aquairum water wont that disrupt benefical bacteria? Also the way the filter media’s head is poking out, is that going to affect or kill my benefical bacteria? As seen in the photo

No to both questions. Bacteria are sticky, and they adhere to submerged surfaces. And they adhere very well. You cannot dislodge them by rinsing in tank-temperature water in a bucket, or under the tap for that matter, unless you use a sturdy brush. As for the top of the filter media, it is emersed so the bacteria cannot colonize this bit, but that makes no difference.

 

[Muttsnuts]

I wouldn't worry about it with just those two fish in there I would say that the sponge filter that you say is still running should be more than adequate to filter your tank