new ac30 filter stopped working correctly

[ehmia]

I just bought this fluval ac 30 to replace my ac 20 on my 20 gal (broke the 20 filter it didn’t work well anyways) and i had them both running for about a day before the new filter started to just trickle down even at the full flow setting. the motor is completely clear the filter was only running for like 3-4 days and there’s only fish and snail poop inside of it nothing clogging it. really hoping this happened to someone else and they know how to fix it cause i swear im fixing one of my fluval filters every week. it’s supposed to be a much bigger flow coming from it, when i first got it it was insanely strong i had to turn it super low and it still covered the whole drain area so im not sure what happened pls help if anyone can i dont want to spend another 40

 

[MuddyWaters]

I had one (not a Fluval) slow down flow and actually start leaking out the back because i had too much filter media (actually a packet of Nitrazorb which is dense powder) in it. I didn't recognize until the water was running out the door across the room.

I would suggest taking everything out and seeing what the flow is like. If it's still slow then you know it's something with the motor or impeller (or maybe the little "slot" where the water goes from the section where the impeller is to the main part of the filter).

I can't imagine that you wouldn't be able to get your money back for it. Still a pain, but at least you wouldn't be out the $$

 

[ehmia]

I had one (not a Fluval) slow down flow and actually start leaking out the back because i had too much filter media (actually a packet of Nitrazorb which is dense powder) in it. I didn't recognize until the water was running out the door across the room.

I would suggest taking everything out and seeing what the flow is like. If it's still slow then you know it's something with the motor or impeller (or maybe the little "slot" where the water goes from the section where the impeller is to the main part of the filter).

I can't imagine that you wouldn't be able to get your money back for it. Still a pain, but at least you wouldn't be out the $$

just tried that to and it was basically the same, there’s no leaking anywhere and the motor doesn’t even get hot like my broken one i’m so confused

 

[MuddyWaters]

seems like something wrong with the motor. I'm no expert with this stuff, but I'd be taking it back to the store at this point.

 

[ehmia]

seems like something wrong with the motor. I'm no expert with this stuff, but I'd be taking it back to the store at this point.

i’ll def tryy but the filter comes with media so i’m not sure if they can accept it back since i used the media but thank you anyways i appreciate it!

 

[MaloK]

It's the same even with only the basket empty ? Dismantle the filter and remove the piece I indicated in red, check if there's nothing stuffed under there. If you haven't already.

I never saw an AC motor die that fast in my life. It might just have swallowed something that blocks the water flow
I had that happen with plants leaves.

But nothing is impossible, you might have a faulty motor.

 

[FranciscoB]

I would try removing the filter, extracting the impeller, and cleaning the impeller well sometimes a tiny snail, sand grain, or piece of debris happens to wedge itself not allowing the impeller to spin properly. I would try. That. At the same time, you can inspect whether the impeller lost a wing, to breakage against debris. Fluval Aquaclear filters are excellent; there must be a simple explanation to the difficulty. With a sealed motor, and a magnetic impeller, nothing else can go wrong than a damage shat, impeller, or a wedged piece of debris. Good luck.

 

[ehmia]

It's the same even with only the basket empty ? Dismantle the filter and remove the piece I indicated in red, check if there's nothing stuffed under there. If you haven't already.

View attachment 361981

I never saw an AC motor die that fast in my life. It might just have swallowed something that blocks the water flow
I had that happen with plants leaves.

But nothing is impossible, you might have a faulty motor.

alright i just tried to take it out i think the front side is glued in or stuck so i cant fully take it out but i don’t see anything stuck i’ll attach a picture, i just ran tap water over it to just to see if anything was stuck in there and nothing came out

 

[ehmia]

I would try removing the filter, extracting the impeller, and cleaning the impeller well sometimes a tiny snail, sand grain, or piece of debris happens to wedge itself not allowing the impeller to spin properly. I would try. That. At the same time, you can inspect whether the impeller lost a wing, to breakage against debris. Fluval Aquaclear filters are excellent; there must be a simple explanation to the difficulty. With a sealed motor, and a magnetic impeller, nothing else can go wrong than a damage shat, impeller, or a wedged piece of debris. Good luck.

i got it working! guess it did just need an extra clean i had to scrub off all the snail poop from the impeller now it’s working! so glad u said that i was ready to give up and return it and never buy ac filters again

 

[MaloK]

alright i just tried to take it out i think the front side is glued in or stuck so i cant fully take it out but i don’t see anything stuck i’ll attach a picture, i just ran tap water over it to just to see if anything was stuck in there and nothing came out View attachment 361985View attachment 361986

Glad you got it working !

The part I was talking about has to be removed from the top of the case. Here is the part in question. It's good to know because cleaning this part of the compartment will also help maintain the flow of the filter.

It's clipped in place and can be a little tough to remove the first times. But it's good to clean under that part once in a while.

 

[fishorama]

I have many Aqua Clear filters, I love them! But they don't look like yours. I think Fluval is a different brand of HOB (hang on back) & maybe a different way of flowing through the media. My ACs are bottom to top flow, yours look more like my old Whisper filters in a back to front flow with less media...& more cleaning needed.

I'm happy it's working for you now, but please don't tar my fav HOB ever with the wrong name, lol. I have some ACs that have been in use for 20-30 years! (I'm OK if you want to trash your filter brand, lol, but not genuine ACs, even if they're made by another co. now ).

 

[MaloK]

The old series of Aquaclear filters model A595 to A620 where made by Hagen and are still available, I bought one a year ago.

The new line made by Fluval are listed as AC20 to AC110 and are different in design.

 

[fishorama]

Mine were labeled AC 70 (the old AC 300 litres/hour vs tank size now, & AC 200/l is AC 50g). Maybe you had different 1s in Canada or something? Those #s are very different from mine. Mine are older but not the really old #s, I think. They seem to last darn near forever. I did have to replace an impellor in 1 once, it got etched by fine sand getting sucked up. I still have the original filter sponges that are great after all these years. I tried knock off sponges that only lasted 8-10? years. Still, pretty good!

 

[MaloK]

Mine were labeled AC 70 (the old AC 300 litres/hour vs tank size now, & AC 200/l is AC 50g). Maybe you had different 1s in Canada or something? Those #s are very different from mine. Mine are older but not the really old #s, I think. They seem to last darn near forever. I did have to replace an impellor in 1 once, it got etched by fine sand getting sucked up. I still have the original filter sponges that are great after all these years. I tried knock off sponges that only lasted 8-10? years. Still, pretty good!

Yes, I think we are talking about the same series, you have a A615, Exactly the same as the former Aquaclear 300

 

[fishorama]

Oh, I see the different model #s you're talking about now. That's new labeling to me. But I also see they all use the same power wattage, kind of surprising really don't you think, considering the circulation rates? Huh! Always new stuff to learn