Not a pretty picture, but both my antique double cartridge HOB's started up

[Magnum Man]

after clearing the roots, that over time got into the impellers... this set up definitely worked well, only a handful of ceramic cocoa puffs to hold the plants in place initially, and 4 plants, between both filters, no maintenance for 2 years, except for clearing the intakes occasionally, of chewed up Java fern, that got dislodged... these filters were made over 30 years ago, and still working... in all fairness they did sit empty for 25 years, when I took a break from the hobby...

now to clean up the mess on the top of the tank.. it took 2 days to pull all the vines

 

[Magnum Man]

making cuttings of the vines out of the filters above... hoping Mrs. can sell them this summer, once rooted and grown out a little...

now I need to decide if I keep the filters... with my new water change system, it would be easier with the Tidal style filters, that restart pumping on their own, when the water level is restored... while there is nothing wrong with these, convenience may win out

 

[Magnum Man]

for temporary, I put a cube of Japan Mat in each section

 

[MaloK]

Good old steam powered machinery... Are these with ceramic shaft ?

Look post apocalyptic, like something blew up in there 2 years is maybe a little much, loll.