[Killietalk] Power Filter Help

["Lloyd Colvin" <lhcolvin at earthlink_net>]

I have been wrestling with the filter issue for a couple of years.  I
started with the Penguin (Marineland?)filters.  Changing the cartridges was
expensive and the biowheels slowed down and stopped due to the buildup of
mulm in the distribution tubes that powered the biowheel.  I had to take
them apart and clean out the holes in the tube with a straight pin. Although
I like the concept of a biowheel filter, I found them to be high
maintenance.  

I then changed over to the Aquaclear filters.  The big advantage with the
Aquaclears is that you put any type of media you want in them, inside a
filter bag.  The sponge is easy to clean and you have great flexibility at
minimum cost.  The problem with the smaller Aquaclears is that the impeller
frequently sticks.  It is a bother rinsing it out and getting it to operate
again.  I believe the sticking is caused by grit or sand getting into the
impeller well. (This does not seem to be a problem with the larger sizes of
filter.) The Aquaclear intake tube, as does most other brands of filter
intake tube, gets plugged easily with detritus in a planted tank.

What I do now is that I use the large Aquaclears in my tanks over 50
gallons, supplemented with a large box filter and two large coarse sponge
filters.  If the power filter sticks when I am away, the air driven filters
can maintain the tanks in reasonable condition.  In my smaller tanks (2 1/2
to 10 gallons), I just use a box filter and sponge filter.  (Thank you
Jehmco for your Linear Piston Pump.)

The box filters may be "ancient" technology, but they are great.  They are
low cost, flexible, and easy to maintain.  All of my "jumpers" are in tanks
with only airline holes in the top.  Cycling a new tank is easy.  Just take
half of the "stuff" out of a conditioned box filter and seeding the new box
filter with it.

Larry Colvin
Hollywood, Florida

-----Original Message-----
From: killietalk-bounces at aka_org [mailto:killietalk-bounces at aka_org] On
Behalf Of killietalk-request at aka_org
Sent: Friday, July 07, 2006 6:23 PM
To: killietalk at aka_org
Subject: Killietalk Digest, Vol 36, Issue 14



While I have no experience with Whisper outside power filters I do have 4
AquaClear200 outside power filters and they too have a tendency toward
impellers sticking. Sometimes it's Cacium carbonate build up and require
chemical and mechanical cleaning. Many times they require a nudge from a
skewer to begin the rotation. I too prefer pedestal sponge filters for most
of my tanks, killies to discus. Too many killies are lost when swimming
upstream on outside power filter returns or just jumping out of the large
openings.

Even with sponge filters and covered tanks half full tanks have only been a
sure defense against the leapers.

Larry Waybright------------------------------




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