I recently started up a second aquarium(29g) with sand instead of gravel. I really like the sand and am willing to deal with the extra hassel but I have started having problems with my power filters being used on this tank. After a few short days the filter begins to make a lot of noise until the noise becomes unbearable or the filter just stops working altogether. I have experienced this problem with a Marineland Penguin, an aquaclear, and a whisper power filter. Does anybody know of a way to correct this or a different filter I can buy that wont experience this problem? would a different type of filter like a canister filter fix this problem? Any help would be appreciated, thank you.....
Filter Problems, PLEASE HELP
- Thread starter tenorguy33
- Start date
Try to wash your sand very thoroughly to remove any small particles..
Put a sponge filter over your intake, so it's less likely to suck up these tiny particles. Make sure your intakes are up somewhat high on the tank, not towards the bottom.
If it's a new tank, it might take a week or two to get a nice 'slime coating' around each grain of sand.. This will make each individual grain a little heavier and harder to blow around in the water column and get stuck in your filter.
If you notice that awful 'grinding' noise with your filter, immediately try to alleviate the problem, it will only get worse and ruin your filter. Take the filter apart, and remove the impeller, then use a hose and 'blast' out any sand particles that would be inside of the filter unit.. A few minutes of thorough 'blasting' on the insides of your filter will usually get rid of any particles causing the problem..
Hope that helps!~
Put a sponge filter over your intake, so it's less likely to suck up these tiny particles. Make sure your intakes are up somewhat high on the tank, not towards the bottom.
If it's a new tank, it might take a week or two to get a nice 'slime coating' around each grain of sand.. This will make each individual grain a little heavier and harder to blow around in the water column and get stuck in your filter.
If you notice that awful 'grinding' noise with your filter, immediately try to alleviate the problem, it will only get worse and ruin your filter. Take the filter apart, and remove the impeller, then use a hose and 'blast' out any sand particles that would be inside of the filter unit.. A few minutes of thorough 'blasting' on the insides of your filter will usually get rid of any particles causing the problem..
Hope that helps!~
I gave up on sand with my canisters, my 8 inch motoro ray blows it everywhere, after taking my eheims apart about 10 times the sand came out, now its bare bottom and i have to figure something else out. Hope you have better luck than me...Listen to Miles though he gives great advice. 
