Greasing filter impellers.

[Aquatic.Predator.Keeper]

I’ve had AC filters running for more years than I can recall, still running several old school AC 500’s (110’s), and never lubed a single moving part. If the impeller shaft or impeller is running rough just clean them up . At the most maybe some emery cloth on the shaft, or replace. No need for lube unless you just like lubing things. Lol

Wow!!! That's amazing!! I'm just now discovering their greatness! Lol. What have you been using for media, though? I know it's got to be a pain buying the sponges and etc. over and over? I've tried those cut to fit filter media pads recently.

 

[Aquatic.Predator.Keeper]

I've never lubed a shaft in a pump, but I have to clean them about every 6 mos or less, because of a buildup of gunk and stray pet hair.

But that pet hair is my bane. Virtually every cranky pump or powerhead has had hair on the shaft.

Do you not have a lid on your filters? Mine catch a little hair here and there but not anywhere as bad as what you're going through! Lol.

 

[RD.]

My sponges are for the most part as old as the filters. Lol Coarse sponge on the bottom to catch the big particulate matter, then a couple layers of a finer blue/white media, for finer waste, then topped of with a media bag bull of bio-rings. The only thing that ever needs replacing is the blue/white media.

 

[Ulu]

Do you not have a lid on your filters? Mine catch a little hair here and there but not anywhere as bad as what you're going through! Lol.

Now that you mention it, I have one big HOB still running without a lid, and it's outdoors. It'll have to come off soon, but it cools the water on hot days. Like every day from May to October. Desert summer is like 5 months long.

The other pumps are in 3 different sumps, all with lids. I only use pumps on large tanks now, but every tank gets air-powered sponges.

We have two dogs and two cats, and no dearth of pet hair. My wife is a whirling dervish with a Kirby, but somehow hair gets in the tanks.

 

[Aquatic.Predator.Keeper]

Coarse sponge on the bottom to catch the big particulate matter

Does your sponge clog at times though? I mean, not having to replace it, but clean it out, of course. Lol. What's your process of cleaning out the sponges? I've never been able to get my sponges as clean as they were when they were new. Lol!

 

[RD.]

Does your sponge clog at times though? I mean, not having to replace it, but clean it out, of course. Lol. What's your process of cleaning out the sponges? I've never been able to get my sponges as clean as they were when they were new. Lol!

I rinse them by hand, under the tap. For many folks doing this in a bucket of tank water, or dechlorinated tap water, might be a safer option, so as not to lose bio bacteria.

 

[pops]

I always rinsed mine in a 5g bucked that I had tank water emptying into at the same time to clear the water/gunk out as I rinsed. your AC sponge should be rinsed every water change or once a week.