So I have a 33L brackish setup and I have an aquaclear 30 and a 10 gallon walmart style filter (tetra or whisper or something). The filter from walmart is only a couple months old and the aquaclear filter I got for free used. The aquaclear filter does not start up unless you get the impeller spinning yourself, I can understand that as it is used. I am planning on upgrading to some kind of low flow 30+ gallon filter for the tank soon anyways. But my 10 gallon filter now is starting to have problems. It shut off on me yesterday and it is making grinding sounds. This filter is only a couple of months old! Could it be the salt from the brackish water is jamming it?
Is brackish water killing my filters?
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I personally have the AquaClear 110, and i both love and hate it. I have sand too and have gone thru 4 of these. ( i go buy one, then return my broken one 
) Aside from the sand getting sucked up due to my power head in there, I love this filter. I will let someone else recommend a different filter. 
) Aside from the sand getting sucked up due to my power head in there, I love this filter. I will let someone else recommend a different filter. Okay, I really need more tips. Right now I am in desperate need of a new filter. Last night both of my filters failed and this morning my fish have ammonia burns and I forced the larger filter on and the tank is almost impossible to see through because of sand. I have a powerhead that I bought in anticipation for my new tank, but right now I am desperate. Would this stir up the sand though?
A powerhead will stir up your sand..
you need to do some large water changes and go and buy a new filter. i personally hate aquaclears and the only HOB filter i use are the whispers. the fact that your fish got ammo burns after one day of your filters not working is saying something... they should have been able to go for a lot longer than that provided you didn't feed them or one of them died and was not removed.
you need to do some large water changes and go and buy a new filter. i personally hate aquaclears and the only HOB filter i use are the whispers. the fact that your fish got ammo burns after one day of your filters not working is saying something... they should have been able to go for a lot longer than that provided you didn't feed them or one of them died and was not removed.
I don't want to buy a filter thought that will just create sand clouds though. Right now I have an aquaclear HOB and I have it set over the dragon goby's cave so it doesn't push the sand around as much. As necessary as a new filter is, having a new one for 2 days before it breaks itself wouldn't really help me.
Would a whisper filter create less current?
Also about the dead fish, I saw two of the dragon gobys (usually all I see at a time). When the water clears up I will check for the third one. Also, I see a little school of glassfish but sometimes one or two hides. I won't be able to do a full inventory check until the water gets a little clearer.
Would a whisper filter create less current?
Also about the dead fish, I saw two of the dragon gobys (usually all I see at a time). When the water clears up I will check for the third one. Also, I see a little school of glassfish but sometimes one or two hides. I won't be able to do a full inventory check until the water gets a little clearer.
Did you even try to clean it? Did it Blow up? smoke? or does it not suck up water and just make noise?
I clean my AQ5-15 on my ten long with sand as subs. every 2 or 3 days.
I clean my AQ5-15 on my ten long with sand as subs. every 2 or 3 days.
SeaweedPimp;3888857; said:
I will try regular cleaning on it.
Right now it is running but occasionally it makes a grinding sound then stops, or doesn't start when I plug it in. I am used to poking the impeller to get it started with my other filters but this one I have to spend a good 5 minutes tinkering with. And then it takes another minute to get spinning fast enough to do what it needs to. I do want to get a new one, but for now this will hold me over until I find the best new one.