Marineland emperor 400 troubles.

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I think I'm having a similar problem. Difference being, I just got this 70gal tank and 400b from my sister in law. Its been sitting for a good 3+ years out of use, but it was running fine when it was taken down.

If I fill it with water and start it up, it does suck water and the spray bars spin the wheels, but it doesn't suck ENOUGH water to keep itself going. I've taken the impeller completely apart and the only thing I can see wrong with it is that its missing one of the rubber caps on the top end.

I can't figure out anything that I'm doing wrong or anything thats obviously broken...but I'd love to get this filter going so I can set up the tank while I'm saving money for the canister I plan to buy...any ideas?
 
you have to have those rubber caps to center that impeller, when those caps are not seated right they cause the impeller to be off balance, ending with the impeller making noise as it bounces inside of the housing
 
IME, the plastic impeller is supposed to be free spinning on the shaft. The magnet should be fixed/attached to the shaft. I have owned several HOD filters of different makes and models. They were all like this. If I am misunderstanding, I apologize. I would say that a full tear down and clean is in order to remove the grit/carbon from the housing that the impeller sets in. Make sure that the rubber caps are snug enough on the shaft that they don't fall off but not too tight, the shaft has to spin in them. I have read of people lubing them with petroleum jelly but have not tried it my self. If they are too loose, the pump will be noisy and possibly pump more water as stated above because the shaft is spinning faster than normal. It will eventually get louder and louder as the shaft wallows out the cap.
 
Reptile88;4456249; said:
you have to have those rubber caps to center that impeller, when those caps are not seated right they cause the impeller to be off balance, ending with the impeller making noise as it bounces inside of the housing
Click to expand...


Good to know...so chances are, a new impeller will do the trick to get this filter up and working?
 
Say i do get this emperor 400 working and then I get the cash and go out and buy myself a rena canister to replace it...could I reasonably use the emperor on my 20 gallon tank? Obviously its a bit of overkill, but the little top-fin filter that came with it isn't really doing the trick and it would save me from buying ANOTHER filter.
 
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