its a fish tank with a filter to clean the water but it doesnt work at all it doesnt clean it just makes weird noises and it doesnt do anything
2006-12-22 07:42:28 · 6 answers · asked by gakers b 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
If it is the type that hangs on the back of the tank with a suction tube that goes down into the tank, then it has probably lost its "prime". Take off the cover and pour some water into the area where the filter cartridge is located. You may have to do this a few times.
If that doesn't do it, the tube that goes into the tank may be clogged by debris or sludge. Remove it and flush it out with water. Or use a small brush made for cleaning small plastic tubes to get at the clog. Also, the intake area at the end of the pipe where it goes down into the tank might be clogged up too.
If neither of these work, then you may have a bad impellor in the filter itself. They are about $4-6 depending on the size of the filter. Cheaper than a new filter, though. Sometimes, though, the impellor just gets stuck and won't turn. You can nudge it with a pencil eraser to turn the little plastic paddles and see if it starts turning again. Try this while it is still plugged in to see if it will start.
2006-12-22 07:51:13 · answer #1 · answered by 8 In the corner 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm guessing an overhead filter that sucks water up out of the tank, filters and then dumps it back into the aquarium? If that's the case, it may not be clogged. If it's making weird sucky noises, and has since you cleaned the filter and/or tank last, you might just need to prime the pump. Take a cup and start slowly pouring water into the filter to fill it up and see if the pump starts going.
If you think there's actually a physical clog somewhere, take the whole thing apart, clean the container, the pipes (use a bottle brush or a pipe brush from the pet store), and the fan mechanism if you can get at it. If your particular model has a wheel, you only need to rinse it in aquarium water since the bacteria that builds up in it is actually beneficicial to the tank.
Hope this was some help.
2006-12-22 07:53:26 · answer #2 · answered by desiderio 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When was the last time you changed the actual filter inside the pump? You've got to replace them (get 'em @ Wally-World, etc.) as well as take all the tubing out that's connected to the pump and clean it! What kind of pump/filter do you have? How big is your tank? Need more info... wish I could draw you a picture of what you need to do... use an old toothbrush (never throw them away, anyway -- they've got so many uses!) and go up inside the tubes to get excess algae out. Scrub the inside of the pump, too. Don't forget to pour water into the pump when you plug it in -- it won't ever get to circulating if you don't. Hope this helps.... YPV
2006-12-22 09:46:50 · answer #3 · answered by YourPalVal 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take it apart every bit of it and clean it..
2006-12-22 07:47:09 · answer #4 · answered by uhohyoureugly 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
TAKE IT APART< CLEAN IT!! Hellooo
2006-12-22 08:31:27 · answer #5 · answered by Lulu 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Buy a new one!
2006-12-22 07:49:47 · answer #6 · answered by HSMLOVER 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋