Why wont my fish tank turn on?

Question

I need help immediately please! The tank was just cleaned a couple of dsays ago. this morning it was working fine. now it isnt turning on at all. i moved the plugs to a different outlet and it still wont turn on. the light wont even turn on. i dont know what to do. i need help

the light and the filter have separate plugs.

the filter was changed when it was cleaned

by the way im 17 and i know how to use a breaker. i was taught by my uncle who appears to be an electrician.

Answer 1

how many plugs does it have? nothing works? if you have a filter with an impeller they get jammed sometimes and don't work. its a little gear looking thing. just take apart what comes apart easily and put it back together again. i think you have having some weird electrical problem though and it has nothing to do with the fishtank itself. dont' worry -- they can go a couple days without electric.

Answer 2

Check the impeller like a few others said. Clean it thouroughly and then jiggle it around until ot fits well, then prime the pump. the impeller actually pushes the water out of the filter, and gravity creates a siphon that takes care of the rest. The impeller just moves the water fast enough to power it over the filter. If the water level in the filter is not high enough, the impeller can't push the water through.

As for your light, flip it over. If you have light bulbs that are long and screwed in like regular bulbs, they are incadescent. Check to see if the bulbs were blown. This could indicate a power surge that may have fried the pump in your filter as well. If it is a tube flourescent light, check the starter. It will be a little white cylander that acts like a spark plug. Twist it gently to remove it and then put it back in. If that doesn't work, then take to whole hood to the pet store. Ask them to replace the starter, which should be a FS-2 or an FS-4. If the starter does not work, as to try a new bulb. If that doesn't work, the balast needs replaced. the pet store will know what to do. Take your filter in as well. Competant fish keepers will know how to trouble shoot easy fix problems.

Good luck. And I would get that filter replaced asap! Waste gasses can easily accumulate in a tank without the aggitation of the surface. Stir your tank every hour or add an air stone until that filter is replaced.

Answer 3

Sounds like the breaker for the circuit that the tank is on may have kicked out. What you should do is get an adult to take you to the circuit box and look for the breaker switch that is not in the same position as the others. It may show red in the clear plastic window, if so, it has kicked out.

Switch it to the same position as the others and try the tank again. It may kick out again if the filter is stuck and not turning. You might have to take the intake tube out and move the impellor with a pencil eraser to get it turning again. Then check the breaker and go from there.

Answer 4

Be very careful,get some help. Check to see if a breaker or GFI(ground falt interupter) has tripped.Try some working appliances to see if there is power at the outlets you've been using. If a lamp or some other device will work in the outlets. Then something burned up all the aquarium stuff,and you need to know what that is. Good luck and be careful.--------PeeTee

Answer 5

does the filter work? what type is it? if it is a top filter, you can take it apart and clean the little motor part sorta shaped like a spark plug, and sometimes algae residue makes it quite running.
is the bulb blown on the hood? did water get in the hood light and short it out?

Answer 6

You might need a new filter. I would get one quick because all your fish might die if there is not a filter (well they wouldn't live as long). My fish tank was on and it comes loose sometimes and it did overnight and the next morning I had a dead fish.

Answer 7

check if the plug was on securely, cause if it wasnt than it may not have worked properly, if not than maybe its the cord itself or the light died, i'd try the light first