kcarmartinez

My FIL picked up a fish tank for me at a garage sale and I am stumped about what to do with the filter that came with it. I am very used to filters with pre-made cartridges to go in preset spots.... Can you help identify this filter (how many gallons is if for) and/or what Media do I put in the spots and in what order? Thanks.

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aquarist48

Hello KC and Welcome to Fish Lore. Sorry I can't tell you the exact name of it but I'm sure someone will know.
Hope you enjoy the site.
Ken

namehater

purely guessing, but by the size of the return spout i would say it would be rated for a smaller aquarium, i would guess it would be good for under 20g. i can honestly say that ive never seen a filter like that tho, i cant figure out what the space is between the intake and the return spout.

TedsTank

Welcome!!!! you are at the right place!!!

Looks like some kind of antique filter....if it works, name it Mr. Filter.

aquarist48

Those 4 little holes have me baffled.
Ken

redlessi

Dont know about the filter but Welcome to the forum!!!!!

Tony G.

Welcome to Fishore!!!

as said above, if it works, use it

Regal

Welcome to FishLore!

The box with the four little holes has me stumped too.

I don't buy replacement cartridges for any of my HOB filters. You can just buy some filter floss and cut a piece and put it in the back. Just make sure it doesn't have long stringy pieces that will end up wrapped around the impeller. I like the blue bonded filter pad that Marineland makes. It's like $5.99 for a sheet and I rinse and reuse the same piece forever so its very economical.

kcarmartinez

Thanks everyone. I love this site, there is so much information!
Mr. Filter came on a 27 gallon hex. My 20 gallon filter was rated for 30 gallon so I just moved it over. Now this one is sitting on my 20 gallon and I haven't even turned it on yet. So who knows if it even works. The partitions are movable, and the 4 holes kind of scare me that there may be water going places it is not supposed to. I wonder if there is a part missing. It has a lid but it doesn't cover the holes. If I get it working I have to figure out what to keep in the tank.... can't have an empty tank lying around!

suemvb, do you use carbon in your filter, or just the filter pad?

Regal

Yeah I agree. Empty tanks? What's the fun in that?

I just use filter pad, no carbon.

I used to use it but when I joined FishLore some more experienced fish keepers convinced me it's not really necessary. Some use it and some don't. There are a few threads with the pros and cons on this site.

Maybe you should put on a raincoat, plug it in and see where the water goes lol.

TedsTank

Also you might want to scrub Mr. Filter really good with white vinegar and get the old crust off. Can't wait til you hook it up...we are all waiting to see what the little holes are for!!!

If you clean Mr. Filter with white vinegar...use a small brush and be sure to rinse him off really well. Vinegar is organic and little residue won't hurt but isn't needed either.

Jaysee

The slot with the holes is OBVIOUSLY for ice cubes to simulate rain. JK, IDK.

kcarmartinez

Eureka! It Works!
I figured I better turn it on before I spent time cleaning it. And thanks Ted for the idea of White Vinegar.
It seems pretty strong, even for such a little opening. And I think it could be even stronger but it leans back a bit. Maybe there was something with the holes to keep it more forward? Or maybe they are just there to collect calcium deposits. lol
I even figured out what I really need to do with it is to use it as a QT tank for when I get my Panda Corys for the 27. A new set up would be nice but I have to think of needs first.
So, If I get the Blue Bonded Filter pad, should I get some other type of bio-foam for growing Bacteria on that doesn't even get replaced?

Tony G.

glad you got it all figured out!

Borisbbadd

A great day for Mr. Filters everywhere.............

djbrist

I'm totally guessing, but I think you may be correct about the 4 holes as settings for adjustable pin placement to fit diff frame types. As for the compartments, do they tend to cascade from higher walled intake to the next a little lower (poss. bio balls tumbling), to the next lower still mech. filter floss holder ( I see a grooved slot on the back side of that compartment, is there also one on the opposite wall of that compartment?) maybe it did have some type of cartridge to fit it...

These are only guesses, to stimulate the brainstorm.
Glad it works tho, and welcome to FL!

Dave

Regal

You could add some of the little ceramic tubes (can't remember what they're called) or some bio balls. You don't need to though. Just rinse the filter pad in tank water and the bacteria will be fine.

Toddnbecka

Mainly because the plastic is that brown color I suspect it's an old aquaclear. IF I remember correctly they also used to have those black flow adjusters on the intake tube. There are (or were) also dividers the same color as the strainer that fit vertically in the filter body; they were done away with when aquaclear went to the current horizontal media stacking design. Just get yourself a suitable size aquaclear sponge insert and stuff it into place. Looks like the lid is missing as well, they help cut down on evaporation. The flow rate is likely about the same as a newer model of the same size.

kcarmartinez

I am now almost positive the holes are to adjust to your aquarium size. But what goes in them I am not sure. It does have a turn nob to adjust the flow, and it did come with a lid (just didn't show it because then you couldn't see the sections). Aquaclear sounds like a pretty good answer. I think it may be missing one section insert, but I may just do my own inserts anyway.

Toddnbecka

Aquaclears have an adjustable leveling device on the bottom of the case. I suspect someone made the holes for some reason after they got the filter.

kcarmartinez

Very Sadly I must report I think I may have killed Mr. Filter. He was happily running with a VERY used cartridge from my 75G Malawi tank to get the cycle going... But we had an issue with the electric line it was on and it took us a day to figure out it was just a tripped GFCI on another outlet. We hit the reset button and Yeah, it was on again. That was Yesterday. Today I went down and noticed it was on but no water was coming out and it was mostly drained. I hear it, but it is not strong enough to pull the water up the intake. I tried filling it up with water, but I think we may have burned the motor out running it dry. :-(

Fish Guy

I have a filter that has the a similar design.

Wowzergsd

Hi - looks identical to one i had about 20 years ago! that was made / marketed by (in the UK anyway) by Interpet. I think the 4 holes might be for a peg, to adjust for different thicknesses of tank glass.

bsm

that filter is a aquaclear jr

kcarmartinez

Is there any way to fix it if it stopped pumping up the water? Spare parts etc. that I can get for it? I hate having a tank empty because it doesn't have a filter and I can't justify buying a new filter right now.

Toddnbecka

What size tank? I have multiple spare filters lying around, hob's and canisters.

kcarmartinez

My lonely empty is a 20G. The tank is still out and I still have the filter that doesn't work. In my mind somehow it miraculously starts working at some point or could find a way to fix it. LOL

Toddnbecka

A tank is a terrible thing to waste...