jlooman

We have a 5 gallon tank with a Aqua Clear filter - the kind that hangs on the back of the tank. We cleaned the aquarium and changed some of the water for the first time and when we re-started the filter there is an air bubble in the intake tube that reduces the water flow substantially. We drained the filter and restarted it but the bubble won't go away. Any suggestions

bruiser

How long did you let the filter run? I have sever Aqua Clear filters, sometimes they prime real fast, sometimes they take a little while..

jlooman

We let it run maybe a minute - do you think longer would help?

HitchHiker

One thing that you can try, while the filter is on and running in the tank reach in and place you thumb over the end so that it seals it off and causes a vacuum. Then quickly remove your thumb. The rush of water into the intake may force the air bubble out. YOu may need to do this a couple of times to work it all out.

jlooman

Just tried plugging the intake - doesn't work because the intake isn't just one openning - long vertical slits up the sides. I imagine that's so it won't clog as easily.

Thanks anyway.

bruiser

Try letting it run a little longer. As long as you have the filter box itself full of water it wont hurt the motor or anything.. I'd let it run for a few minutes and see if it works its way out.. Like I mentioned before, mine sometimes take a few minutes to prime.. But they always do..

ray_sj

I cycle the flow control lever a few times from min to max. This usually sends the air bubble into the impeller and it gets sucked out.

flyin-lowe

As stated above make sure the "box" is full of water and plug it in. That should work.
I used to have an old HOB filter that had a pump that pumped water out of the bob but it used only a cyphon to suck the water from the tank. I would put the intake tube in the water and into the filter and then stick a piece of air tubing into the intake and suck the air out. This would fill it with water and start the cyphoning process. Anybody else ever had or seen these types of filters? Basically it was was a clear plastic box with a standard shaped intake tube that hung into the box and into the water. The intake tube only hung into the box about two inches and then there was two layers of filter floss. Then on the other side of the box there was a small removable electric water pump. You would start a cyphon with the intake tube and then you would turn the pump on. The bottom of the pump was below the filter floss so the water would get sucked down threw the floss and then pumped back into the tank. If the power went out the box would only fill up to the level of the tank and then stop so it could not overflow. This was on my first tank I bought used when I was in high school so I don't know if they were rare or not but it did not have any name brand on it.

Hendryx

I have a couple of aqua clears (love them)..I would just try what was already mentioned, plug it in and just let it run..they usually work everything out on their own,great filters imo..

Jaysee

Yup. Works every time.

aquarist48

Hello.

Make sure your filter is level. There should be an attachment on the bottom of it to make adjustments. It's a little black plastic piece that you can adjust. See if it helps.
Ken