Problems with Aquaclear...

[Redroofinn]

Anyone else have issues with their aquaclear not restarting after wc's, shutting off for feedings, etc? One of the filters on my 29 constantly won't come back on. I shut the filters down every night while I feed all of my tanks (so that the sinking pellets get down to all the bottom dwellers) and when I turn them back on one of the filters stays down. I've been considering a canister filter for a while and I'm contemplating using this as an excuse for that or possibly a seachem tidal. Any one have any experience with Tidals vs Aquaclears vs canister?

 

[NotSoAggressiveAquatics]

I 100% recommended canisters (fluval brand). I tried an aqua clear once and like you once I tried to turn it back on it wouldn’t but mine started getting super hot so I threw it out. I use canister filters for both my larger tanks. I’m using the fluval fx6 and fx4. Both work amazingly but there are other types that are much cheaper and for not so big tanks

 

[Redroofinn]

I 100% recommended canisters (fluval brand). I tried an aqua clear once and like you once I tried to turn it back on it wouldn’t but mine started getting super hot so I threw it out. I use canister filters for both my larger tanks. I’m using the fluval fx6 and fx4. Both work amazingly but there are other types that are much cheaper and for not so big tanks

Yea I was thinking maybe the 307 or 407 canister from fluval. I've been reading some really good things about their canisters.

 

[jtjgg]

have you cleaned the impellers and motor housing?

i started with AquaClears, now I use Tidals.

 

[A201]

Next time your AC locks up, lift up the intake tube & poke a toothpick into the impeller access hole. You might have to swirl the toothpick around a bit, but that should get things moving.
AC's are very good filters, but I'm tired of tapping the lids & constantly adjusting the water flow levers to stifle the noise.

 

[StarGirl]

I have a 407 and I love it so far! Loads of media space and easy to clean.

 

[Redroofinn]

have you cleaned the impellers and motor housing?

i started with AquaClears, now I use Tidals.

Yea I take each filter apart biweekly and clean the motors and impellers. How do you like the Tidals?

Next time your AC locks up, lift up the intake tube & poke a toothpick into the impeller access hole. You might have to swirl the toothpick around a bit, but that should get things moving.
AC's are very good filters, but I'm tired of tapping the lids & constantly adjusting the water flow levers to stifle the noise.

I do that with a pipe cleaner every other week but still have issues with it. I completely agree with you. Great filter but the failure to restart and the noise are obnoxious!

I have a 407 and I love it so far! Loads of media space and easy to clean.

That's good to hear! That's one of the ones I was thinking about. How is it to set up?

 

[jtjgg]

noise, its not completely silent, but usually less than the aquaclears.

i only clean out the impeller/motor housing once per year. marketed as self cleaning, lives up to it, especially in a goldfish tank.

it has an actual media basket, your media won't be falling out when you pull it out for cleaning. the lid actually sits in the filter so it doesn't rattle as much as the AquaClears did. and the lid is a base for the basket when you pull the basket out for cleaning.

before i got the Tidals i didn't think i needed the surface skimmer, but its been great, it gets rid of almost all of the surface protein/scum.

the angle of the output lip is straight out horizontal. i keep the water full so the output shoots the water out across the surface instead down into the tank.

no need to fill the filter with water to prime, the motor is in the water so its self priming.

 

[StarGirl]

Yea I take each filter apart biweekly and clean the motors and impellers. How do you like the Tidals?

I do that with a pipe cleaner every other week but still have issues with it. I completely agree with you. Great filter but the failure to restart and the noise are obnoxious!

That's good to hear! That's one of the ones I was thinking about. How is it to set up?

Really easy, I had a canister already. I used all of the media from my old canister and had extra room for the 407 media that came with it too. It holds a lot.

 

[Redroofinn]

noise, its not completely silent, but usually less than the aquaclears.

i only clean out the impeller/motor housing once per year. marketed as self cleaning, lives up to it, especially in a goldfish tank.

it has an actual media basket, your media won't be falling out when you pull it out for cleaning. the lid actually sits in the filter so it doesn't rattle as much as the AquaClears did. and the lid is a base for the basket when you pull the basket out for cleaning.

before i got the Tidals i didn't think i needed the surface skimmer, but its been great, it gets rid of almost all of the surface protein/scum.

the angle of the output lip is straight out horizontal. i keep the water full so the output shoots the water out across the surface instead down into the tank.

no need to fill the filter with water to prime, the motor is in the water so its self priming.

Thanks for all the info! Sounds like a really good filter.. The built in skimmer, real media basket, and lid that doesn't rattle are all huge pluses for me.