Um, Help!!??

In another post, I just said I was going to try something to cut down on my filter's water flow...but I went to try it and remembered it had slowed down a lot it the past couple days. It was down to just a trickle today to my surprise--usually it is nearly knocking the fish over when they swim by. So, thinking it was clogged up, I rinsed the media and intake tube. But when I plugged it back in, it was even weaker. What's wrong with it? I've had that filter for several years, could it be that the motor is dying? Should I replace it before it stops completely? Or is there just some part that needs replacing or something? Help!!! ??? ???

 

Have you checked the impeller? Go ahead and get a backup now if you can. Now would be the time to get an inexpensive sponge filter if you were thinking of getting one.

 

Oh yes, I actually did think to check the impeller and it's fine as far as I could tell. The sponge filter was going to go in the 20 gallon to cycle for a Q tank, but could a 10 gallon run on a sponge filter too? But what happens to all the pieces of stuff--cause sponge filters don't provide mechanical filtration, do they? Does that really matter?
Sorry, I'm kind of freaking right now, mostly because I am completely broke...

 

Sometimes stuff gets down inside where the impeller goes. If you could pull the impeller out and rinse it real good with used tank water then flush the place where the impeller goes with used tank water. Maybe it will wash out a small piece of trash. Good Luck.
Carol

 

Well, I feel stupid. I had let my water level get too low. I topped it off and viola, the filter works. : Most of the water that comes in is overflowing though--evidently I also need new filter media.

 

O I remember when this happened for me. For some reason my impeller broke and I brought the filter to my lfs and the GM looked at it and didn't think it was the impeller since it didn't look broken and looked fine but tried it there and it only worked with a new impeller. I was broke too but my mom let me borrow some money to buy a new impeller and she made me borrow more money to buy a replacement filter right then and luckily it was pratically 50% off, so I only owe her still 40$, it only happened a month ago.