water flow after cleaning the filter

After cleaning the filter, the water is not flowing properly. How should I trouble shoot this?

A: The best way to troubleshoot a filter is to start by reading through the Q&A's already posted, especially those in the performance section. Most of the time when flow is reduced after cleaning it has more to do with poor siphoning from the aquarium on restart or air leaks into the system which do not allow for good flow through the filter which starves the pump and causes reduced flow. Specific places to look for problems:

1. Inlet side above the water line where two pieces connect together.


2. Small cracks in any of the inlet pieces


3. Leaks around the tubing connections


4. Leaks around the Quick Disconnect O-rings or poorly seated and/or broken Quick Disconnect


5. Air being sucked into the system from an aerator or waterfall


6. Improper restart of filter after cleaning ie. starting with water in the canister


7. Older filters may need new Orings and/or rotor/impeller

It is easy to identify if you have poor priming and/or flow. If you restart your filter in the proper manner with an empty canister, you should not have an air pocket in the top of the canister. If you do, then this tells you the filter is not priming properly. If an air pocket appears in the top of the canister after a few days, then this tells you a small air leak is allowing air to mix with water as it is being drawn from the tank. This air will build up over time and eventually your filter will not have enough water in the rotor impeller chamber to pump and it will either run hot and quit or you will burn up the motor.