Help! Filter won't startup after cleaning!

[kthorsteinson]

Hi all,

I recently started up an aquarium less than 3 months ago. I'm using a Fluval Powerhead 20 for my 10 Gallon aquarium. I did my first filter cleaning, and lo and behold the filter didn't start up when I plugged it back in. I tried cleaning the motor, but it still isn't working- in fact the motor is actually spinning around, but there is no suction through the intake. Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[twoodrough]

This may sound very obvious - but is the filter filled with water? One of my first newby things I learned is some filters won't work unless there is enough water in the tank and the filter.

 

[BeavisMom62]

I'm not familiar with that kind of filter, I have Aqua-Techs and an Emperor 400. But Ive had that happen before with mine and what happened was the intake tube wasn't properly seated in the impeller. If a powerhead is like my kind of filters, try pushing the intake tube down to make sure that it makes contact with the impeller.

twood, I made that mistake as a newbie too! Listening to the motor almost grinding, scares the crap out of ya! Then add water and go, DOH!

 

[kthorsteinson]

Thank you!! When I put water in the filter the first time, I guess there wasn't enough. I filled it the second time, and voila!