is pump overworked?

[Jackie1966]

or just quiet?

I have Juwel Rekord 600 tank, bought 10 years ago, I like to fill up to the bottom of the lid so I can't see anything but water where it meets the lid... this is still below the max fill line however when I do fill to the level I want my air pump goes very quiet and I think could be labouring to work properly.
I was thinking of getting a new powerhead soon though getting one for this old set up is out since they updated the design a wee bit, I would need to buy all the bits to change it all to fit what houses the filter/pump lol
I do ramble and repeat sorry in advance lol

advice appreciated
should I just save up and get the new bits or shut up and put up with the inch of light between the water and hood?

 

[Demonknight]

guessing you have a undergravel filter?. or sponge?...either way if you are still getting a good amount of bubbles the pump should be fine, if the bubbles stop or slow then the pumps working hard/stopped and needs replaced with a larger one.

 

[Jackie1966]

guessing you have a undergravel filter?. or sponge?...either way if you are still getting a good amount of bubbles the pump should be fine, if the bubbles stop or slow then the pumps working hard/stopped and needs replaced with a larger one.

hi, thanks for reply

its an integrated spongey filter/pump, sits at the back corner of the tank, all hidden away

the bubbles do reduce to nil when I fill the tank with just a tr very slow movement of water, the pump sounds like its stopping, very quiet though but its supposed to be quiet lol, just not that whispery, I will see what strength this one is and try to get next power head up to get my bubbles back

or buy and external filter to get bubbles at the other end of the tank

not sure yet if I can put an external link in my posts but if you look it up its a Juwel Rekord 600, I looked at a few adverts and all the water levels are hidden from view not with water levels an inch below the hood

 

[Demonknight]

ah I see, thats a bit different than i've seen before,. as long as the powerhead is pushing water thru the filter yous hould be fine, air is optional and i seldom have it running air through mine (to much noise), might check that the air tube is nice and tightly fitting and the end is above the water line.

 

[BillD]

having looked at the Juwel site, it is unclear where the bubbles are coming from. The filter uses a pump for it's operation. I would disagree with some of the info given with regard to maintenance of the filter. Cleaning the sponge once a year, and the large pore sponges once every 3 months, will cause a slow flow. They do advocate a slow flow, but a few "gentle squeezes" will not clean the sponge, even if you have changed the pads weekly as recommended. Before you add or change anything, I would give the filter elements a good cleaning in tank water. by vigorously squeezing the sponges until the solid material is removed. A plugged biomedia does not work well if there isn't enough movement of oxygen rich water through the element. The nitrifying bacteria do not consume the solid debris trapped in the filter. This is done by heterotrophic bacteria which compete for available oxygen with the nitrifying bacteria. Having the elements cleaner (through more frequent cleanings) allows for better water flow and will reduce nitrate levels by removing the solid material before they can decompose. A good cleaning of the pump assembly might also be in order. You should be able to fill the tank completely, but do try these things before adding something you may not need.

 

[Jackie1966]

the bubbles come out of the tube thats attached to the pump, have went a bit mental and took loads of pictures of the pump in the tank with lid off lol, showing with bubbles and topped up to show no bubbles, the plants and food still have a wee bit of movement when tank filled to max line and all went quiet, like earily quiet lol, not used to that, think its still working okay but I want bubbles so will buy a wee cheap out of tank pump one and have airstone somewhere for stream will upload pictures when I have time

hope I am not boring anyone with with my chit

oh I squash/swish the rubbish out of the sponges in the tank water I remove and been doing all of them weekly recently but the bottom one which I do every other month, at the minute I am doing about 25% water changes every other day (had a wee bit bother with slightly high ammonia, lost my 7 year old red tailed black shark after adding a couple of new guppies recently grrrrrr) but I think thats a whole other thread

 

[BillD]

I'm still trying to figure where the bubbles are coming from. My guess is that when the water level is low, air is drawn into the filter and that is the source of the bubbles. A tank does not need an air bubbler to function properly.

 

[Jackie1966]

ah I see what you mean now, there is a wee piece of flexi tube that comes out of the top of the pump/tank and that take in the air for the bubble stream


edited to add that the flexi tubing is always out of the water/tank, never below although as you say when the water covers the actual pump== that is when the bubbles reduce to nil and the pump flow just moves the water

 

[Jackie1966]

I'm still trying to figure where the bubbles are coming from. My guess is that when the water level is low, air is drawn into the filter and that is the source of the bubbles. A tank does not need an air bubbler to function properly.

hi, thanks again
I tried to send bucket link in thank you post but dont think there was room for it all, lol, here I will get slapped now I bet
link to show where I get my bubbles, hopes its clearer then
<a href="fishtank pictures by jackiem34 - Photobucket" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v315/jackiem34/fishtank/pumphead-bubbles-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[BillD]

Okay, now I see it uses a venturi to add bubbles by drawing in air to the pump. Many powerheads also do this. Still, it isn't necessary that it work. It is possible that somewhere between the airline and where the air enters the water stream you have a restriction that could be cleaned. Alternatively the pump cavity could have a buildup of debris that is slowing the pump, or the impeller or the shaft it runs on could be worn, reducing the pumps power. Only a dismantling, cleaning, and inspection of all the pump components will tell you if there is a problem. Regardless, this is not an insurmountable problem. Since the pump is still moving water it is working in at least some capacity, so, you need to inspect and find the exact deficiency and correct it. Sometimes little issues such as an impeller hole that is worn off centre, or enlarged will cause a serious decrease in efficiency.

 

[Jackie1966]

thanks again

I left the tank overnight with the water up to just below the max line, it looked great and very quiet but this morning all my fish were up at the surface gulping so I felt I had to remove a bit of the water volume again so back to the start lol
I was in my pet shop today and priced up a new airstoney outside pump thing so will be saving my pennies to get one so I can get my bubbles back
also have cleaned and had a good look at the powerhead, I cant see anything wrong but its old so will be looking to renew that as well, my fish deserve it

 

[Jackie1966]

been thinking again and the pump does fail a bit when its covered with water but also wondered if adding outlet pipe to make it back near the surface when its filled to where it should be would get my bubbles back, extending the lengeth or the outlet so it reaches the new water level? any thoughts welcome
Juwel Diversion Nozzle Set for all Juwel Filter - Garden Site - your online Garden Centre

could add this onto existing pipe

cut a piece of the hosing from old gravel filter/hoover and pushed it into pump adding one of the black parts to the join, it slightly turned the hosing upward so whoohoo I added more water and it has worked as I wanted, should have thought of this ages ago but will see how the fish are in the morning, if they are not gasping or floating on top I will pat myself on the back