Filter Has Fried! What do I do!

[swankyspoon]

I have an empty cycled 10 g Freshwater tank. I was planning to buy four guppies today (to be followed eventually by a Nerite snail). Before I bought the guppies, I wanted to do a massive water change to get Nitrate levels down. When I was about done clearing out water. My filter stopped pumping (Aqueon 20), andnow just makes a whirring sound. I took the filter cartridge and put it in the water (I seem to remember that you are supposed to do that. Now what do I do? I assume I should buy a new filter/pump. Can I still get the fish today, or should I wait? Should I turn off the filter? Is leaving the filter cartridge in the water the right thing to do to save the good bacteria?

Thanks in advance!

 

[swankyspoon]

Wait now it's working again! Hurray! Seems the water lever too low and the messed up pump!

 

[tarpon]

Dont run it dry like that it can burn up the motor

 

[tarpon]

Ohh and before you start it again you have to prime it by pouring tank water where the cartridges are