whisper filter

[mary50]

I was given a whisper filter unit with an aquarium with no directions on how to hook it up. I set up the tank with an ugf unit about a year ago and that has been fine until about a week ago when I started losing fish. I have this whisper unit that I thought I would hook up along with the ugf but have no idea on which one I have nor how to hook it up. Can someone please help me. Thanks

 

[mfdrookie516]

what dont you understand? the way it goes together or how it works? do you have any pictures of it for id?

 

[thominil]

The intake should be a "U" like shape. One end of the "U" will be smaller than the other. On this end, attach the small pipes and strainer. On the other end, it should be wide and have a spot for the impeller to attach to. The impeller will have a rubber stopper on each end of a metal rod with a silver magnet and a piece of blue plastic with arms sticking out in the middle. On the fat end of the "U", stick the rubber stopper with the blue plastic with arms up into a small hole in the center. Stick the end with the impeller assembly into the hole located in the well on the right side of the filter. Fill the wells up with water and plug it in. You will need to buy filter cartridges for it, and the size you need should be listed somewhere on the filter. Stick the cartridge in the slots on the left side of the filter. You should also have a piece of foam in a plastic frame. Stick this in front of the cartridge with the side that has all the squares facing the cartridge. Hope this helps.

They do work decently, but IMO they aren't the best. Might want to switch to an Aquaclear filter or something else.

 

[mary50]

thanks for the replies. I think I figured out how to put it together. now my question is can I hook it up along with the ugf?

Thanks Mary

 

[mary50]

ok I'm not going to use the whisper filter I have cause I just figured out the thing leaks where the piece attached to the power cord is. Is this a easy fix or should I just get another filter unit? If I get another filter unit any suggestions on which one I should get to work with the ugf unit I already have in the tank.
Thanks Mary

 

[jim692]

Mary,
Do you test your water for ammonia, nitrite or nitrate?

Also how was your under gravel (UG) filter hooked up before?

A new filter for the tank will depend on the tank size and stocking level.
How do you have your tank set up?

Here are some articles to help out.

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/articl...le-/Page1.html

Aquarium Nitrogen cycle and cycling. Methods for ammonia, nitrite removal.

Beginner FAQ: Water Chemistry

BioFiltration

 

[FishCrazyBenBOMB]

I strongly suggest just removing the UG filter from the tank, they are ot very effiecent and can cause large amounts ammonia and such to spike, which causes fish to die.

 

[mary50]

the ugf was hooked up according to the directions. I have a 30 gallon tank and right now all thats in it is an algae eater which is big, a strawberry neon, and a something guami which is also pretty big now. I do check the water with the 6 in 1 test strips and do the water changes at least twice a month.

 

[mary50]

if I decide to take the ugf out how do I do this? I have fish in the tank. do I simply replace the ugf unit with another filter and all will be good? What about the cyling?
thanks mary

 

[jim692]

I would test the water asap to make sure you don't have a problem there. The strip tests can be very inaccurate especially as they age. Most use a liquid test kit like the API freshwater master test kit to get good accurate readings.
Freshwater Master Test Kit - API

If you want a replacement HOB filter for that tank I would go with an aquaclear 50 at least.
Aqua Clear Hang-On-Back Power Filter, UL Listed

When you say the UG filter was hooked up according to it's directions, were you using the HOB filter intake on it's tube, a bubbler, or a power head?

Here is a good link on various aquarium filters and how they work.
Aquarium Filtration; UGF, HOB, Sponge, Internal, Canister, Wet-Dry & more.

 

[mfdrookie516]

mary, if its leaking where it plugs in, its really easy to actually take off the motor, make sure the o-ring is on right, or maybe it just needs pushed back up in to the filter body better... i used to have one and mine did that occasionally

 

[mary50]

I have air stones in the tubes. No other filter unit has been used with the ugf. I'd like to leave in the ugf and just hook up another one with it. Would that be okay to do?
Thanks Mary

 

[FishCrazyBenBOMB]

You don't have to hook up another filter to it, which seems like thats what your stuck on. You can just run another HOB filter, or internal filter with it, but not actually hooked up with it. There are also people that hook up Power heads to UG filters for extra power, but yet again I strongly suggest just getting rid of your UG filter.

 

[jim692]

Leave the ug filter alone for now. It's your tanks bio filter. I would get the hob filter you have running on the tank with the ug or get a new hob and have that run with the ug for 4-6 weeks until it is well established. Then you can decide if you want to take out the ug filter or not.
Do regular water changes and test your tank water for ammonia and nitrites to make sure that's not what killed your other fish.

P.S> go lite on the feedings until your filtration gets better.

 

[FishCrazyBenBOMB]

I'm just saying you need to look into getting rid of it in the near future. They are inefficient. They just pile up waste underneath your gravel until you use a gravel vac to get it out. All that waste just blends in with your water and is not good for your fish. Power filters, canister filters, and HOB internal filters all have stages the waste goes through to produce cleaner water.

Yes leave it alone for now and get a different kind of filter running on that tank as soon as you possible can. Once your new filter as been running for about a month, remove the UG filter.

 

[mary50]

Another question. I,ve seen the power heads and was wondering if I added those to the tubes on my ugf unit would I still want to hook up another filter unit? I'm not sure how they work but it says to be used with the ugf. And would I want two of them or just one? Since I have a 30 gallon tank would I get two 15 to total 30 or get two 30's? I just don't want to lose the three fish I have left. I plan to get more fish once I get the filter decision answered.
Thanks Mary

 

[mfdrookie516]

i think youre making this too difficult for yourself. what makes you so sure that the ugf is the reason your fish are dead? Ive not seen your water parameters listed, can you provide those?

 

[mary50]

according to the dip stick test
nitrate 40
nitrites .5
soft water
alk 80
also use the ph test which is 7.8

 

[mfdrookie516]

is there any way you can take a sample of your water to your lfs and have them test it? since test strips are innacurate at best, its hard to say whether the nitrite reading is accurate, also hard to say without an ammonia reading. i would suggest doing a few 50% pwc's and seeing what happens... if the ugf has worked for you this far, it could be something else causing the fish deaths... jmo

 

[Aquarium1]

really you shouldn't have any nitrites, also those dip tests are inaccurate. Its best if you could get a liquid test kit, and as soon as possible.