Ok, I gave up and removed all the bioballs from my tank when the pump chamber went dry again. Should I just leave this tank empty or add lr rubble, or try some kind of charcol filter or chemi-pure? It seems to me that I need something to filter debris out of the water. Debris is floating around and is distracting from my tank. I would like to see the water cystal clear. This has really been a headache and would like for some help in solving this problem, once and for all. Thanks!
FOLLOW-UP ON FILTER PROBLEM WITH BIOCUBE
- Thread starter JDSmith
- Start date
I'm new to the hobby but heres what I've done and my tank seems pretty happy. I removed the ceramic cylinders and the bioballs. Kept the sponge and I clean it out weekly. I put in a half unit of Chemi-pur. OH yeah I filled the chambers that use to hold the ceramic and bioballs with LR rubble. My tank is crystal clear. ;-)
Good luck.
Good luck.
BC29 Filter
I set my BC29 up two weeks ago an have been having the same problem intermittently. At first I just kept cleaning the white pre-filter which would allow enough water flow to keep the pump chamber full. Well, after a lot of debris and sand being caught and cleaning the filter several times it started to get chewed up. This morning the pump started to run dry again so I went and bought a new pack of filters. I put a new filter in and the pump runs completely dry right away so I am baffled. Cleaning the filter has worked so far so how can a brand new filter make the problem worse?
Well, after cleaning the blue filter, moving all the live rock ruble away from the exit of chamber two, etc. I started moving the filter around in chamber one. Basically what is happening is the filter sits so close to the divider between chamber one and two that it causes suction or reversion, some kind of pressure build up which doesn't allow the water to pass through. Looking from the front of the tank, the filter slides in to two vertical grooves facing perpendicular to the front of the tank. You can slide the filter to the left of the two grooves and you can actually feel it suck up against the divider and stop water flow completely. If you place the filter to the right of the two vertical grooves it leaves a little more space between the filter and divider. The water still flows through the filter and doesn't create all the pressure build up, problem solved. Try it out, it is working for me.
I set my BC29 up two weeks ago an have been having the same problem intermittently. At first I just kept cleaning the white pre-filter which would allow enough water flow to keep the pump chamber full. Well, after a lot of debris and sand being caught and cleaning the filter several times it started to get chewed up. This morning the pump started to run dry again so I went and bought a new pack of filters. I put a new filter in and the pump runs completely dry right away so I am baffled. Cleaning the filter has worked so far so how can a brand new filter make the problem worse?
Well, after cleaning the blue filter, moving all the live rock ruble away from the exit of chamber two, etc. I started moving the filter around in chamber one. Basically what is happening is the filter sits so close to the divider between chamber one and two that it causes suction or reversion, some kind of pressure build up which doesn't allow the water to pass through. Looking from the front of the tank, the filter slides in to two vertical grooves facing perpendicular to the front of the tank. You can slide the filter to the left of the two grooves and you can actually feel it suck up against the divider and stop water flow completely. If you place the filter to the right of the two vertical grooves it leaves a little more space between the filter and divider. The water still flows through the filter and doesn't create all the pressure build up, problem solved. Try it out, it is working for me.
I have the BC29 and had that problem at first also. I took out the stock filter completely. I use a poly filter sheet I get from my lfs. I just cut it to size and set it on my overflow tray. I also cut the plastic on the right hand side where the water comes into the middle chamber out to make it straight all the way across. The water level in your 3rd chamber will be over max but that is ok. You can take out your bioballs too. If you do not clean them regularly they become nitrate traps. I use some live rubble in my middle and first chambers in place of the bioballs. I also have a bag of carbon and purigen in my first compartment to help clean the water.
FILTRATION OF BIOCUBE
Thanks, this sounds like it might solve the problem. I have always thought that the opening looked too small, but who am I to judge what I thought were experienced people with designing these tanks. I can handle this solution. I will let you know what happens.
Many, many thanks,
J.D.
Thanks, this sounds like it might solve the problem. I have always thought that the opening looked too small, but who am I to judge what I thought were experienced people with designing these tanks. I can handle this solution. I will let you know what happens.
Many, many thanks,
J.D.