The Puffer Forum

today i turned off my AquaClear 50 filter to do a quick water change. when i turned it back on it started making a horrible grinding noise. i opened up the motor and noticed that the impeller won't stay down. every time i plug it in it runs okay for about 3 seconds and then pops up about an eighth of an inch and starts making the noise. it was an old filter that i had found in my basement about 2 weeks ago so the parts are very old. i cleaned it out and made sure no sand or debris was stuck in it. nothing. it also has a very rough feel when i pull the impeller out of the motor. do you think i just need a new impeller or a whole new motor and where can i get one other than online? would petsmart or petco sell them?

if the motor runs it's good. A new impeller would probably fix your problem. Have you tried cleaning the impeller and where the impeller goes?

yeah id try fully cleaning all the parts around it and the impeller itself first, its usually just a buildup of things that cause it to stop working...

yeah i cleaned it real good. right now it's better but still not sounding too good. if it starts doing it again i won't be able to get to a store for a day or two. if i make sure the filter stays filled with water will the good bacteria stay alive?

you could always drop some flakes or something directly into the filter to help keep them alive if you have to shut it down.

But since that seems to be the problem, Id go ahead and order a replacement and fix it asap before it tears something else up, or gets worse again.

Im assuming this isnt the only filter on the tank right

no i actually was in the process of filling this one up with good bacteria so i could take my other worse filter off. can i buy an impeller in a store or will i have to order it?

I'll bet anything a piece of sand got in there. Take out the impeller & rinse out the hole it goes into with strong water, whole holding it upside-down.

after trying what PP said, if that didnt work then you should be able to get it at a petsmart/petco kinda place. If not they are cheap online