Although otherwise the experiment is going well, the rio aqua 200 failed to start again after a power outage - or something. I came home and it was off. I just can't have that; this filter requires a gentle, but reliable, pump. Does anyone use a water pump for a planted tank or similar system. Any recommendations? I am rapidly getting fed up with this one; it seems altogether too finicky.

TIA!

Mary

Do you mean a HOB or internal filter?

Actually, neither. I mean an internal water pump, and I'm not awfully familiar with them; I got the rio aqua because Drs. Foster and Smith carries them and they have been a reliable seller. Also, the rio was the right size. Doc Tepper said I should look to turn over about 100 gph. There are one or two others that would seem to be the right size, but I don't know much about those internal pumps. I just know I'm fed up with this one.

Thanks for your response, BTW. I'll understand if you're as puzzled as I am. )

Eheim make a very high quality small submersible pump. You can check them out here.

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_powerh...ump.asp?CartId=

Thanks so much! I know Eheim are a respected manufacturer, and I may end up picking one up - the higher price will be well justified if it is quieter (in the case of the 600) and more reliable than what I have now. As it turns out, the rio pump needs frequent cleaning - I took it apart this a.m., because we had another minor power glitch, and it turns out the wheel in front of the impeller is coated with algae. So I'm going to try scrubbing the innards in tank water, as the man from Rio recommended, and see if that fixes my problem. I have the larger, noisy Rio 600 in there in the meantime, just to make sure the filter keeps going. I'll keep you posted, but I know people have generally been happy with Eheim canister filters, so, if the small pumps are as good, I should be okay-

It sounds to me like the perfect solution to your problem would be a simple small sponge pre-filter for your pump. If getting clogged up with algae is the problem you're having with the Rio pump, you're going to have the same problem with any brand of pump you use.

Yes, you're absolutely right, *if* that's the problem. I am not sure it is, because, the very first time we plugged it in, the Rio 200 did not start. It couldn't have been clogged by anything then.

But, since I have to do monthly water changes, monthly pump maintenance isn't going to bother me provided the pump is reliable at other times. I noticed the Eheim hobby pumps and a couple of others come with a sponge filter in front of the impeller - maybe that would also tend to make them more reliable than others that don't have the sponges?

Thanks again for the info. Although the 200 gph pump is too strong, I have not dared to switch the rio 200 back in because it's just been too touchy. Will try it tonight, though.

You can cut down on the amount of water any pump moves by increasing the head height.