my filter is just dripping out water....so i took it apart and cleaned out the intake tube....replaced the filter media and clean out the filter sponge byt nothing has change so what could it be??? i need help quick



many thanks Fishcrazy

What kinda filter is it?

What type of filter is it (make and model)? Hopefully somebody who's familiar with the same filter you have will be able to help you fishcrazy. Without knowing the filter type... I'd say most filters have an impeller, sometimes that and/or the impeller shaft gets all gunged up. Check that - it may just need cleaning out. There is usually a little cover you take off and than you can remove the impeller - it's held in by a magnet and just pulls out, clean that off and clean the shaft out as it may be blocked up (this restricts the movement of the impeller and hence the flow) Not all filters run like this though, check yours. Does this sound familiar for your filter?

Edit: Posted same time as Fred!

Whisper 40-20 gallon

and thanks for posting

Did you manage to get it sorted in the end?

I'm not familiar with Wispers as they're not really sold in the UK. I know lot's of members on here have Wispers though so hopefully someone can help you

no not yet

Oh dear, does it have an impeller? Did you try cleaning that out? That's one of the most common causes of reduced flow rates

Try removing the motor from the bottom by twisting it 90 degrees away from the filter chamber. Using a q-tip and a drinking straw, clean out any gunk in the motor and clean the impeller thoroughly. Hold the impeller by the rubber end caps and spin the magnet. Does the impeller spin freely? If not, clean any hairlike material from the shaft of the impeller. Soak the impeller in white distilled vinegar for 4 hours and rinse well. If that doesn't help, try rinsing the blades under a jet of tap water to "unlock" the impeller. The motor is obviously running, or it wouldnt have any water coming from it at all. How old is it? If it is less than 2 years old, then call or email Tetra/UPG and tell them what is happening. They will walk you step by step through the processes of fixing it, and may express ship you a new tube bag (new intake tube with extensions, flow control, and impeller). Hope this helps!!

Daniel

I don't think reduced flow rate is the problem - the filter itself is leaking from somewhere.....

Fishcrazy, can you pinpoint from where the water is leaking? Out from where the impeller part is, or from the back somewhere? I don't have any whisper filters, but my aquaclear are pretty much built the same. Could it be that the rubbery connection where the impeller housing meets the plastic from the filter doesn't have the washer anymore, or the rubbery part has a hairline split somewhere? That would be the only place I would suspect leaking, except if the filterl media is extremely gunked up, and water overflows from the back of the filter. But you said you washed the media and it still leaks, so I don't think it is that.

If you call Tetra and tell them that the rubber o-ring around the motor of your whisper is leaking, they will send you a new one free of charge, no matter how old the unit is. They recently sent me two o-rings for my SecondNature power filter, made back in the early 90's. That may fix your problem.

update:

there was java moss around the impeller

and now it is running

but there is a big humming noise it is really loud....

So the filter wasnt pumping water then? It wasnt actually leaking was it? My wisper on the 18 gallon was actually leaking. I just put a bunch of silicone on the o ring. now its leak free

As for the noise, my wisper 60 on the 30 gallon has been really loud too. I just put a rock on top of it and now its quiet

well the humming went down........

i need to find a big rock......i think my cat will knock it down.....

Yeah, the cat might be a problem. Tape usually works pretty good though.

duck tape

its actually not "duck" tape...its DUCT tape... Just thought I would let ya know...