So I just got an Emperor 280 and can't seem to get it going. It starts fine, sounds good. Then it seems to not pump enough water to keep itself going. It starts making noises, the wheel sputters and stops. If I pour more water in it, it'll go fine again. Then it drains itself and slows again.

What am I missing?

have you checked the impeller maybe it has something caught on it?

When you first start it, you may have to keep priming it for a while. I typically fill the filter box with water, then plug it in and then keep pouring water over the impellor area until it manages to clear the air that is caught in the intake tubes. It will change the sound it makes and take off like it should - just keep priming.

If that does not work then:
Sometimes the intake tube needs to be pulled up just a tad - to let the impellor settle into place properly. Check to see - push it down firmly into place. If the water does not go well, then ease the intake tube (impellor assembly) upwards just a smidge and it may take off.

Check to see if you have an air feature that is letting bubbles be sucked into the intake - that can break the flow and cause the pump to fail to pump.

Check to see that you have the water level high enough that it covers the joints in the intake tube. They may fit nicely, but they are not water/air tight. If the water level is below a joint, it will not start right.

Sometimes they can be finicky - but generally break in nicely. I have had one or two that are a bit touchy until I get the feel of them, the majority are carefree - even self-priming - and I had one that was made wrong and needed to be replaced.

(As mentioned above - occasionally you may find some mold flashing in various places that causes the filter to be less efficiant or not work properly. Simply carve the extra plastic off.)

So I did everything to it that I could think of...took it apart and put it back together about 10 times. Kept priming, but no success. I think I just had a lemon. The impeller looked okay, but just kept puttering out. I gave up and took it back to the store...swapped it for an identical one (though I was tempted toward the Penguins). Set that one up and it's off and running, no problemo.

There's some serious water movement around it now. Yay!

I dropped my old TopFin filter cartridge in it for now (in addition to the massive carbon one in there). I'm not cycled, but I figured that built up bac wouldn't hurt. Is that okay?

Glad you got it working, they are excellent filters!
And so much water action! >_> It almost looks as if the splash and output is bullying the top of the tank.
Anyway, the old filter cartridge is a good idea, I've done that with the two on my 40 gallon to kickstart the cycle!

Hope everything runs well and quickly for you. [:

Yep, the old filter cartridge is a good idea.

Also, did you leave the carbon in the new filter? If so, you may want to remove it. Carbon is mainly for removing meds, toxins, etc from the water. I never use carbon. I have a couple of Emporer 400s and when I put a new filter cartridge in I always dump out the carbon as it is generally not needed.

Congrats on the new filter! Glad ya got it running properly. Good luck with the cycle too!

So you swaped it out?

How much you wanna bet that eventually we will all be getting that filter? I swear - there is a single bad Emperor 400 floating around our area - it just keeps surfacing. I cut off some mold flashing on the one I got - to help fix it - and ended up taking it back and exchanging it. An aquaintance called up about a month later needing help with a new Emperor 400 - and sure as shootin' - it was the same unit. I would not doubt that they have sold it again - to some poor fishkeeper somewhere.

I have had the best track record with these filters - they last the longest and work the best as any I have had. But recently I have found a few that were a bit sloppy in "cleanup" after molding and did run into that LEMON of a unit.

I wonder if your lemon is my lemon? Or perhaps they are just going to have lives of their own, circulating through the fish world, driving fish keepers to distraction????

(Another reason why I ALWAYS sterilize my new equipment before use, too!!!!! )

The new one is working like a charm. I did have to spend time priming it tonight after a wc, which was a bit annoying (my old TopFin just got itself goin'). But it's a small price to pay for a much better filter.

And there's no way someone else can buy the one I took back -- I just shoved it in the box with frustration. And during the whole ordeal we sawed the extender tube in half... At least, I hope no one gets it!