How to Troubleshoot an Aquatech Filter & Aquarium

Aquarium keeping can be relaxing and provide entertainment as well. Like any hobby, it does have its problems. You can have a leaking aquarium or cloudy water. A leaking aquarium can be fixed, but a tank with cloudy water will require a little more work. Several problems that can lead to a cloudy aquarium. Most of these can be remedied with simple procedures and maintenance.

Things You'll Need

  • Dry cloth
  • Dip net
  • Large bowl
  • Hose
  • Extra tank
  • Silicon
  • Small Phillip's head screwdriver
  • Pump diaphragms
  • Charcoal filter cartridge replacements
  • Airstone replacements
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Instructions

  1. Leaking Aquarium

    • 1

      Examine the tank thoroughly. Wipe the tank with a dry cloth at all joints. This will allow you to know where the leak is located.

    • 2

      Use a bowl to take out some of the water. You will put the fish in here to hold them until you transfer the water to the other tank. Catch and dip out the fish with the net. Put them in the bowl with the tank water.

    • 3

      Drain the tank by using the hose as a syphon into the other tank. This works best when the empty tank is lower than the full tank. Allow the whole tank to drain. You want to save this water since the fish are acclimated to it already.

    • 4

      Place the fish in the other tank with the old water.

    • 5

      Empty all of the gravel and the underground filter out of the tank you just dried. Dry the tank completely.

    • 6

      Run a small bead of caulk over the area where the leak was located. Press your finger over the bead to spread it out and force it into the leaking area. Allow to dry. Do not put the fish into the tank for at least ten days. This will allow the fumes to dissipate and will not harm the fish.

    • 7

      Return the under-gravel filter and the gravel to the tank. Dip water into the bowl and catch all of the fish from the other tank.

    • 8

      Use a pitcher to return the water to the tank from the holding tank. You may have to add some fresh distilled water at the end. Return the fish to the original tank.

    Troubleshooting Cloudy Water

    • 9

      Examine all of the parts of the filtration system. Start with the pump. Is the pump working properly? Remove the bottom of the air pump and examine the diaphragms. Check for tears or whether the rubber diaphragms are even on the cylinder inside the pump. If there is an issue with a tear in the diaphragm, replace it. This is done by unscrewing the old diaphragm with a small Phillip's head screwdriver. Attach the new diaphragm and place it over the cylinder. You will notice and increase in bubbles through the filtration system. This can clear the water because you will have better circulation.

    • 10

      Examine the under-gravel filtration system. If you have already exchanged the diaphragm in the pump, your airstones may be no good. Remove the cap of the under-gravel filter tube. They are located in the corners at the back. Pull the sandstone off and replace them with new stones. Place them back into the tank.

    • 11

      Examine the tank. If the water still has not cleared your problem is with the charcoal cartridges. Reach into the tank. The cartridges are on the top of the tubes located in the corners. Pull them off and place the new ones on the tubes. This will remove any impurities in the water after a couple of days.

    • 12

      Examine the tank. If it still has not cleared, you will have to do a full water change. This is a last resort since the fish are already acclimated to their particular water. You will need to buy distilled water equal to the size of your tank. Tap water will kill the fish because of the chlorine level. Remove all the water with the syphon until there is about 1/4 of the water in the tank left. Add the new water. Make sure that the water is at the same temperature as the water you have removed. Otherwise, the fish could go into shock and die.