Equipment Review and Discussion :: My Fluval 205 Stopped Working- Help Please

[gt5268]

Hi everyone.Okay a few weeks ago I bought a brand new fluval 205 canister filter.One day after I had cleaned it out and hooked it back up I noticed it was leaking water.I lifted up the filter to see if I could see where the leak was coming from.When I did that the intake tube came out and of course it stopped pumping.When I hooked it back up the filter stopped working.It will not pump the water at all.The motor works and the impeller turns.It will make an attempt to want to pump the water and then it will stop.It sounds and looks like to me that air is trapped somewhere in there.I don't know for sure.I have spent many hours trying to get it to work again but nothing- it will not pump the water!!! Has this ever happened to anyone?? Can I fix this probelm?? What can I do to fix it??
Please help as this filter cost me alot of money!! Thank You.

[Chrisbarnett]

Hmm. Have you checked everything to make sure there's nothing blocking water flow?

Also, What do you mean by stop? The motor just stops running?

But when priming the filter, do you fill the canister and the tubes with water? I find that filling both the canister and tubes helps greatly with my XP. See if that helps.

Also, when you start up the filter, try rocking and shaking if from side to side to get all the air out of the canister.

On to the leaking, make sure the seals are all seated properly, and the clips are on right. Thats usually what happens to make it leak. Also, you can try putting some Vaseline on the seal to help it actually seal.

[gt5268]

Hi.When I mean stop- the motor runs and the impeller will turn.It will make an attempt to want to pump the water and then yes it will stop- motor runs and impeller turns.Yes I have filled it with water to prime it and nothing.What I am doing wrong?? Can it be fixed?? I have shaked it a few times also to try to get any air that is trapped inside to come out.I don't see how by lifting it up it would stop pumping water?? I don't get it at all?? It is like it wants to pump the water but it will not.Thanks.

[Chrisbarnett]

That's weird that the motor would just stop running.

There are no aquastop valves or anything turned to stop water flow?

I think you should email Hagen and ask about your situation.

Heres a form to ask a question:
http://hagen-us.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/ha ... *&p_srch=1

[gt5268]

Hi.The motor does work- what I mean is that the filter will try to pump the water and then nothing- it will continue to do this- it will try to pump and then stop- but motor and impeller are working well.You know the sound a filter makes as it is about to pump the water into the chambers? It will make that sound very briefly giving me hope that now it will pump the water but it will not.Motor works and impeller work- they do not stop turning or working- the filter just will not pump the water.

[Chrisbarnett]

Oh okay
So how long are you letting it run for before unplugging it?


Also, just to be clear, when you fill the canister with water, do you keep pouring in water until the tubes are full of water? Usually that'll help it get going.

So one last thing, can you leave open where you are pouring in water to prime, so that when you turn on the filter, you can keep pouring water into the filter to hopefully get it going.

[gt5268]

I have let it sit for many hours and nothing.I have fixed the leak but still it will not pump any water into the chambers.Could it be the impeller is bad?? What do you think?? Maybe I will buy a new impeller.Has anyone had the same issue with a filter as me?? Thanks.

[Chrisbarnett]

So have you looked in at the impeller yet? Make sure it is seated properly, and is the right position. If that all checks out, and there are no aquastop valves closed, then my only thoughts now would be that yes, The Impeller assembly has gone to crap.

Before you buy a new impeller, I would email the guys at hagen asking your question and see what they say.

http://hagen-us.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/ha ... *&p_srch=1

There's a link to the form to ask them a question.

[gt5268]

Hi.Yes I checked the impeller and all looked good.I even cleaned it and like I said it does turn but maybe it is shot to hell.Even if the impeller turns it can still be crap right?? I will not bother to ask hagen about this.I will buy a new impeller tomorrow and see what happens.I will let you know.If that does not work then I guess the filter is shot to hell also and I will have to buy a new one.Man I hope it is not that!!! Thanks for your help.As always everyone on this site is great!!!

[Chrisbarnett]

Right even if the impeller turns it can still be crap.

But if you decide the filter is crap too, then at least go through the warranty service of Hagen to get a new one.

IMO, you should get your money back for the filter if possible and go buy a Rena Filstar XP1 or XP2. I love mine. Never had a problem with it.