Path: utzoo!hoptoad!ihnp4!att-ih!att-cb!cbosgd!ho95e!homxb!agd
From: agd@homxb.UUCP (A.DEACON)
Newsgroups: alt.aquaria
Subject: Re: motor burnout on AquaClear filters?
Summary: Burn out?
Message-ID: <1593@homxb.UUCP>
Date: 9 Apr 88 16:06:58 GMT
References: <363@bacchus.DEC.COM>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Holmdel
Lines: 31

In article <363@bacchus.DEC.COM>, reid@decwrl.dec.com (Brian Reid) writes:
> 
> I really like AquaClear power filters because they are so damn convenient and
> I'm always in a hurry. But I get real tired of having the motors burn out
> every time there is a 1-second power glitch. Has anybody else noticed this?
> All of my AquaClears fried their motors again today, so there must have been
> some kind of a power transient while I wasn't home.
> 
> A replacement motor costs almost as much as a new filter, alas.
> Meanwhile I use Magnum canister filters, quickly converted from diatom use to
> continuous use, but the fish cower in fear behind the rocks and decorations
> because of the huge flow rate of the Magnum pumps. Why are motors so hard?
> Why can't Magnum sell motors that run slower and why can't Hagen sell motors
> that don't burn out.

I have used an Aqua Clear for 2 years with no problems with the motor.
Take it back and ask for a replacement, they shouldn't go that quickly.
If that doesn't work, write directly to the importer.

While the Aqua Clears are easy to use, the are not optimal in terms of
filtering.  The "cartridge" form of the carbon and foam blocks allow
a significant amount of water to go around the cartridges.  If you want
a filter to hang on the tank, SUPREME make the best in my opinion.  It is
messier to use because you layer the filter stuff in the box, but it does
a much better job of cleaning the water and the motors are bears.

What size Magnum are you using on what size tank?  The flow rate of the filter
should be 3-5 times the volume of the tank per hour.

Art Deacon
homxb!agd