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9 YEARS!

My mother called today and said that it had finally died.

I'm pretty impressed! I mean, granted its sounded a bit rough the last few years, but still thats pretty impressive! I sent mum off to just buy a brand new one. Probably could have just gotten a new motor, but they had nothing for the interim, so a new one it is

I just wanted to give the old AC300 a good send-off, and welcome the new AC300 to the family

And the question:
Is the body of an old AC the same as a new AC? is it worth keeping?

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

I believe the bodies are the same as well as the other parts. The only change appears to be a change in nomenclature and in packaging ceramic bio material to the new units in the colonies.

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

So I'm guessing if it lasted nine years I can put away the catalogues then.
I was thinking about getting a Rena XP 1 when my AC 50 conks out. That may be never!

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus

You sure it conked out? It could probably be fixed!

Grab yerself a bottle of vinegar, pull the whole filter apart (pump off body, impellor out of pump), get yerself a bowl, fill the bowl with vinegar, drop the impellor in the bowl of vinegar. Set the pump upright, fill the impellor shaft w/vinegar. You might wanna give the body a good cleanin' while yer at it too... sinkful of hot water and a cup or so of vinegar... soak the filter body in that. Let it all soak for a couple hours... give it all a good scrubbing Take it all out, rinse it with cold water, put it back together, and give 'er a test run in a bucket

I've got a "Secondnature Whisper Filter" that is AT LEAST 13-14 years old... probably older, and it's still running great (on my 2 gal sw nano tank). I just give it a vinegar wash every time it starts going weird or slowing down (I do that to all of my filters)... still goin' strong

Good Luck

nah, definately dead.

It got impeller cleaning every 8 weeks, housing and impeller, and there was no buildup that would hinder it. Going strong (albeit a bit noisy) til the day it died.

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

Without getting too technical Calla,

What were the indications that it was on its way out and how did it die? Like did it all of a sudden just stop?

An avid AC lover,

Ingo

---

Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

To be honest I don't know, but from the rough sound of the motor over the last 12 months I've been expecting it to die.

Its on my parents display tank, and has had a bit of rough treatment over the years where its been turned off at night and started dry (well, the impeller *just* covered) and then its run pretty much constantly for the last 5 years

I'll find out the specifics of the death in about 24 hours for you
Be interested to know myself really, might disassemble the motor and have a looksee at what wear there is after all this time


For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

Hi,
If I remember these filters, they are remarkably quiet
as long as the impeller and its bearings are in good
condition. When you turn off the filter(?) the water
drains back into the tank. If the drain back leaves
the impeller dry, you need to add a cup of water
to the basket and then the vacuum of the impeller draws
the water from the tank back into the filter and it
runs again. The only time I ever had any problems was
after a power outtage when the pump ran dry for hours
before I got home and discovered the problem. That wore
out the bearings and the impeller rattled within the
pump housing creating a most disagreeable noise.

I replaced the impeller and the filter is still working
13+ years later. Snails and sand, and pieces of gravel
are a real problem with these filters as they can ruin
the impeller, or its bearings.

Frank

-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

I've got a "Secondnature Whisper Filter" that is AT LEAST 13-14 years old

I hear ya I have two whisper 5's, and two whisper 3's from medevial times that still run! I've opted to switch 'em out for bio-wheels, but they were working fine when i replaced them. I have them still as standbys

Aye, Timmy, they're good

Any idea round'bouts the time they started and stopped making them? Just so I can get some idea how old this thing might be?

All I know is that we've always had it... as far as I know, it could be older than me... I don't remember us ever buying it, we just always have had it

I still got one of my first power filters from way back when... a little noisy but still works.

As for the AC bodys... they are slightly different! I don't know if the new pump will fit into an old body or vise versa, but the containers are slightly new.