Make sure you fit it back together properly and then remove the pipe work and clear out the water. Make sure the impeller underneath the guard on the underside of the motor head is not blocked, clogged, damaged or unseated in anyway. You may need to remove the impeller and shaft and replace this as this may be slowing the flow.
- Switch off your head unit by the plug and switch off the UV light by the head switch;
- Shut the water flow off by using the lever on the hose taps adaptor. This will prevent water from escaping and leaking from the hose;
- To be safe, we recommend putting the filter inside a large bucket or tub and using a towel to protect from water spillage;
- Completely fill the filter canister of the filter up to the top with your tank water and then push the head unit on and secure. You will have a lot of spillage so make sure you only do this in a tub;
- Use the plunger quickly and it will start to siphon;
- Switch on the power and the unit should prime itself;
- Use the plunger again a few more times. Then lift the unit whilst it is running and tilt it side to side toward the outlet tap gently to release any air locks which may have formed. Make sure you still have the bucket underneath you.
Please ensure the media is fitted in the following order. For best results do not overstock each tray.
Top - Carbon and a layer of foam
Middle - Bio balls and layer of foam
Bottom - Ceramic rings and layer of foam
Once this is complete, follow the below instructions:
- The plastic pipework and screw-heads attached to the green pipes are tightened and fully connected.
- The tap connections are also tightened and correctly installed.
- All black pipework is fully submerged in the fish tank (water level MUST be high enough to fully cover the inlet and outlet pipes and any joints they have).
- The tap is fully inserted into the filter before opening the tap and locking in place.
- The filter is located underneath the fish tank with the green pipes as straight as possible minimising any bends.
- When compressing the large button on the filter is there any water movement? You can test for suction by placing your finger underneath the black plastic inlet pipe in the water.
- Prior to priming, please ensure the filter is filled as high as possible with aquarium water for ease of use.
If you follow the above instructions correctly you should feel some suction. It may be necessary to firmly press the plunger down a few times to get the priming function flowing. Once this has begun you should notice your pipes filling with water and the filtration process will initialise.
If the above instructions fail to work, please switch off your head unit by the plug and switch off the UV light by the head switch. Then shut the water flow off by using the lever on the hose taps adaptor. This will prevent water from escaping and leaking from the hose. To be safe, put the filter inside a large bucket or tub and using a towel to protect from water spillage. Completely fill the bucket up to the top with your tank water and then push the head unit on and secure. You will have a lot of spillage so make sure you only do this in a tub.
Switch on the power and the unit should prime itself - use the plunger if necessary. Then lift the unit whilst running and tilt side to side toward the outlet tap gently to release any air locks which may have formed. Make sure you still have the bucket underneath you. Our External Filter Set Up Guide Extended video has some fantastic troubleshooting advice starting from 5.30 minutes. It will explain what we have written above and show you how to access these parts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xNoRZBr8jM&index=9&list=PLMVbolUesOM0QV0LZVUds87bRTYvYBdFR
If this does not resolve the issue, please do not hesitate to contact our Customer Service team.