Not Going Well

[sueandherzoo]

I'm so tired I can't see straight and guess I better call in sick tomorrow because I think I have a crisis on my hands. I'm taking my first stab at a salt water tank and bought a Marinelife Instant Ocean 12 gallon set up. I've done my homework and research and decided tonight was the night to go buy some "live" rocks and live sand and set it up. Spent several hours getting everything just right and when I plugged in the pump/filter, it doesn't work. The propeller spins but not consistently and regardless of how long I've played with it I can't get water to flow through. So I have sand, base rocks, live rocks, salt solution, etc. all in the tank but no way to get things moving! I can't take the unit back because the tank is full of goodies but I need a functioning pump! Any ideas what I can do? I doubt ***** is going to take back only the defective part of a package - they'll want the whole thing back! This is NOT going well so far. Sorry I didn't take the time to introduce myself - I'm just so tired and frustrated and worried - I need to find a solution. I need to sleep!
Sue

 

[flricordia]

You should jsut go ahead and take it back. What kind of goodies in it make it not possible to take back? As for the LR and sand it will be fine in a plastic tupperware or buckets for a few days. You are going to need to cycle it anyway so a few days in containers will not hurt the 2-4 week cycle you will need to do before adding any livestock.
Is this the only nano tank availabe locally? I have looked them over myself and to be honest with you and I think most would agree, unless you are plannig on just keeping a couple fish, it is not adequite for a reef. The lighting is no good and the filteration lacks.
You might do better to get a 10gl tank and buy lighting, filteration separate. Unless a couple fish is all you are planning on keeping as I said before. Another thing, it isn't going to take long to scratch that tank up.
Maybe buy a 20gl glass tank and a Maxijet 900, place the LR and LS with mixed water in and a heater and while it is cycling you can be getting your lighting and filteration together. No rush needed to cycle it and doesn't need lighting during this time.

 

[gmann1139]

Originally Posted by SueAndHerZoo
http:///forum/post/2715010
I'm so tired I can't see straight and guess I better call in sick tomorrow because I think I have a crisis on my hands. I'm taking my first stab at a salt water tank and bought a Marinelife Instant Ocean 12 gallon set up. I've done my homework and research and decided tonight was the night to go buy some "live" rocks and live sand and set it up. Spent several hours getting everything just right and when I plugged in the pump/filter, it doesn't work. The propeller spins but not consistently and regardless of how long I've played with it I can't get water to flow through. So I have sand, base rocks, live rocks, salt solution, etc. all in the tank but no way to get things moving! I can't take the unit back because the tank is full of goodies but I need a functioning pump! Any ideas what I can do? I doubt ***** is going to take back only the defective part of a package - they'll want the whole thing back! This is NOT going well so far. Sorry I didn't take the time to introduce myself - I'm just so tired and frustrated and worried - I need to find a solution. I need to sleep!
Sue
I'm not sure if the 12 is like the 6, or like the 29, so I'm going to give you two sets of troubleshooting steps:
A. If the powerhead can be detached from the unit, like the 29:
1. I've found this pump can't always prime itself. YOu may need to detach it, dip it in water until it starts pumping, then put it back.
2. That's the only problem I've had with this type of filter.
B. If the powerhead is built into the filter:
1. Detach the long tube. There should be a short tube that connects to the rest of the unit. Remove that and look inside.
2. Pull out the small impeller. Look it over, make sure there's nothing wrapped around it. Rinse it off, and put it back.
3. Hook up the filter and let it run for up to five minutes. It may sound awful, but its priming itself. Once that's complete, it will start pumping.
If its none of these: I think this is Marineland's Customer Service Number: (800) 322-1266. M-F 8-5 PST

 

[morval]

i agree with flric there. if this is your first SW tank you should not do a 12g. even a 30 or 55 you can put on a a sturdy desk and it will be alot easier than a 12. get a large rubber made container for ur live rock and sand and take the whole 12 back and put the credit twards a bigger tank. in a 12g you can only have about 2 small fish...i doubt thats what you want. if you want an all in one system look at red sea max its a 29g and comes with decent lighting and good filtration.

 

[crazy4reefs]

I realize this could be a stupid anwser but I know when I am starting up my filter I fill it up with as much water as it will take before spilling over and then start it up. It still gurgles for a few moments but it usually kicks right in. Then again if the propeller doesnt spin right then it could be defective. Just a thought, hope this helps.

 

[sueandherzoo]

You guys are all awesome - so many of you jumped in to help a newbie who posted a less-than-gracious first post. The powerhead is not accessible but I have disassembled and re-assembled as much as I can several times and have been looking in there with a flashlight and experimenting with different water levels, pouring water into the filter to help prime it, etc. I've now got the kitchen sink full of water so I can keep experimenting there rather than making such a salt-water mess all over the living room. The impeller is whirring nicely now but once I attach the intake tube and intake basket and place it in the tank, it just hums and nothing happens.
I'm heading up to try it yet once again (after a few hours sleep) and willgive it a full 5 minutes, even though that seems very scary. It does seem to "pulse" a little so maybe it needs more time but I've never seen a pump take this long. It's almost like I'm just missing something here. I've loosened and tightened everything several times -- it's got to be something simple, but it's defeating me.
In regards to trading it all in and starting with a different system, the idea really frustrates me. As much as I know and understand that it would probably be the WISER choice, I had researched this for a while and decided that a smalll, experimental sw tank was what I was going for. If I found I was able to maintain a healthy tank in 12 gallons and that I was hooked on the hobby I was going to turn this into a quarantine tank and make my winter/Christmas project upgrading to a 55 gallon set up. By then I will know exactly what I want from a sw tank, what my capabilities are, etc. This was just my "starter kit" to see if this type of hobby was something I wanted to pursue further. The all-in-one filter/light, lid, etc. seemed ideal. I am so busy working on my 4,000 gallons worth of ponds outdoors that winter is when I planned to do the extensive sw set up indoors.
I was also trying to get this set up and running (with no life other than the rocks and sand) before my husband gets home tomorrow and this really puts a cramp in the plan and throws off the agenda I had for my new saltwater hobby. I'm not good with accepting setbacks that are out of my control and I've never been good with "patience" which is another reason I thought it was time to get into this hobby.... if this doesn't teach me patience, nothing will!
THanks again - I'm off to give it the full 5-minute test.
Sue

 

[crazy4reefs]

well just hang in there and dont give up and your right, If you do stick with this hobby it will teach you patience if you want to or not! I think its worth it though because its something I truly enjoy.
is it like a whisper filter? I know sometimes when I have a problem with mine and the propeller spins but the water wont flow I just hold down the intake tube and twist the motor around some until it starts flowing. You can try that over your sink so you have more room. Make sure its flowing right before you put it back in the tank. If all else fails I would call the number that gmann1139 gave you and they can probably give you more things to try before they will say that its broken, worth a shot. Have you also called the pet store that you bought it from to see what they have to say about it?
Well just get some sleep then when you get up take a deep breath count to ten and start all over. Good luck and let us know how it turns out ok!

 

[sueandherzoo]

OK, that didn't work. I've dis-assembled and re-assembled it several times, tried it in the tank, tried it in a full sink of water, etc. THe propeller turns but apparently not enough to get the water flowing. I did hear back from their customer service rep, though, and he/she agrees that since it's whirring the magnetic field is doing what it's supposed to - the problem must be with the impeller. They are sending me out a replacement today so since apparently my live rocks and live sand are just find sitting in a stagnant tank, I'll wait for the replacement part. I just can't stomach the idea of siphoning the water out, getting the rock out, then the sand, drying, packaging and returning it just to start all over again.
I'm off to read other posts on this board - it seems like a great forum! Thanks for being here.
Sue

 

[nano12er]

Hey there Sue, Sorry to hear that you are having such a difficult time with your setup. I have the same system, if you have the 12 , and I have found some good things as well as bad things with the unit. The lighting in mine was insufficient so I upgraded and retrofitted a stronger unit into the hood. an idea for creating flow while you wait for a new impeller might be to get a power head going in the tank. I added a koralia #1 and have plenty of flow in my system. This is an option that you will most likely add later, so why not go ahead and do it anyway, plus it may save you from the break down. read my thread "newbie 12 gal", you will find some info on what I did to my tank. Good luck with everything!!

 

[maryg]

Sue,
I am a newbie also. I started with a 12 gallon Aquapod. Just stick with it. The cycle was a real test for me being that I am so impatient. I would get a cheap little powerhead from Walmart or ***** or something until your part comes in. (Sorry if I did something wrong and advertised another business) But it is just temporary and it's always good to keep spare parts around. Plus you can use it to mix new water and stuff. Good luck!

 

[sueandherzoo]

Hi Guys.
Thanks again for being here for me - I love this forum! I have been reading until my eyes have crossed. LOL
OK, so customer service said the new impeller would be to me in 5-7 business days. I haven't learned THAT MUCH patience yet so I came up with Plan B. I went back to ***** and purchased another Marinelife Instant Ocean 12 (their last one) and brought it home. I was going to carefully open the components with the intention of just taking the impeller, putting the bad one in the new box, and returning it as "defective" so they could send it back to the company or whatever they do with defective merchandise. What a surprise to open the box and find that this package had already been violated. LOL There were several things missing and it apparently had been purchased and returned BUT the impeller was there. I anxiously put it into my existing system, plugged in the pump, and VOILA - I had water flow!
I will return the package to the store today with a list of the things that are missing and defective. Now I don't feel nearly as guilty - my swapped out impeller is the LEAST of the problems with the set up I bought yesterday!
I'm off to read more and probably post more questions. Thanks all!