VORTEX DIATOM FILTERS any model
what a hunk of junk. the idea is good but the concept and design was terrible.
first off the motor looked to be quality, and that is where the goodness stops.
the intake/output is pieces of plastic that you snap together (why not one piece?) the tubes are held on by rubber bands (they call hose clamps).
putting it together is a real pain and looking at it go together you wonder how long it will run before it starts leaking (probably when you are far away from home).
there are no valves included and this makes for much fun to start/charge the filter (and very messy when you have to clean it). it took 2 people to prime the pump with the stuff included. it involved suspending a bucket in the aquarium with the two intake/output tubes submerged in water, then the person below had to hold the filter upsidedown and turn it on (when turning it on the switch popped out! nice eh?) then about 5 minutes after holding the entire filter and rotating it up/down i got it to prime. then you put the bucket underwater and put the tubes on the tank.
ok. thats over.. so i let it run and i start hearing the bearing whining NOT GOOD. i look at the motor and realize that they use plastic spacers(3 of them) to support/attach it to the filter housing. with one side completely unsupported. it was on crooked because it was overtightened to one side squashing the cheap plastic bushing (the box shows steel ones if you look close).
i touched the motor and it was BURN YOUR HAND HOT after 20 minutes. ok thats enuff! i unhooked it and made a nice mess and washed everything off and reboxed it to return it to animals and things.
my and my hunny waited 10 minutes and left. went to the eyeglass place another 10 minutes.. and to the bank... another 5 minutes.. and then to animals and things .. about 20 minutes..
about 45 minutes later the guy incharge of returns hears my story and opened the box. THE MOTOR WAS STILL HOT! and i got my store credit..
you have been warned. i could have built a better filter myself.
what a hunk of junk. the idea is good but the concept and design was terrible.
first off the motor looked to be quality, and that is where the goodness stops.
the intake/output is pieces of plastic that you snap together (why not one piece?) the tubes are held on by rubber bands (they call hose clamps).
putting it together is a real pain and looking at it go together you wonder how long it will run before it starts leaking (probably when you are far away from home).
there are no valves included and this makes for much fun to start/charge the filter (and very messy when you have to clean it). it took 2 people to prime the pump with the stuff included. it involved suspending a bucket in the aquarium with the two intake/output tubes submerged in water, then the person below had to hold the filter upsidedown and turn it on (when turning it on the switch popped out! nice eh?) then about 5 minutes after holding the entire filter and rotating it up/down i got it to prime. then you put the bucket underwater and put the tubes on the tank.
ok. thats over.. so i let it run and i start hearing the bearing whining NOT GOOD. i look at the motor and realize that they use plastic spacers(3 of them) to support/attach it to the filter housing. with one side completely unsupported. it was on crooked because it was overtightened to one side squashing the cheap plastic bushing (the box shows steel ones if you look close).
i touched the motor and it was BURN YOUR HAND HOT after 20 minutes. ok thats enuff! i unhooked it and made a nice mess and washed everything off and reboxed it to return it to animals and things.
my and my hunny waited 10 minutes and left. went to the eyeglass place another 10 minutes.. and to the bank... another 5 minutes.. and then to animals and things .. about 20 minutes..
about 45 minutes later the guy incharge of returns hears my story and opened the box. THE MOTOR WAS STILL HOT! and i got my store credit..
you have been warned. i could have built a better filter myself.