Decision essentials
Key points
Never open a powered or pressurised vessel.
Do not replace every colonised medium.
Leak inspection continues after restart.
Filtration
Service in functional layers
Prepare removed tank water, towels and an ordered parts area. Remove vessel sludge, rinse foam and swish biomedia only when coated.
Clean impeller and well without forcing the shaft. Use only manufacturer-compatible seal lubricant.
Filtration
Controlled recommissioning
Seat baskets and gasket without pinching, open taps and purge air by instructions.
Check sound, flow and connections immediately and later; log the date.
From evidence to action
Decision matrix
| Situation | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Flow is low | Start with prefilter and impeller | Common restrictions |
| Seal cracked | Replace before closure | Prevents leakage |
| Prime will not return | Follow manual and find air | Avoid dry running |
Check the result
After the adjustment, measure flow under the same conditions and check noise, leaks, waste accumulation and circulation. Record the result; if performance drops again, locate the restriction before changing another part of the system. For “Clean a canister filter without losing prime or colonised capacity”, use leak inspection continues after restart as the final article-specific check.
Evidence
Sources and scope
Sources include institutions, technical studies and manufacturers. Chezur separates established mechanisms from editorial decisions for home aquariums.