The other brand of floating UV filter and pump is a pain to get apart to clean according to reviewers. Is this one difficult to take apart and clean?
922620
Very easy to clean. Essentially remove the "bag" and rinse. However, my experience has been that it is very weak in power. I use it only for its UV function and have a supplementary filter. My pond is only about 250 gallons.
922621
Yes, it absolutely is a nuisance. Some of my screws were stripped which made it even more difficult. It took two of us two hours to take it apart, clean it and put it back together. It's a great product and works well, and customer service was (in my experience) very helpful, but I don't think I'll have the patience to do it again. Good luck!
922622
I have not had to clean it. While I have not written a review, I believe if your pond already has a full algae bloom, this product will not help. If you are using it as a preventative maintenance, then it should be ok. It did not clog at all while I had it running (one month).
922623
It is not too bad. I have only had to do it twice in over a year. Several screws and it comes apart fairly easily. The pain is worth what it will do for your pond. I have about a 400 gallon setup and within two days it killed all the suspended algea in the pond and the water went from green to crystal clear. Almost too clear.
922624
The nozzle gets clogged but is easy to clean. This is my second fountian the first lasted me over 3 1/2 years
922625
I have not attempted to take it apart but it certainly looks like it would be difficult. It is also difficult to clean but has given me no trouble and I would replace it if this one would get "broken".
922626
Not too bad to clean, but the netting part clogs quickly. If you have hardly and debris it works well.
830759
Take the filter out and run the pump without it. if the pressure seems right it is the filter. I always clean mine as soon as I take them out but they do start to get clogged after a while. Make sure you clean good between the folds in the filter!
182061
This is fairly easy to clean. The only drawback is the upper tier has a narrow "canyon" around the edge into which you must stuff a washcloth or sponge and slide it around. I bought the Drinkwell cleaning brush set and use those to clean the column into which the pump pushes water to the upper tier. I clean my fountain about once a month (I have two cats), when I clean or replace the filter.
1473937
I've tried pliers and even a hammer and it still won't budge. If it is not on tight, then it leaks. But as it is nearly impossible to remove, am tossing out the unit today and have canceled my subscription for the filters.
1758515
it is pretty easy to clean, but I have had lots of trouble with the plastic tube piece breaking off from the threaded part. I have had to replace the fountain/part twice. The Drinkwell stainless steel 360 is sturdier.
2128120
We hooked our uv device in between our pump and our filter. Set up we are using is a 1500 gph pump with periscope fountain spout; flexible black tubing 3-4 "; uv device; already existing rigid tube leading to basic filter. This uv device has made an amazing difference in our pond. Just waiting to see how it will do in the warmer months. We have pretty good well water for our fish pond but have had some past algae issues. Hope this solves having to use all the chemicals.
670445
Have had this fountain for over a year. Works well. No need to take apart to fill, I have a large plastic cup I keep on my counter and just add water as needed ~ typically at least once/twice a day but I have 3 dogs and 4 cats drinking out of it. I do take it apart and clean it once a week or else fur and stuff gets caught in the filter. I also run it in the sink with bleach/water on occasion as the filter housing can get really gunked up and I don't want bacteria growing in there. Also use an old toothbrush to clean the gunk out. I long ago threw away the carbon filter...just don't see the point. Point ~ keep it clean and it runs great, neglect it and it runs poorly. Have had this fountain for over a year. Works well. No need to take apart to fill, I have a large plastic cup I keep on my counter and just add water as needed ~ typically at least once/twice a day but I have 3 dogs and 4 cats drinking out of it. I do take it apart and clean it once a week or else fur and stuff gets caught in the filter. I also run it in the sink with bleach/water on occasion as the filter housing can get really gunked up and I don't want bacteria growing in there. Also use an old toothbrush to clean the gunk out. I long ago threw away the carbon filter...just don't see the... » Read More Have had this fountain for over a year. Works well. No need to take apart to fill, I have a large plastic cup I keep on my counter and just add water as needed ~ typically at least once/twice a day but I have 3 dogs and 4 cats drinking out of it. I do take it apart and clean it once a week or else fur and stuff gets caught in the filter. I also run it in the sink with bleach/water on occasion as the filter housing can get really gunked up and I don't want bacteria growing in there. Also use an old toothbrush to clean the gunk out. I long ago threw away the carbon filter...just don't see the point. Point ~ keep it clean and it runs great, neglect it and it runs poorly. « Show Less
1311832
I have a clean filter in pump and have to clean it alot at 1st on a sand pump i dont know sorry but im going to try my sand pump to see how it works i have the filter pump with timer runs ever 8 hours i let it vacum for 2 hours i check on it to see hows it working have to clean screen .have a great weekend
210076
Oh goodness...I wish I could help. My husband got the top off with no problems. I was not watching him when he did it. But it does come off. Wish I could have been more help. It seems to be a very good filter, have had no problems at all.
1735332
I followed a recommendation for this filter from a chriskresser.com. He had a link to a guy who rated them. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a product that removes everything yet. It doesn't make the water feel sticky. Our water isn't hard so I'm not sure how it would perform there. Sorry.
628715
When I'm done vacuuming, I always put the filter under the hose and wash it out. I just let it dry out in the sun. So far in the 8 months I've used this (probably 12 plus uses), the filter shows no wear or tear. Just make sure it is dry before using it next time. Also on the Amazon comparison section, it says the filter is washable.
1147656
This isn't a filter. You should use a filter with it. I always install two 10" filters before the UV light. Usually the first will have a 5 micron string filter and the second one a carbon block filter. Taking the particulates/sediment out of the water makes the UV system more efficient. At least that is the way it was explained to me. As of yesterday, I've installed 4 of these units.
1117419
I was in a similar situation - I had two previous fountains (a plastic one first, then a ceramic one). Both were very difficult to clean. The NatureSPA is easy to clean - disassembles quickly and easily. I have hard water so the basin/bowl area can get a little scaly with hard water deposits - I clean with Heinz White Vinegar, wash and rinse very throughly. It cleans up beautifully and back to new. The filters are easy to replace too. I would highly recommend the add-on larger water reservoir.
1713241
As others have mentioned, the UV light should not be used inline with the filter (to high a flow rate), but should be set up independently. It needs to be set up with a separate low flow pump. (These are not very expensive.) I had trouble with my water turning brown due to an algae. The UV light cleared it up nicely.
1661584
yea! dont buy it we have had the same issue poor design we did contact tetra and all total we have had three replacements and guess what the third same thing all total four filter with uv next season we will buy external Uv . We had even taken the glass tube and reseal around glass tube where the glass meets the green plastic i will say tetra did send a replacement more then once but we could keep doing this but they have a design issue and this will continue as I said we plan to replace next season with external UV best wishes on this matter .
1907509
Hard to say. These pumps do come apart in 3 or 4 pieces for internal cleaning. I had to use an old part on the new pump I got one time. When and if you take it apart, don'tforce getting the cover off, as it will come apart. If you force it, the piece with the flow control lever could break. I also had to trim some plastic on the new pump body because the old one had a slight ovalness to it. Good luck.
168952
The filter is washable and getting it out is not a big deal. We've run this for weeks at a time and I've never had a problem with it to date.