All Pond Solutions 400-HO User manual

AQUARIUM
HANG-ON FILTER
400-HO 500-HO / /
600-HO

To ensure your new hang on filter is set up and running
correctly, and to prevent any accidental damage or
injury, please read and follow the below instructions
carefully before using your product.
SAFETY
Important! Disconnect the mains electricity supply
before attempting any installation / maintenance of
any kind. Do not attempt to modify this unit in any way
and only use the recommended parts for replacement.
· The hang on filter should never be run dry as this will
cause the unit to overheat and cause permanent
damage.
· All connections must be earthed.
· The power cord of this appliance cannot be
replaced; if the cord is damaged, the appliance
should be discarded. Never cut the cord.
· Do not connect to any voltage other than that stated.
· This filter is suitable for indoor household aquariums
only (do not use in exterior locations, swimming
pools, ponds, bathrooms etc). Do not place in
liquids other than water.
· Do not use with water above 90F or 30C.
· Do not carry or pull the unit by its electrical cable.
· Do not use this unit if it has a damaged cord or plug,
if it is malfunctioning or it is dropped or damaged in
any manner
· Do not yank cord to pull plug from outlet. Grasp the
plug and pull to disconnect. Always unplug an
appliance from an outlet when not in use.

· Do not attempt to modify this unit in any way and
only use the recommended parts for replacement.
· Before installing, maintaining or handling your
equipment, or before placing your hands in your
aquarium, ensure that the unit is disconnected from
the electricity supply.
· Always unplug any electrical devices when not in
use.
· Carefully examine your filter after installation. Do not
plug in the unit to the mains if there is water on any
parts not intended to be wet.
· The power cable must
have a drop loop to avoid
any condensation build up
reaching the mains (see
diagram 1). If the plug
does get wet, DO NOT
unplug the cord.
Disconnect the fuse or
circuit breaker that
supplies power to the
appliance. Then unplug and examine for presence
of water in receptacle.
· When positioning your hang on filter, make sure the
unit is securely attached to the tank before
switching it on.
· If the plug or unit does get wet, DON'T unplug the
cord. First, disconnect the circuit breaker or fuse that
supplies power to the appliance. Next, unplug and
inspect for water presence in the receptacle.

· Carefully examine your filter after installation. Do not
plug in the unit to the mains if there is water on any
parts not intended to be wet.
· If the unit shows any signs of water leakage,
disconnect the power supply cord from the wall
socket and consult All Pond Solutions or the retailer
you purchased this unit from for further advice.
· If the plug or unit does get wet, DON'T unplug the
cord. First, disconnect the circuit breaker or fuse that
supplies power to the appliance. Next, unplug and
inspect for water presence in the receptacle.
· To avoid injury, do not touch hot or moving parts
such as, but not limited to, heaters, reflectors, UV
bulbs or impellers.
Please note – this appliance can be used by children
aged from 8 years and above and persons with reduced
physical, sensory or mental capabilities or lack of
experience and knowledge, provided they are given
supervision and instruction concerning use of the
appliance and understand the hazards involved.
Children must not play with the appliance. Any
maintenance must not be made by children without
supervision.
ELECTRIC
This unit comes complete with a generous supply of 3
core cable, however should any additional cable be
required, the use of an approved waterproof cable
connector with a proper rating is essential. A cord rated for
less amperes or watts than the appliance rating may
overheat.

Please Ensure:
· The power supply must be earthed and fused at
3amps.
· You regularly inspect the cable for damage and
deterioration.
· Do not connect to any voltage other than that
stated.
· You consult a qualified electrician if in doubt about
any aspects of wiring.
Important: The power supply must be earthed and
fused at 3amps. Regularly inspect the cable for damage
and deterioration. Consult a qualified electrician if in
doubt about any aspects of wiring.
INSTALLATION & USE
Please read the below instructions carefully before
beginning to set up your filter. DO NOT CONNECT THE
UNIT TO THE MAINS UNTIL SET UP IS COMPLETE AND
UNIT IS FILLED WITH WATER.
Important installation information:
· When installing your filter, the minimum water level in
the tank should be no more than 6 cm (2.25 inches)
below the aquarium rim.
· The inlet pipe should NOT be positioned too close to
an air stone, aeration device or the output valve to
avoid reducing the effectiveness of the filter.
Firstly, unpack the unit and identify all parts using the
parts diagram in this instruction manual.

Remove the filter from the box. Rinse the active carbon
pad(s) and sponge(s) with water from your tank and
insert into your filter. Important - do not use mains
water or any cleaning products to clean your media.
Assemble the HO filter as per the parts diagram. When
attaching the filter to your fish tank rim, adjust the
balance plate so that your filter is level in your
aquarium, sitting in a vertical position.
When positioning your filter in your aquarium, ensure
that the water level is high enough to submerge all
inlet points and piping connections.
Ensure all connections are clicked flush into place.
Fill the filter body with tank water to allow the unit to
prime efficiently. To avoid priming problems, ensure
water level is high enough to submerge ALL inlet
points and piping connections. Switch on the unit.
Rotate the flow rate adjuster on the inlet pipe valve to
increase or decrease the water intake from the filter
body. For the initial start-up and to prime the filter
more quickly, rotate the flow rate adjuster to
maximum. Once priming has been completed, you can
re-adjust the water flow rate to your desired output
level.
HO-400 and HO-600 models are supplied with a
surface skimmer. Ensure the skimmer is positioned
below the water level, allowing it to float freely and
collect surface debris. If positioned above the water
level, air will enter the system and affect performance.
Once operating, the water will enter the unit via the
inlet tube until the system is fully primed and exit via
the waterfall outlet.
6
7
8

FLOW RATE VALVE
FILTER HOOD
OUTLET
SURFACE SKIMMER
MOTOR
BALANCE PLATE
INLET PIPE
PARTS DIAGRAM HO-500
FLOW RATE VALVE
FILTER HOOD
OUTLET
MOTOR
BALANCE PLATE
INLET PIPE
FLOW RATE VALVE
FILTER HOOD
SURFACE SKIMMER
MOTOR
LEFT BALANCE PLATE
RIGHT BALANCE PLATE
INLET PIPE
PARTS DIAGRAM
HO-400
HO-500
HO-600

MAINTENANCE
To ensure optimal performance and that your unit
functions correctly, regular maintenance is essential.
Failure to do so may result in damage to your unit and
may invalidate your warranty.
We recommend that a regular cleaning and maintenance
schedule is followed to ensure responsible fishkeeping.
Depending on water volume and stocking levels, regular
cleaning of the filter media, impeller, inlet/outlet
pipework during a 10-25% water change will help ensure
that the product works efficiently and the aquarium
remains healthy.
For further maintenance guidance, please see the table
and additional information below:
1 MONTH
3 MONTHS
6 MONTHS
ANNUALLY
Impeller
Clean &
Inspect
Replace
Ceramic
Shaft
Clean &
Inspect
Replace
All
Pipework
Clean &
Inspect
Hosing
Clean &
Inspect
O-Rings
Clean &
Inspect
Lubricate
& Clean
Replace
Filter
Sponge
Clean &
Inspect
Replace
Carbon
Pad
Replace*
* Carbon should be replaced every 2-3 months.

It is vital that o-rings are regularly inspected and replaced
as the rubber watertight seal will perish over time, which
may cause your canister to leak. Before replacing your o-
rings, ensure they are well lubricated.
O-rings
Impeller and Shaft
A clogged impeller is often the primary cause of all filter
faults, so it is extremely important to clean and inspect
your impeller every month to ensure it is functioning
correctly and remove any debris. Keeping the impeller
clean will improve the performance of your filter and
lengthen the life of the motor. The impeller itself is a
perishable part and will be subject to wear and tear
overtime. As a result, it is also very important to replace
your impeller and ceramic shaft annually.
Switch off your filter at the mains and unplug the unit.
Pour out water from inside the HO+ filter.
Remove your HO+ filter from your aquarium.
Detach the motor from the filter unit by gently twisting
the motor 90 degrees to release from the filter body.
To clean the impeller, gently lift the blue impeller
from the base of the motor and clear any debris or
residue. When reinserted into the motor, the impeller
‘fan’ piece should rotate half way and stop. If it can
rotate completely 360 degrees then the impeller is
damaged and will need replacing.
Re-insert the motor back into the filter unit, and gently
twist the motor 90 degrees to lock back into place.
You should hear the motor click into place.
Return your filter into your aquarium and switch on.
Note: Handle the ceramic shaft with care as this can
break very easily during the cleaning process.

In general, it is recommended to disconnect your filter and
clean the pipes, impeller and filter media monthly.
Pipework will become blocked with waste and protein
slime over time, so regular cleaning using a filter stem
brush is important for optimal performance.
The frequency of how often you will need to clean and
inspect your unit of course will depend on a lot of factors
like how dirty the water is when you first start using your
filter, the volume of your water and also how many fish you
have. How often you feed your fish and how long your
lighting is on for will also affect how quickly your aquarium
water gets dirty and will need to be taken into
consideration when planning how often to clean your filter.
To clean the outside of the filter, you can periodically wipe
with a damp cloth (use a cloth dampened with water from
your aquarium, never use any chemical products or
detergents). Lemon juice can also be used to removing
any limescale build-up. Rinse thoroughly afterwards to
remove any acidic residue.
Filter Maintenance
Sometimes delicate fish and plants require a gentler water
flow. The filter's flow rate adjuster allows you to slow the
flow of water whilst maintaining filtration efficiency. When
the flow rate is decreased, up to 50% of water within the
filter chamber is re-filtered several times, purifying the
water further and creating a clean and clear aquarium.
It is also recommended to reduce the water flow rate
during feeding. This results in greater food consumption
and less waste.
Flow Rate Adjuster

Filter Media
Important! Always use water from your fish tank to clean
your filter media. Do not use mains water or any cleaning
products to clean your media.
When cleaning filter media, NEVER rinse with tap water or
use any soap or detergent, only your aquarium water. The
best time to rinse your filter media is when doing a 10 /
20% water change as you can use this water to wash the
media through.
When replacing media in your filter, do not replace more
than 50% of your media at once. This is to ensure that the
nitrifying bacteria present in the old media are able to
repopulate in the newly added filter media.
SPECIFICATIONS
220/240v
600-HO
8W
600L/H
500-HO
5W
500L/H
400-HO
5W
400L/H
230x130x300mm
155x130x290mm
120x120x300mm
MODEL
VOLTAGE
POWER
OUTPUT
SIZE

TROUBLESHOOTING
Solutions:
ŸUse a small jug and scoop some water from the surface
of your tank and pour into the filter body.
ŸCheck your filter is plugged into the mains and is
switched on.
The Water in my Aquarium is Dirty
Causes:
ŸThe beneficial bacteria have not yet established in your
new filter.
ŸYour filter is not the correct size for your aquarium set
up.
ŸYou have too many fish for your size filter.
ŸYour filter media may be dirty.
Solutions:
ŸYour fish tank can take up to 3 weeks to successfully
cycle. You may also want to add a bacteria start
treatment to your tank to speed up this process.
ŸYou may need to upgrade to a larger filter.
ŸFor reference, you should allow 1 gallon of water per 1
inch of fish in your aquarium.
ŸFollow the instructions in the Filter Media Maintenance
section above.
ŸIf you have not yet done so, you may also need to carry
out more regular water changes in your tank.
No Water is Coming Out of my Filter
Causes:
ŸThe impeller is blocked - please refer to the impeller
maintenance section above.
ŸThere is no water in the filter body.
ŸThe filter is not switched on.
ŸThe inlet pipe is clogged.

The All Pond Solutions hang on filter range is guaranteed
against defects in material or workmanship under normal
aquarium usage and comes with 12 months warranty for
all electrical parts. The warranty period commences from
the date of purchase.
If you require support on how to use your unit,
replacement parts or if your filter develops a fault during
the warranty period, please contact the supplier of your
unit.
Non-replaceable, non-perishable and non-serviceable
parts will be repaired or replaced free of charge, once the
unit is returned with all components along with a valid
proof of purchase and postage paid. We reserve the right
to replace or repair the unit at our discretion.
Please be aware that perishable parts that are subject to
normal wear and tear, such as impellers, impeller covers,
motor seals and UV bulbs, are not covered by your
warranty and a charge may be required for replacements
of these.
This warranty does not apply to any unit that has been
subjected to misuse, accidental damage, negligence,
tampering or customisation. It does not apply to units
which have been assembled incorrectly, improperly
maintained, or where the instructions and safety
information in this manual has not been followed correctly.
No liability is assumed with respect to loss or damage to
livestock or personal property irrespective of the cause
thereof.
Please ensure that only genuine All Pond Solutions
components are used when completing a replacement or
repair. Spare parts are available at our official website or
from your local supplier.
Before returning your unit under warranty terms, check
that all setup and maintenance instructions have been
correctly followed. If you are in doubt, please contact your
local aquatic retailer for further advice before returning the
product. This does not affect your statutory rights.
WARRANTY