FAQ's for the Zilla Reptile Internal Filter

Q: Why is the filter not pumping any water?

A: There are a couple of reasons for this to happen. The most common is that the intake strainer is clogged with detritus. The filter has two strainers. One is on the bottom of the outer housing and the second is on the intake of the pump. Strainers work to screen out large debris that could interfere with or damage the impeller. If sufficient debris wraps around the strainer, it will block water flow. To restore water flow, remove the debris from the strainer slits on the outside of the filter. Unplug the filter, remove the interior basket by putting a finger in the square hole in the back of the basket and pulling upwards. Clear the pump intake of any detritus.

Another reason could be that the pump has become disconnected from the filter basket. This will be evident once you remove the basket from the filter. The pump should be connected to the bottom of the basket but may have fallen off in handling.

Q: Why is the filter so noisy?

A: The most common source of noise from the filter is the waterfall noise created by the falling water. To quiet this, you can raise the water level in the habitat so that the water does not fall as far. If this is not an option, adding a piece of angled décor such as a rock or driftwood underneath the outlet will quiet the water flowing sound.

Another source of sound is pump vibration. This can be heard if the filter is sitting on the bottom of the aquarium so that the hard case is in contact with the hard bottom of the habitat. The vibration of the pump can resonate with the walls of the habitat creating a humming sound. To reduce this, you can use the suction cups to hold the filter off the bottom of the aquarium or you can put soft, sound absorbing material like filter foam or floss underneath the filter to prevent contact between the hard surfaces.

Q: Why can’t I put the filter just anywhere?

A: The filter can be placed anywhere in the habitat where the filter can be half submerged vertically at a minimum. Higher water levels are preferred (it will increase water flow and decrease noise). If the water level is too low, the pump will run the risk of running dry and will also suck air in which makes it very noisy as the impeller churns the air/water mixture. Kind of like a personal watercraft vs. a kayak.

Q: Why do I need to clean the impeller?

A: If debris does get through the strainers, particularly plant fibers, it can wrap around the impeller and seize it up. In which case you need to access the impeller and clean it out. After removing the pump from the filter basket, slide off or rotate (depending on model) and remove the impeller well cover. This will expose the impeller (the thing that looks like a fan). Remove the impeller and wipe it off with a paper towel. You can also twist up a paper towel and use it like a finger to clean out the impeller well. Reinsert the impeller and replace the well cover and it should be as good as new.

Q: Why is my filter not getting the tank clean?

A: For reptile habitats, it is more important to have good mechanical and chemical filtration in order to keep the habitats clean of detritus (reptile poop). Biological filtration, while important for fish, is not as important for reptiles and this aspect has been reduced for the reptile versions of the filter to make them more efficient at the other two aspects. As a result, the filter will work better at screening particulates and odor from the water but will not perform as well at keeping the water from becoming cloudy due to bacteria blooms. In order to work its best, the filter cartridge should be rinsed weekly and replaced every 2-4 weeks. If the water is going over top of the cartridge, pull it out and rinse it. If water goes over the top with a new or clean cartridge, this is usually the result of the water level being too high in the aquarium. The lack of a differential between the upstream and downstream sides of the filter cartridge will cause this. Lifting the filter or lowering the water level will increase this differential and keep the water from going over top. Ideally the downstream side should be 1-3” below the upstream side.