Nothing could be simpler. Your Home Tilapia Pro has one moving part, the impeller, which is sealed inside and not accessible. There is only one removable part, the weighted base, which needs to be removed from the filter chamber to change the filter media.
Your Home Tilapia Pro comes ready-to-use with filter media already installed. Additional filter media is included and used as packing material inside the box. We highly suggest Morning Glory Premium Fiberfil which in January of 2025 was only $16 for 113 filter changes.
Simply tie the included lanyard (the blue cord) to the loop on the top of the filter, sink it into your tank or pond and plug it in.
Note that the internal pump will not run without water. There is a small hole in the top of the filter to allow trapped air to escape. If this hole becomes plugged, simply insert a toothpick or similar object into the hole to clear it. After the air has escaped, the pump will start.
We suggest using 3/4" PVC pipe and a coupler to extend the water flow just above the surface of the water to provide aeration, reduce temperature variations between the top and bottom of the water column and to eliminate strong water flows and eddies, all preferable for Tilapia rearing. This also allows you to monitor the condition of the filter media as the water flow will begin to slow as the filter media becomes full.
We do not recommend using this filter to pump water into another tank. Although it has plenty of power to do so, adding a series of elbows and pipes will make changing filter media more challenging, but it's up to you. Remember, the higher that the pump has to lift water past the top of the water surface, the less efficient it will be.
To change the filter media:
One of the inspiring design features of the Home Tilapia Pro is the speed and ease of making filter media changes.
Simply unplug the filter and use the lanyard to lift the filter out of the water. Pull off the weighted base to remove the used filter media and throw it away. The dirty filter media costs pennies and is not worth cleaning or saving any more than a used paper towel.
Grab 20 grams of filter media and loosely wad it into a softball size and push it into the filter chamber all the way until it stops. Do not use too much filter media. Using more media does not increase the filter's holding capacity. Put the weighted base back on to the bottom lower the filter back into the tank or pond and plug it in. The whole process takes seconds.
Tips for use:
Attaching a tee fitting to the top of the water outlet above the water line may be beneficial for increased aeration and to direct flows. We do not recommend attaching an elbow to the water outlet because the power of the pump will push the filter in the opposite direction causing it to tip over or "walk".
You may add water treatments such as Clinoptilolite (a natural zeolite) for removing nitrates or activated carbon for fine filtration to the filter chamber. Only use water treatments that are contained in filter media bags. Never allow granular material to enter the water pump. Doing so may require you to return the filter to us for service. Always place the water treatments above the filter media. For example, during a filter change, after removing the dirty filter media, put the media bag containing the desired treatment into the chamber first and then insert the filter media. This will extend the useable life of your water treatments.
Using too much filter media will result in half of the filter becoming dirty and half of it remaining relatively clean. When doing your filter changes, get a feel for how much media is actually necessary to do the job. More is not better. However less may not sufficiently slow the flow of water in order to indicate the necessity of a filter change.
Use enough filter media (20 grams is about right) to completely cover the top end of the chamber so that water can't bypass the filter media altogether.
Avoid using the outlet pipe as a handle to pick up or carry the filter. Although we do it all the time, we have managed to break one doing this.
DO NOT, NOT EVER, NEVER, NEVER EVER, PULL THE FILTER BY THE ELECTRICAL CORD. Seriously, don't do it.
Do not use the Home Tilapia Pro without fibrous filter media, doing so will pass fish and other wastes through your pump shortening its lifespan.
During the manufacturing process the filter chamber was sized using heat and compression to provide the right "fit" for the weighted base. We made sure that the base could be removed by hand, however during your filter media changes, small particles of filter media or wastes my get wedged between the weighted base and the filter chamber making the base tighter than usual to remove. If this happens, DO NOT use a hammer or mallet to strike the weighted base. Simply place the filter on the ground and hold it down with your feet by the weighted base and rock the filter back and forth. A couple times of doing this should be sufficient to teach you to make sure that nothing is stuck between the filter chamber and the weighted base during media changes.
Warranty and Service:
We do not make money repairing or replacing filters. Your Home Tilapia Pro has been overbuilt intentionally using the best pump available in an effort to never have to repair it. However, things happen and when they do we want you to know that we will do everything possible to keep our repair service as non-profit as we can. So in the event that you break something, it won't cost much more for us to fix it than it would be for you to fix it yourself.
You are protected for six months against pump failure due to any manufacturing defect. Simply return the filter to us and we will either repair or replace the pump. Call us for a complimentary shipping box and label.
If the pump failure is caused by pulling on the electrical cord (yes it's obvious when we open the filter), then you are responsible for the cost of the repair.
If the pump failure is caused by granular material or other waste entering the pump, then you are responsible for the cost of the repair. (always use filter media)
If you manage to break the weighted base, it can be replaced by mail relatively inexpensively as long as you tell us the version number (stamped on the back by the electrical cord).
If you break the water outlet, there is a chance that it can be repaired by you, so contact us with pictures for suggestions. If you are unable to repair the water outlet we will have to replace the entire top half of the filter because it is constructed as a single inseparable piece.
There is a sticker on the back that reads "Warranty Void If Removed". These stickers have been under water for more than a year in our daily use tanks and have never peeled or come off. If you've had your Home Tilapia Pro for fewer than six months, do not cut or tamper with this label.
Finally, we built your Home Tilapia Pro to last for many years. Even if your warranty is expired, we will keep you up and running. We can send you loaner filters to use while we fix yours and our service will continue to be as non-profit as possible.
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