Fluval 403 help

[goldfish4ever]

I have a new used Fluval, and I haven't set it up yet. That size I beleive, is meant for up to 100 gals. I was saving it for when I get my 75 gal, but decided that I might as well stick it on my 35 gal tank instead, as it might be a while before I get a bigger tank.

Ive always used the hang on the back filters, so some pointers would be great.

Do I fill it up to the top with tank water before I plug it in, the same way you would with a HOB filter to get it started??

If there is a noticeable water level difference after the tank water is in the filter, can  I add some more water to level the tank off?? There is no chance with this of the tank overflowing if there was a clogged hose or something is there? I guess that would be my only worry.

Also, as I cant find any of the fluval products around here, particularly the ceramic rings (anyone know where I can get some?) can I just fill it up with filter floss?? (I dont use carbon, so I have 3 sections waiting to be filled)

Anyother hints or suggestions??

[darkdep]

Fluval 403's lack a "self-priming" device, so you will need to fill it with water, yes.  You don't specifically need to use "tank water", just prepare some water the way you would for a water change and fill it that way.  I find the best thing to do is fill it in your sink/tub, put on the top (so overflow falls in a safe spot), wipe it down and then go hook it to your tank.

A Canister technically increases the amount of "space" in your system, so you will need to add that much more water.  If you notice your tank level drop slightly, yes of course top it up.  There isn't really a worry about a flood with a canister, as it's a sealed system...if nothing is going in, nothing can come out.

You can get the Fluval media at Big Als, if you want the authentic stuff you can buy it online if none of your local stores sell it.  But, you can quite happily fill it with floss if you want...although I would suggest getting some kind of more permanent biomedia (rings, army men, etc) to put in the upper basket along with floss in the lower two.

Canisters rock, BTW.  I've got 4, and love em all.

[luvfishies]

Yes by all means fill it up, and don't worry about it.

As for filter media, next time you're in Ottawa, get some BioMax rings. They're great, and last a long time. Floss will clog quick and will slow the canister down.

I'd stuff it with AquaClear sponges, nylon pot scrubbies, plastic hair curlers, or the like, in the meantime.

[goldfish4ever]

Something I dont understand - Ive read about "SELF PRIMING" many times when reading up on this filter system, but Im not sure I understand what it means. And because mine lacks this - what do I have to do to compensate??

[darkdep]

Put water in it  A "self-priming" device means you can hook it up dry, and pump a button or something on the filter to suck water into the filter from the tank, to "prime" it (which just means to fill the filter with water).

IMHO, Self-priming devices are a nice luxery, but absolutely not necessary.  You'll likely only use it once.  

[jfox]

what do I have to do to compensate??

Just fill up the 403 unit with water before you plug it in.  If that doesn't work... you might have to play around with it.  You might have to fill up the input hose too.  

I usually don't do that and suck on the output hose to get the siphon started.  Reassemble the output hose and plug in.

If you have any more troubles, pm me.

Good Luck!

jfox

[goldfish4ever]

Thankyou everyone! I will probably be pulling her out of the box this week, so I'll definitely let you know if I need help.  

[limmer]

Hi everyone,
How often should a canister be cleaned or media be replaced?
What kind of stuff does everyone do to it?

[repeej]

Hi everyone,
How often should a canister be cleaned or media be replaced?
What kind of stuff does everyone do to it?

I'm also interested since I just recently setup a Fluval 304.

[squeeker]

I clean my 404 roughly every 6 weeks.  I fill a bucket with dechlorinated water and rinse out the foam.  I also clean out the impeller housing.  Then, I fill it back up with dechlorinated water, and hook it back up.

The media I use:  foam, 1 layer prefilter, 2 layers biomedia, 1 layer crushed coral.

[BigDaddy]

I clean my 404 roughly every 6 weeks.  I fill a bucket with dechlorinated water and rinse out the foam.  I also clean out the impeller housing.  Then, I fill it back up with dechlorinated water, and hook it back up.

The media I use:  foam, 1 layer prefilter, 2 layers biomedia, 1 layer crushed coral.

But you have messy fish    :lol:

For your average community tank.. you can let a canister go for almost 6 months if you want.

Canisters are great biological filters, and okay mechanical filters.

darkdep:  use it only once?  how often do you clean your canister?

[darkdep]

I maybe clean my canister once every couple months or so.  But I've never had to "re-prime" it...For me, I close the tubes off, remove the canister, go clean it, hook it back up dry (yes, dry).  When I open the tubes again, the water starts flowing into the canister and basically siphons tank water until it's full.  

I plug it back in and away she goes.  I usually do a water change immediately after this, as I find this particular procedure does a good job of blasting gunk from the hoses into the tank.  This also is how I top up.

Works for me.

[BigDaddy]

Ahh... see I clean my hoses too... which necessitates repriming the pump.

[darkdep]

I've never cleaned the hoses...maybe I will next time I service the canister to see how gunky they are.  

Do you find yours are fairly dirty?  I haven't noticed a drop in flow so I never thought to do it...

[BigDaddy]

I have Eheims... so you can see the gunk in the tubes.

In my heavily planted tanks... yeah, they tend to gunk up pretty quick.  After a couple of months, it is time for a cleaning.  Even a 1/16 of an inch of buildup can severely impede the flow.

[goldfish4ever]

What about one of those mesh laundry bags that you use for laundry?? I have a couple of those floating around the house. However, I wonder how they'd do submerged in water for long periods of time, but mabey just as a temp one of two month period until I can get to Ottawa??

[luvfishies]

Dang, I could have gotten you some BioMax and sent it with the snails if I'd had my head on straight.

Get some of the NYLON pot scrubbies. No metal in them, at all! They make a decent bio/mech filter substance, and are easy to degrime when needed.

I also use these to clean the front/side glass. Way better than the "algae scrubbers" sold at the lfs!

[goldfish4ever]

Ya Luvfishies - thats what I use in my HOB! They really do work great! I think I will just go with them again for the Fluval too.