Fluval 404.....

[Charone]

OK! So, I finally get my tank built, it's all done, I fill it up and everything's cool. I get the 404 in place, get it running, everything sounds good, the air in the lines is clearing, ok, should be gone in a day or two. day 10, still 'clearing air'. Clearing air my ***! Still going, still sucking air, so I get a silicone based grease and grease the o-ring at the canister top and the inlet/outet o-rings as well. Nothing! **** thing is still sucking air. So, the only other thing I can boil it down to is this. my filter is installed _at_ water level, not above it. not below it either, but when I bought the **** thing I thought it worked on suction rather than gravity feed. So, is that my problem? Because unless I cut a hole in the floor it's physically impossible for me to make the filter any lower, and if that's the case, I've got a 404 that's never gonna be able to do it's job.

If it's non-fixable, can someone suggest an alternative canister filter, not hang-on-back, that would work in my situation?

Thanks all,
Andrew

[OrionGirl]

Can you reduce the size of the tubing? Most canisters require gravity to sort of maintain the pressure in the system. We had a similar problem with a cannister that was sitting about level with the tank. It would certainly push water around, but there were always a lot of bubbles. With smaller tubing all around, you might be able to compensate for the lack of gravity pulling the water down. Think of it like pushing a car--it's easy to keep in going, but a pain to start. Same thing here--the gravity kicks starts the momentum, the pump just keeps in going.

[demon_surfer]

as I understand it canister filters just pump water through the filter media. are you sure the intake shouldnt be below the water line? the noise might just be that air is being taken into the pump with the water? i would imagine it would be this if the intake is right at the water level.

I wouldnt worry about it, if it is faulty or just insufficient for your purposes I am sure you can return it and get a better one.

[Charone]

... intake above water level? No no, the intake is underwater, just the canister is at level. And I can't return it, because it was a gift, and I have long since lost any boxes, reciepts, etc.

[gutterguppy]

I have a fluval 304, also at water level, and besides being a bear to prime, its fine once it is primed.

Is it possible that you have a deffective filter?

[Charone]

sure hope not, like I said, I can't return the **** thing.

[demon_surfer]

listen to oriongirl she knows her stuff :)

[superjohnny]

The rubber ring can be a bit of a hassle to get on right. My guess is that the top is not sealed correctly.

Stick it in the bathtub underwater and plug where the water comes out with your finger, then blow through the intake. If you see bubbles you have a leak.

[Charone]

man.. I wish my apartment had a bathtub....
the reduced hose idea is good, but I don't see how I could port that back onto the larger sized inlet connection.

[OrionGirl]

PVC connectors. They sell slip connectors that will reduce.

[Charone]

hmm, what about an in-line mag-drive on the intake line??


alright, I'll give the pvc a shot.

[elgecko]

Priming is super easy to do..... Do not use it! Just fill the filter with water before attaching it, and plug it in. Give it a little shake to get the air bubbles out and your good to go.

[oranda]

Had the same problem with mine. Solution: I took some heavy duty rubber rings and added them to the already existing.

did the trick on mine. Oh and another little rubber on the priming stick.:)

[Charone]

got any specs on the rings you used? and I didn't realize the primer was able to be modified.

[oranda]

can't modify the primer - as in taking out and doing the biz - but take some good aquarium sealant and add some to the top where the handle / hook cover is (well just underneath were it meets the actual priming tube) and smooth it down with wet finger then cut little rubber ring and lay on top of silicone.

If you add rubber rings to the top cover of the actual unit do not fix them with anything since they need adjusting every few months or so. :D

[oranda]

Sorry I forgot: here in England the postal office uses bog standard large rubber bands for their letter packs which are recycled by me for the filter. Take ordinary packing rubbers (measure up the original black ring and take about 5 mm off)

if that does not stop the bubbles get iin contact with Fluval - I found them real helpful at my end - one of their guys came up with the additional rubber bands.

[Charone]

Ok, this is driving me nuts. Seriously, what about supplementing the suction power of the fluval motor with an in-line mag-drive pump on the intake line? The mag-drive pump would be sized to match the flow rate of the 404, and combined, should be enough to simulate the filter being beneath the aquarium, no? I tried the smaller tubing, to no avail. So, could someone please shoot holes in the above theory?

[125gJoe]

Originally posted by Charone
.......I get the 404 in place,.....**** thing is still sucking air. .. ....my filter is installed _at_ water level, not above it. ...So, is that my problem? .... YES.

Canister filters need to be placed below the aquarium.

You need an aquarium stand to raise your aquarium. Cost is minimal....

(I'm trying to picture your set-up, and this is all I could come up with.. Aquarium stand..)

[Charone]

ok, so we've established that that's the problem, also, it _cannot_ be remedied. It's a custom built fiberglass/oak pond. No glass, the biggest aquarium stand in the world would not help it. Physically, neither the aquarium or the filter can be raised/lowered. And it's as tall as a fluval 404.