help with fluval

T

thejoker

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Aug 1, 2003
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Hi everyone. I just bought a new fluval 304 filter for my tank and am having problems getting it started. There is definitely nothing happening right now. Here's a few questions I have:

1. What does priming mean? I've gotten the canister and tubes filled with water using the self primer, but is that all I have to do? Is water supposed to be flowing at this point? Nothing is flowing for me.

2. When I plug in the unit is the motor supposed to go on? I plug it in but nothing happens. I can't hear or feel a motor running. Is this the way it's supposed to be?

3. Are all canisters this complicated to start?

If someone could help me out that would be great.

Thanks
 
if you can pump the primer and water comes out the outlet you should be more than good to go. generally enuf pumping to get the filter itself to fill i would think would be enuf.

if it's a "brand new" unit. did you install the impeller cover properly? was the impeller even in it? if you're not getting any action or noise out of it i would be looking to see if it's somehow bound up. shut off the water, disconnect the hoses and open it in the tub or someplace in case it leaks a little out. then you could try just a quick plugin maybe to see if the impeller is working at all, but you would probably be best to open it and inspect it.

squeeze the 2 little tabs so it unlocks and gently wiggle it out (the cover). then check to make sure the ceramic shaft is seated properly, the impeller is in the right way and that it spins freely. if all this is correct, line up the cover properly and evenly push it in until you hear the locks click again. then maybe try a quick plugin test. if it doesn't work you might have a defective unit.

if it spins or make noise when you plug it in for a second then put it back together and pump it a few times until you see the water coming out of the outlet and then plug it back in and it should expell any remaining air and run.

other than that, i'm not sure. pm or email me if you like with questions........

good luck

there's not alot of assembly to the filter, but i would wonder if something is in wrong somehow. i haven't heard of anyone ever complaining of these filters being dead new or defective from the factory. it would be alot more common for it to be "air locked" somehow.

is the filter below the tank? if it's on a shelf with the tank, that also might make it harder to prime.

edit: speeling :D
 
another little note...... put the outlet below the water level at least for now. that will make it easier to start. the air will naturally be trying to come out then......
 
make sure you have the valves fully open. This is adjustable by the grey lever just above the cannister. Pushing it all the way down will get the water flowing. Pump the primer until the filter takes in water on its own, then it is reccomended to tilt the filter from side to side to get the remaining air bubbles out of the cannister.

Keep us updated, and be sure to tell us what went wrong!

Aaron
 
Thanks for the advice from the both of you!!! I took another look at the filter and realized that the impeller thing was not even in the unit. Somebody probably stole it from the store. So I went back to the store and they exchanged it with another one. Now I have the new one set up and am just trying to get it started. I am definitely getting closer to getting it work. After I prime it I plug it in and it works for like 5 seconds but then water stops flowing. I'm guessing it has something to do with how my hoses are set up. Do you have any advice on how the hoses need to be set up. Is it bad if the hoses are kinda long? Also my canister isn't directly underneath the aquarium, its underneath and on the side of it, so that causes the hoses to tilt to a 45 degree angle instead of being straight up and down. I'm not sure if this matters. I'll keep you all updated on how this all unfolds finally.

Thanks again.
 
I used that F^&!@)N primer 1 time, when I first bought mine. Never again. Fill your filter up with water BEFORE you attach it to the tank. Then plug it in. You will not ever have to use the primer again if you fill it up first. :D
 
LOL! sorry, it isn't funny, but it is....

i still say put the outlet below the water level. for some reason it's a bear to prime when it's above it.

my 404 on the tank behind me sits off to the left of the tank and i even have loops in the hose because i didn't trim them and i never touch the primer now that the hoses are full. after cleanings i hook up the hoses, open the valve and watch the bubbles come out, then plug it in......

i said not on level with the tank, because the filter is basically gravity feed, so the stand or floor below the tank works best.
 
OMG the thing was a pain to set up. I did it last weekend and I am sporting a nice big gash in my thumb thanks to it. We had trouble with the ring that is supposed to seal the lid and canister. You have to stretch this ring and wet it and place it as close to the bottom of the lid as possible otherwise it won't run/start at all. Also, some people have problem with the magnet in the lid and they had to take it out and put it back before it started.. ech.. but once you get it working it's awesome. There's some directions online that might help you. I didn't bookmark the page but just look it up on yahoo!
 
I finally got it working and it works great. The filter is super quiet and cleaned the tank very quickly. It had been two weeks since my old aquaclear filter had died and I didn't have any filtration until I got this new fluval set up.

Thanks ewok for the tip about putting the output under the water. This helped. I have no idea why the directions tell you to do otherwise.

Now I'm just looking forward to my first maintence session. Hopefully it'll go a lot better.
 
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