Connecting a Fluval 403 and 404 in series...possible?

[Rometiklan]

Hello everyone,
I currently have a Fluval 404 connected to an 80 gallon planted tank. I have an old Fluval 403 sitting around and I was wondering if it's possible to utilize the 403 in some fashion by connecting it to the 404 in series, thereby doubling the filtering capacity? Has anyone tried this set-up with success?

The impeller for the 403 is shot, so it would not be plugged in during this set-up. I primarily want to use the 403 as a bio-filter (filled with bio-balls and other pieces of plastic), so where would be the best place to add it: before or after the 404? Thanks in advance for any information you can provide.

[tricksterpup]

I suppose you could do something like this, But I think I would rather see both filters setup separtly on the tank to cause more water flow. I would do the bio balls in one that you want and keep the other for media filtration.


jim

[Hebdizzle]

impellers aren't expensive, I would just get a new one and have them both going.

Aaron

[Rocketman]

Yeah, I would just get a new impellor...It might be too much strain on One Impellor to drive the water through that much hose, and would probably be impossible to push water through another filter without two impellors - think of a large train, they usually have two locomotives.

If you are going to use the bio-ball setup, (in which case you'd still need another impellor,) you would probably want to put it after the Fluval 404, otherwise your bio filter would turn into a mechanical filter.

[Frameshift]

I tried the same thing with two Rena Filstar XP3's, but both had impellers and were turned on. The first filter in the series sucked air around the O-ring a lot (due to lack of pressure from second filter) and the second one leaked slowly out of the O-ring after a week or so (to much pressure from first filter), so I wouldn't reccomend a canister series, especialy if only one is running and they are different models.

[anonapersona]

It would be so sad to ruin the existing impeller and then have no filters at all!

[cpr4cpu]

no, it won't work reliably. The flow rates are different for the pumps and therefore one would be sucking air, or the other would be back pressured into overheating.

If you were to only use 1 pump you would almost certainly put too much drag (or pressure) on ot and it would crack or overheat (depending on strain).

Instead, spend the $10 and get an impeller assembly and run them both independant.

[Rocketman]

Word CPR