What is causing this!?

C

cds

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Aug 10, 2003
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Size: 37G High
Stock: 2 Angel, 3 BS tetra, 1 clown loach, 4 cardinal tetra, 2 ch. algae eaters
Filter: Fluval 204
Other: live plants, 2W/gal.

Every time I clean my filter and restart, a bunch of detrifus (sp?) blasts from the exhaust into the tank.

(A) What causes this?
(B) How can I stop it?

Alright kids, hit me back and thanks, as always, for the assist.

CDS
 
First off... Welcome!

Welp, the things coming to my mind currently are...

a) are you cleaning the impeller assembly?

b) are you cleaning the intake and output hosing with a large bristle brush (pipe-cleaner)?

c) are you pulling out all the media baskets and the internal sponge for a good rinsing?

d) have you cleaned the empty bottom chamber of the Fluval when the sponge and media trays are removed?

I honestly wouldn't be too concerned about the detrius coming out, as it should be filtered from the water before long.

Have you considered using a prefilter sponge on the intake? I find that helps to prevent much of any debris from even entering the filter to begin with, and it makes cleaning my 404 a jiffy every 6 months. Just squeeze and rinse the prefilter sponge in a bucket of water during your normal water change. If your concerned about the good bacteria on the sponge, just try and make sure the rinse water is of a fairly similar tempature to the aquarium, you can always use the old water you're removing to rinse it as well.

Regards,
Raithan O. Ellis
 
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what is causing this?

The impeller appeared to be clean (read: there wasn't a big buildup or anything like that). I cleaned all levels of the filter. The only thing I didn't do is clean the tubes with a pipe-cleaner-like device.

I know that the stuff is clinging to the walls of the tube. My question is, how do I prevent it from happening in the first place???

Again, thanks for the response.

cds
 
My filter also does this, and, well, the only way to stop it is to completely drain the whole filter assembly and clean it, which, IMO, is quite a pain.

The reason it does this is that when you remove filter bags and such, you allow the debris which is floating around the water in your filter to go towards the front of it. When you put your bag back in and start your filter again, the debris that was pushed into the front of the filter is blasted out. So, short of a complete cleaning of the filter, there really is nothing you're going to be able to stop it. However, it usually is recollected by the filter quickly is not noticable for long.

I hope this helps even a little :)
 
Hmm, the pre-filter sponge sounds like an interesting idea, but shouldn't the internal sponges perform the same function?

I was thinking that maybe it's a problem with the pump. I don't want to turn this into a pump debate, but I've heard that Fluval's aren't that reliable (this is my first canister), and that I should consider a different brand, perhaps eheim. Anyone have any thoughts??

cds

PS-> you all are the exact reason I came right to this site, everyone is proactively helpful... thanks!!
 
I don'y know the Fluval canisters that well, but if the flow is from bottow to top (dirty water intake at the base), then it may just be matrial settling out while the canister is off. Then some of it blasts through when restarted.

Depending on what your return is like (single vs. spary-bar), could you capture the first quart of half-gallon on a bottle?

Or it may just be time to clean the inside of the return tube.
 
Just put your net in front of the output when you turn the filter back on..all the detritus will get caught in the net without blowing all over your tank...then you can just rinse off the net afterwards.
 
Now there's a good solution! Until I can figure out how to prevent the build-up in the first place, I'll try and catch most of it with a net.

So with respect to the placement of media in the fluvals, so the water flow is down, then through the sponge, then UP through the charcoal, ceramic pieces, fiber, etc.?

I guess we're getting into yet another filter discussion. If anyone wants to comments, let it fly... I'm open to suggestions.

cds
 
I hate having to do this, but does anyone have an answer to my last post about media placement in the fluval?? I'm getting conflicting reports and am looking for a consensus.

Thanks again everyone!

cds
 
About that gunk that comes out when you turn the filter back on, it's the bad design of using 'corrugated' hoses! I will never figure out why they used them, other than for flexibility. Seems clear plastic tubing at Home Depot would work just as well. The ridges in the tubing hold gunk in there..

I want to change out my Fluval tubing, but I need to figure how to re-attach the new hoses so they are water tight again..
 
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