CLEANING TIP - Fluval204 clean out of intake & return tubes

[sushiray]

Ok - on crud coming out on the back wash when I finished cleaning & started the siphon action, a few have had similar experience.

So I am posting this tip so others can avoid what I went thru.

1. take both the intake & return tubes off & flush out with higher pressured water stronger than the faucet several times

2. or if you want to minimize this cleaning exercise on an interim basis, then when siphoning start, have the return tube spout dump into a bucket or have a fish net at the spout to catch any crud flushed out

Here was my experience:

I just cleaned my canister 2weeks ago when a whole bunch of crud came flushing out of the return tube into the tank. That was not a pleasant sight! I had fed frozen brine prior to cleaning & my discus didn't finish it all so the Fluval scooped it all up (to my surprise - I actually didn't think it was a good filter since I watched & didn't see it suck up any debris).

Thing was - I thought that be the end of it since quite a bit came out. But after getting some feedback of similar experiences - I decided tonite to clean again but to flush out both tubes just in case.

Wouldn't you know it - tons of crud! I had to flush both tubes multiple times!! Faucet rinsing didn't do it, wasn't strong enough - I had to have higher pressured water flush it out! (I have a hose connected to the slop sink with a valve control which with the control off it built up lots of pressure that when opened it would burst out like a fire hose!!)

Apparently, the coiled tubing catches crud & I suspect incubates bacteria & other vermin.

so I hope this will help fellow members.

has anyone else experience this with Fluvals or other canister brands? just wondering.

my prior post asking opinions on hob vs canisters:

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=203549

[rill2004]

our fluval 404 does spits out crud every time we clean the filter. I figure what the hey, it clears up after a while. We have a magnum 350 as well in the same 75 gallon tank. We usually clean out the canister every two/three weeks.

We have read abut swithhing tubes that came with the xp3. More stiffer and clear. You can actually see crud building up inside those tubes. I think i will go to home depot and buy some of that tubing for our fluval.

Ive just been to lazy to do anything about all that crud blowing back into the tank after a 50% weekly water change.

[CWO4GUNNER]

Same here with my 404 and in contrast to my Magnum 350 who's hoses haven't been cleaned in 7 months and always remain on the back of the aquarium. Not to say that they don't look dirty but my Magnum smooth bore hoses just don't have the fun flexible scum gathering deep lands & grooves my Fluval hoses do.

The problem with the 404 is the corrugated hoses which are a scum trap, the answer are smooth bore replacement hoses. Something I am planning to do in the near future.

[DooSPX]

i need to do that to my 404 as well.

[Hebily]

I have never had this problem... The only thing I get coming out of the return after a cleaning are air bubbles... I have a 405 with the stock (ribbed) tubing... I don't know what's different about mine.... 'crud' doesn't seem to get to the discharge hose, it's trapped in the filter... Maybe my media?

[SMinNC]

I've wondered if the crud/glob stuff that comes out, isn't actually globs of bacteria?

Reminds me of what I've read about them doing that.

[sushiray]

smooth bore replacement hose sounds like a plan - Home Depot or Lowe's in what section? plumbing?

[huffmagx]

Yep I run several Fluval 405s and I have had this issue on multiple tanks. I haven't switched hoses yet but I can see where it might help.

[Star_Rider]

smooth bore replacement hose sounds like a plan - Home Depot or Lowe's in what section? plumbing?
that's where I find it at McClendens

lowes may have it else where..but they do carry it.

[sushiray]

that's where I find it at McClendens

lowes may have it else where..but they do carry it.

so you have used these before? we don't have a mcClendens here in ny so we have to settle for the big box companies. thx

[CWO4GUNNER]

I always see it at Lowes in the reel hose section near the PVC piping section. You want to make sure you do not buy the soft flexible thin walled hose like you use for your Python because it will collapse over time. You want the thick more rigid hose or the one that has the nylon crisscross reinforcing you can see inside which stops collapsing. I haven't done it yet, but I now I will have to take the Fluval 404 stop valve with me to Lowes or HD to make sure that not only the inner diameter fits over the Fluval fitting but that the Fluval screw over clamp fits as well. Over time the hose will become stiff like the Magnum hoses and be more like flexible pipe then hose but the gunk will have a hard time staying stuck to the walls with out those corrugated footholds. I have never had to remove Magnum hoses only clean the end that come off the filter housing and lid and I never get backwash out of my Mag hoses like I do my fluval corrugated hoses.

Oh PS, if the hose fits nice and snug over the Fluval fitting but the hose is too thick for the little screw cap that tightens over the hose, you can always use little stainless metal hose clamps instead available in the same area as the hoses just ask, just leave the screw caps out of the way or remove them. Fluval now uses these same standard stainless clamps on the FX5 models. Do not over tighten

[sushiray]

I always see it at Lowes in the reel hose section near the PVC piping section. You want to make sure you do not buy the soft flexible thin walled hose like you use for your Python because it will collapse over time. You want the thick more rigid hose or the one that has the nylon crisscross reinforcing you can see inside which stops collapsing. I haven't done it yet, but I now I will have to take the Fluval 404 stop valve with me to Lowes or HD to make sure that not only the inner diameter fits over the Fluval fitting but that the Fluval screw over clamp fits as well. Over time the hose will become stiff like the Magnum hoses and be more like flexible pipe but the gunk will have a hard time staying stuck to the walls with out those corrugated footholds.

thks. then my fluval will have a 2nd life cuz I was about to retire it in place with another AC!

[247Plants]

Anybody know what size tubing to get for 404's?

[CWO4GUNNER]

I believe its only 1/2" inside diameter. However because a smooth replacement hose would have to be thicker or nylon reinforced to be non-collapsing, the outer diameter might be too big for the screw on over fitting which is really no big deal as that is what hose clamps are for, why you want to take the stop valve with you to youre LHWS. Fluval does this in an attempt to keep even their hose part proprietary, but as we all know there is a work around to just about any mechanical problem if you give it enough thought.