restarting fluval filters

andy5268

AC Members
Jun 6, 2001
68
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0
Basking Ridge, NJ
i have a Fluval 204 that is a pain to restart after cleaning, i've tried everything!

my 400 series starts no problem just plug it in, what am i missing with the 204?
 
priming

I don't have that filter but I have several different types of canisters.

Blindly, I will suggest two things.

One, assuming that you have quick disconnect valves and have not cleaned the hoses and therefore drained them, you could try this... with the canister empty, all valves closed, connect only the input line, valves closed. Leave the output line unattached and open this valve on the filter side (Not the return line to the tank!), have a towel or bucket handy. Now open the valves on the input side. All the air in the canister will rush out the open valve as the canister fills, when water comes out shut that valve on the output line. Now connect the output line, open valves, and you should be able to start up. Any air in the input line should have been sucked out.

If the lines have been cleaned and are empty, you'll have to assist the priming with suction. Again, connect the input lines and open the valves and leave the output line unconnected and open. Suck on the output line, as soon as the water gets above the edge of the tank and starts rushing down you can connect the output lines. Have the output in the tank above the water line so air can escape.

If the output in the tank is above the water line as you do this, things are much easier. So, I suggest lowering the water level just a bit, or disconnect the spraybar is it is low in the tank. If you have the spraybar at the bottom of the tank it is too hard for the bubbles to get out.

Otherwise, just make sure you have the input and output lines hooked to the right places, I've switched them in error (more than once I'm afraid to say) and it will not work that way!
 
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What I do with my Fluval is after I clean the canister, I refill it with water before reattaching it to my tank. I plug it in and it starts without any problem. Give it a little shake to get the air bubbles out.
I tried using the primer 1 time. When I first set it up, what a pain in the a$_! Never again.
 
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