How do I know what's causing the slow flow from my canister fliter?

[anniejensen]

I took my Fluval 405 canister fliter apart to see what the problem is. I took it apart completely, hoses and all, because I can't seem to get it up and running to speed. I'm wondering if it's something to do with my impeller. The unit is clean and open now, so how do I test the impeller without putting the whole thing back together in my tank?

[Bubbles2112]

Plug it in momentarily and watch it. You may want to take of the filter materials out as they may be packed to tight. Idk--but its just a suggestion.

[zzyzx85]

If it's something with the impeller, there's often noise and vibration. Look into the base of the impeller and see if there's anything stuck down there that could be binding the impeller.

Be sure to pump the plunger to purge the air out of the filter.

If you're using Fluval's ribbed hoses, it could possibly be clogged up with gunk.

What are you using as filter media? If you're using filter floss, make sure you do not pack it in there.

[CWO4GUNNER]

Place it in the bathtub fill the FILTER up with water leave the hoses off and plug it in with an extension cord. the water should fountain out about a foot or two. Then shut it down fill the FILTER back up with water and place the hoses on and try again, water should pump out the output hose holding it up as high as it will reach.

Problems may be:
You have a valves shut off
You have the hoses crossed
You need to manually start the impeller if jammed buy removing the top plugging it in momentarily to verify spinning. If not give it a nudge with a thin object. Once spinning reassemble and wet test againe.
Also top may be loosing prime becasue of O-ring seal failure, grease all seals with gasoline and try again
Also try priming both hoses with water (dunk in aquarium fill hoses and shut off valves) verify primed hoses buy using a bucket to verify they siphon when valves turned on then reassemble and flood canister under pressure try again.

[zzyzx85]

[ahem] I think CWO meant "Vasoline", not "gasoline". :)

Gasoline would severely compromise your O-rings integrity.

[CWO4GUNNER]

I gotta watch that spell checker, starting with the one in my head LOL. Actually gasoline might get it started LOL