Pre-filtering Fluval 404..... Using Sand substrate
- Thread starter Letsgometsreyes
- Start date
You can just put some foam sponge over the intake. Make a "sock" of sorts. Of course monitor your filter flow afterwards.
That is kind of a weird design... are you sure that the impeller is before the filtration media? I am pretty sure my Rena puts the impeller after the media.
SirWired
That is kind of a weird design... are you sure that the impeller is before the filtration media? I am pretty sure my Rena puts the impeller after the media.
SirWired
SirWired said:
I am almost, pretty close to 100% certain, that the Fluval 404 impeller is after the filter media.
How about raising the intake tube to get it farther from the sand?
Fluval 404 filters are gravity fed and then the impeller pushes the water up the outflow. That being said if your intake is low enough to suck up sand you may want to just cover it with a sponge. If you don't like the look of that option you can also put filter floss on the bottom media tray and that should catch any sand that makes it through the filters sponges.
Thanks for the replys. :thm: . My intake is just high enough not to suck up sand but I'll take your advice and put filter floss on the bottom media tray just in case.
Forgot to say with filter floss in there watch you should keep an eye on the water flow and it would probably be a good idea to change it out once a month. When I had filter floss in mine I used the cheap media bags from walmart to hold the stuff in.
Good catch Hound. I have had strands of floss work their way up into the baskets above... I hate it when that happens.
The fluvals have a little bypass where the intake water goes directly to the impeller bypassing the media. This may be how the sand is getting into the impeller. In this case, floss in the bottom chamber will not help. Never hurts to try it though.
I havent started cycling my tank yet im going to do so on thursday(thats when my heaters and filter media comes in) but I decided not to use the carbon that I ordered for the fluval and i was looking for an alternative that would help if just in case any sand went thru the intake. How about cutting a piece of sponge and putting it in the intake hose?