Finding Nemo... sort of (fluval questions)

mobilecow

mobilecow

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Mar 9, 2007
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I picked up a couple of Fluval 304's yesterday and was cleaning them (were in a tank with fine sand) - when I opened the second one there was a fish sucked right into the canister - some kind of cichlid - must have been between 4 to 5 cms (almost a couple of inches). That one just had an open intake with a flared rim (about the size of a dime) (the other has the traditional basket style ending). the filter is going into an angel tank - none of whom are small enough to get into the filter, but just to prevent future casualties, what can I do to prevent it? Thanks

And the other question ->> one of the two makes a sort of noise for a few seconds every minute and then spits out bubbles (the fresh water return is under the water line - so I can see the bubbles). The other runs prefectly quiet - so I am assuming there is something amiss with this one?

Thanks in advance :)
 
use a sponge over the intake or if it fits stick a bio ball in the end of the intake.
 
the noise would be air trapped in the canister or its got a slow leak letting air in but not letting water out. try rolling the cannister around while its running to get the air out. if its leaking in......new seal? or chepo style submerge it in a bucket of water lol.
 
Do you find priming the filter with that little toggle to be a little difficult? I almost have to overfill my canister and get water over the edge when i snap the lid down... Gonna shake my filter - hopefully that gets rid of the bubbles...
 
mobilecow said:
I picked up a couple of Fluval 304's yesterday and was cleaning them (were in a tank with fine sand) - when I opened the second one there was a fish sucked right into the canister - some kind of cichlid - must have been between 4 to 5 cms (almost a couple of inches). That one just had an open intake with a flared rim (about the size of a dime) (the other has the traditional basket style ending). the filter is going into an angel tank - none of whom are small enough to get into the filter, but just to prevent future casualties, what can I do to prevent it? Thanks

And the other question ->> one of the two makes a sort of noise for a few seconds every minute and then spits out bubbles (the fresh water return is under the water line - so I can see the bubbles). The other runs prefectly quiet - so I am assuming there is something amiss with this one?

Thanks in advance :)
Click to expand...

Usually they are plumbed so the intake is the "basket" ending, so no big chunks get sucked up, and the flared end is for the output so it disperses it more evenly. Can you switch them around?
 
The basket part of the intake has been broken off / lost - the other flared rectangular end on the output side is even larger... I used an old fish net that was torn to prevent any accidents. hopefully that doesn't drag the flow rate down...

Do you find the flow rate on these canisters are much slower than HOB's?
 
mobilecow said:
Do you find priming the filter with that little toggle to be a little difficult? I almost have to overfill my canister and get water over the edge when i snap the lid down... Gonna shake my filter - hopefully that gets rid of the bubbles...
Click to expand...

I don't even bother using the pump. Works great for some people, never works for me. With the intake firmly in place in the tank, I just grab the output tube and suck on it until it starts pulling in water, then place the output accordingly and shake it once it's filled to get rid of the rest of the air. Granted the canister is empty when I do it, but it works fine for me.
 
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