Need filter help asap!!!

kjr928

kjr928

Go fish yourself.
Nov 4, 2005
902
2
18
Garden City, NY
www.trollerkate.com | www.milesquaredesign.com
Real Name
Kate
I have a Fluval 304 that I'm setting up in my new 46g and I CANNOT get it going no matter what I do. I am so frustrated and discouraged. I've tried every combo of priming and plugging it in I can think of. I've even tried shoving the powerhead in the intake. I've opened it up to see if it's clogged. I've tried to manually fill the intake with water. I can hear the motor running but it doesn't do thing.

I'm really starting to get upset at this because I obviously can't do anything with my tank until I get that filter going and I was so excited. This has been going on for days.

Somebody help me please!!!
 
My questins are stupid but sometimes that's how you need to start off.

1. Tank is full with water right?
2. You have your valves connected to the right spot in the filter? In take to the inake side and return hose to te return hose side? Told you these questions were stupid.
3. Your ball valve is not enaged right? It's not stopping the water flow.
4. Your cannister filter is below your tank right. It need gravity to get the siphon going.

Things you can try..

If all above quetions are ok.. I would empty out the fluval filter first. Than connect it back to the tank. Than turn the valve back on to let the water flow. This SHOULD automaticaly start a manual siphon from your tank and you SHOULD be hearing water starting to fill up your cannister. If nothing happens..

Disconnect filter since it's bone dry.. Than fill up cannister with water again from your sink faucet. Than reconnect filter to your tank turn back on the valve so nothing is interrupting the water flow..

Than make sure your significant other is not in the house for what I'm about to suggest next might gross them out..

1. Plug in your cannister and make sure you hear the propeller running.
2. Pucker up and attach your lips to the return flow hose that I'm assuming is going to your tank. Suck out as much air as you can. Be prepared to get a mouth full of tank water.
3. Repeat this unitl you pass out or until your cannister starts to work.

These steps are my last resort steps and never failed me. I love FLUVALS but I also hate them for this reason. That stupid priming thing doesn't work.

You can search on-line or go to Petsolutions.com they sell cannister priming device there..it's basically a insert attched to a rubber ball that you squeeze to get out the air.

Good luck.
 
Wow, greyhoundfan, that is such an informative reply. Well, I am brand new to the world of cannister filters, and no, my tank isn't full. It's about 1/3 to 1/2 full. Does this really make a difference? The intake thing is submerged? I will try filling the tank in a little while and hopefully that will do the trick.

I don't know what a ball valve is so I can't tell you if it's engaged or not. The intake/outtake tubes are in the right places.

As for sucking this already disgustingly filthy, poopy, mucky water, I think I'll try all other options first otherwise I might find I've jammed up my tubing with puke!!! ha ha ha ha!!!

I will let you know how it goes, and thanks again for your help!
 
Yes IT DOES make a difference. The tank should be 100% full when you are starting off. Your Cannister Filter propeller is not strong enough to pull water up your intake hose when your tank is only half filled. You will get better results when your tank is full. As you increase your water level, water will fill into your intake hose as well and this will reduce the amount of air that is in your hose and cannister.

The Fluvals have turn valves on them to allow easy disconnect from your cannister. Just make sure the direction turn valve is parallel to your hose line if it is perpindicular than it is shut off.

Fill up your tank and empty your cannister. Than re-connect your cannister filter and you should start hearing water automatically fill your cannister.

The water doesn't taste all that bad.:eek:
 
Thanks again, I am going to go fill up my tank now. I will let you know how it goes.

Is it possible to start the filter with water already in it? I don't want to add straight tap water to the filter because it's already established and I'm afraid of killing the bacteria in it.

Thanks again!
 
Ok, so my tank is full.

I primed up the cannister, then I plugged it in. Some water squirted out of the return flow, and now it's trickling at a VERY SLOW pace. Not good enough.

So I stopped the cannister, did it all again, and got the same exact results.

What can I do to make it come out more? It's really just barely trickling. :confused:

HELP!!!
 
Well, 5 minutes of trickling has paid off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's working! It's working! It's working!!!

You guys don't know how this has been my nightmare for almost a week!
Thanks for all your help!!!

:bday:
 
Great News!! Once you get that trickle going you're set. Just need to let the water flow build up to push out all the air.

We've all had very frustrating experiences in this hobby. Just yesterday my air hose got disconnected from my pump and this started a backwards siphon. Water was slowly leaking out of my tank and on to the carpet. I lost 20 gallons of water.. I used my DirtDevil carpet cleaner and sucked out as much water as I could. Now the carpet is just slightly damp.
 
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