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all fluvals have a full 3 year unconditional gauarantee. cleaning the impleller is very easy if it does not take care of the problem get a new one they will ship it right to you free. if it is a year old you are covered. you should follow the maintenance instuctions and you will have years and years of use out of them.

I'm gonna move the filter floss to the middle and the noodles to the top.

Thankyou for the compliments. A few of those rocks are store bought. Just the big ones on the bottom (very expensive at the pet stores as you know). The majority of those are slate and I got them on Ebay. $9.99 for shipping

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=66793&item=3982915943

As far as how they are arranged? Each one is placed individually. When I do a water change I pull each one out and put it back again. I never get the same arrangement, and it takes a little while, but I like the way it looks.
The rocks from Ebay come with small ones that you use as shims to keep the bigger ones from rocking or wobbling.

Last edited by johnnyav at 09-Nov-2005 08:04

if the filter pad is fiberous or could possibly break up into little bits id put it furher down as if it get caught in the impeler it may damage the unit

awesome tank btw, whats in it, im particulariy interested in what type of rocks those are and how u keep em in place?

Nice tank!
I also have had no problems with my Fluval in over a year.
You should always put the noodles on the top because
that is the cleanest layer of water for bacteria to populate.
Heres what I have in mine:
Bottom basket- Filter Floss
Middle Basket- Peat Granules 1 Pound
Top Basket- Noodles


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I pulled out my Fluval 404 tonight and changed the media. After reading everything that everyone else did I decided to use the prefilter (octagon rings) on the bottom, noodles in the middle, and poly filter on top. I changed out the 4 long filters that slide in the side as well. I also have an emperor 400 hang on so I'm hoping between the gravel bed and that I don't break my cycle. I have to say that in over a year of having that Fluval I have no complaints.

johnnyav attached this image:

Hi there.
I have a fluval 204 and it always makes noise when
the impeller needs to be cleaned.
Heres how:
Take the whole thing to your sink.
Take the top off.
Flip the top over. You will see a round clean plastic
thing with two tabs. Squeeze the tabs and remove this.
Inside you will see a little fan thing. Grab it and pull.
Out will come a little metal round peice with a fan on top.
Rinse well and check for any cracks or damage.
If it is cracked you will need to replace it. This part is quite cheap.
If its all good, then replace it, and voila!
Good luck!


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my only suggestion is to put the carbon in the top, makes it easier to change when u dont want to clen the whole thing, that way u dont have to disturb any media during a change. (i know the manufacturer recomends otherwise!)

as for the impeller its very easy to take out (i have a 304 if its anything like that it should be ok) basicaly it sits in the top part of the filter (the part with the cord attached to it) when you lift it off the section with media baskets (the bottom part i guess?) look under it there is a clear plastic disc looking thing with two clips either side, if u gently squeeze these clips and gently pull it, it should come out. be careful my understanding is that they are quite fragile.

the other thing is be carefull not to put any fiber like material in the top filter baskets as they can catch on the impeller, the tube looking things are often called noodles, u need to replace half of these every 6-12 months (only half as u will kill the bacteria colony otherwise) also carbon needs to be changed every two months or so (thats y i keep it in the top baskets.)

i stongly recomend reading the manual to confirm what i have said, though it seems to work for me, ive had my fluval 304 running nearly 12 months now.

if you still have trouble some lfs will service filters (though u will need a back up and also your bacteria will die!)

best of luck i hope i have offered some help

I have carbon in the bottom layer a polyfilter (AWESOME!!!) in the middle and the little rings (I don't even know what they are called) in the top.

Check out a polyfilter. You can roll it up or cut it to fit. About $8.00 approx. at LFS.

http://www.franksaquarium.com/polyfilter.htm

Ever since I have used polyfilter, my media changes are far less often than before.

A polyfilter is also useful for removing medications. It works on a color-coded basis (i.e. turns a certain color when all copper based meds are removed, another color for other meds, etc.)

Good luck! I love my Fluvals and will not use another filter.

I have a Fluval 404 and I think it's time to change the media. There's a few choices out there for top/middle/bottom trays. Just curious what everybody else uses.

I keep putting off dealing with this and I am sure it is only making things worse. I do very much appreciate Keith asking for photos to help me

I am not sure if this topic belongs here or in general discussion. Apologies to Moderator if this is not properly placed.

I have a Fluval 404 cannister for my 72g bowfront. It is about a year old. Lately it is getting louder and louder, a buzzing noise.

I can't for the life of me find my owner's manual on the filter.

Does anyone know why this may be happening? Is there some kind of (heaven forbid) mechanical maintenance I must do?

HELP!!! The noise is driving me nuts, and it's such a great filter I don't want it to be worn out when I could be doing something to save it.

Thanks

rasboramary
If you have not cleaned it this could be your problem it migh even require a new one. I personally would go and buy a new one and get them to show you how to fit it if they can.

I will ask for you can some one take a photo of the impeller for her filter with a note on how to remove and clean it please.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
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Keith: I have never cleaned or removed the impeller. Wouldn't know one from my left eye!! I know, my bad. I should read the owners manual. I will check it out this weekend (or attempt to, anyway). I just hope it is not some big ol' project for which I am eventually sorry I undertook

Dezchakody (did I spell that right? probably not!!!) I did not find your words to be harsh. I have found Fluval (my first cannister filter) to be soooo much more effective than my AquaClear 500 which came with the tank, so I am very loyal. Doesn't mean I can't broaden my horizons

I just hope this isn't some huge project to get this thing fixed. I am saving it for the weekend. Don't have the energy after work to deal with it.

Thanks for everyone's input!!!

I am an Eheim user but at a good guess it sounds like the impella. How often do you take it out and clean it.
It will either require cleaning or replacing.

Even with the Eheim I remove it and clean it every month when I do the filter cleaning.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

yes it is and i did not mean to be so hard on your fluval i just had some bad times with mine i sure it is something simple

BTW, is that Rena a cannister type?

Thanks for the advice! I was afraid this may be this case. I am not exactly mechanically inclined. I hope this doesn't turn into a mess of a project]:|

i,ll tell you up front i,m not a fan of fluvali,d put it on ebay fast but to me it sounds like the inpeller take the top off flip it over should be a twist top of some sort unscrew it gently pull the inpeller out may just need a good cleaning or a fan could have snapped if not that its your motor bearings i went thru three finialy wised up and got a rena xp3 best bang for the buck imo your lfs should carry parts or be able to order good luck