Fluval filter trouble

[klare&dave]

Hi,

I'm not strictly a beginner but recently bought a new filtration system and with only a couple of years experience I thought someone in a better position to understand the system may be able to help!

I got a fluval 405 for a 55 gal tank, upgraded from a less powerful filter which was entirely suitable for my litreage but we purchased an oscar so upped the filtration. The problem I'm having is poor flow fron the outlet :sconfused: the system is set up correctly, I had it checked by an experienced fish keeper, who himself is baffled by the poor flow. I use high quality sand substrate and had noticed that alot of sand clogs the ball in the inlet pipe so have increased the cleaning of this to every other day, I also got some slate and flat pebbles and positioned them under the inlet ontop of the sand. I am currently compensating with a crazy ammount of airstones thumbs2:

I don't think my substrate is the problem though, as the set up is correct and I perform regular maintainance (including checking and cleaning the impeller which has been pointed out on the fluval website as a problem area) anyone got any other ideas? The filter is 3 months old but only ran efficiently for about a month.

Many thanks,

Klare.

[Sharon]

That's very odd. My Fluval(not the same model as yours) is a couple of years old, and no problems. Something is wrong...Can you move the intake up above the sand more, so that it doesn't get into the motor. Can you return to the place of purchase for a replacement? There IS a warranty...

[Lady Hobbs]

First thing I would do would be to grab a hacksaw and cut about four inches off that uplift tube to get it away from the sand. Next thing I would check to make sure no air stone is near that tube so air is not getting sucked up into the filter. But really, other than that, I can not understand what could have slowed your flow down. The only time I notice mine has slowed down is when my filter media is dirty. Could it be full of sand which is impedding the flow? You may have to clean that media.

[Fishguy2727]

Ditto with Hobbs, All my tanks have sand and in all of them the intake is no more than halfway down the tank. A clogged ball in the intake can definitely cut flow down dramatically. Is the flow normal after you clean it out?

[klare&dave]

Thanks ever so much, I will have a crack at raising the inlet, I think I may have a shorter tube about. I do routinely check and clean or replace my media and no air running under the inlet, To be honest we don't really think it's running 100% after a change so if none of this works it may well be a return jobby!

Also I just read in a substrate thread a suggestion to protect your filter when using sand is to put a filter sponge around the inlet, Is this a common soloution? Thanks :-D

[duce]

ive got a 405 on my 55gl and i also use sand!
when i first got the 405 it was powerful but kept being clogged with sand.i have just raised the in-take part .
what media did you recieve with ur 405?
duce.
:goldfish: