Fluval 405 canister

[Bok]

We will be getting a 90gal tank that comes with a Fluval 405 that is just a couple of months old. We've heard differing opinions about the filter, everything fromthe best to the worst. What do you think?
Can bulk media be used or does it have to have cartridges?
90gal freshwater community

[Halo819]

I am using the Fluval 405 on my 90 gal Oscar tank.
It is stocked pretty heavy with:
2- 12 inch Oscars
2- 4 inch Pink Convicts
1- 4 inch Jack Dempsey
1- 5 inch Pictus Cat
1- 5 inch Pleco

The 405 keeps my water sparkling clear! Maintenance is a breeze and comes about very infrequently. I would have preferred an FX-5 but they were unavailable to me when I set the tank up. I am very satisfied with the 405!

[Deleted User]

All my filters are fluvals and I have never had a problem with any of them except when I have needed new parts because of there age.

[Bok]

Thanks for the replies folks. One thing I read (complaint) was that it is a nitrate factory.I don't understand that. Nitrates are converted from nitrites so.....??
What kind of media is usuallu used?
Quite a lot of differing opinions about them and as I mentioned they go from one extreme to the other.
I have a friend that uses two and she swears by them.
The load will be 1 bala shark, 4 neons that come with the tank plus our 8 white clouds, 10 or so guppies 2 corys, 2 ottos and a 6" pleco.

[terrapin24h]

Essentially, "nitrate factory" refers to the filter's ability to produce massive amounts of nitrate(which in very high concentration are toxic) due their capacity to hold inordinate amounts of debris. If you don't clean it enough, said debris collects and rots in the filter, fostering a massive beneficial bacteria colony that processes all that waste into nitrate. Too much of a good thing, as it were. However, this is a trait(no pun intended) of ANY canister filter, and even bio wheel HOB filters. The bacteria gets all the oxygen, space, and food it needs to thrive, and it does. The solution? clean the thing(get the rotting debris out of the filter), do proper water changes, and don't over feed(IOW be a studious fish keeper). I have both a 205 and a 405(just a few months old each) and like them. My media arrangement in the 405 on my 65gal tank is as follows, starting at the bottom:
lowest basket: crushed coral in filter bag covered by lots of filter floss
2nd up: lots more floss
3rd up: bio media(i use fluval's that the filter came with)
4th up: yet more bio media covered in floss for polishing(this floss will prob not need replacing but once a year)

--chris

[Bok]

Thank you terrapin. Sounds good and I think that is how we will go. The floss we use is in a sheet (blanket) and is inexpensive. Do you cut to the basket size and use a few layers of it or do you just crumple it up and put it in?

[terrapin24h]

Thank you terrapin. Sounds good and I think that is how we will go. The floss we use is in a sheet (blanket) and is inexpensive. Do you cut to the basket size and use a few layers of it or do you just crumple it up and put it in?

Depends. If i have the sheet stuff i do layers, if i have the fluffy mass stuff i just use a big wad. The thing to keep in mind about floss is that it compresses once it gets wet--so you need to over stuff the tray a little bit

Also, another thing i forgot to mention about my 405. It has a habit of developing impeller rattle(despite fluval sending me a new impeller), but i have learned the trick to fix it. On the 405 the impeller shaft gets inserted into a little rubber seat which then goes into a hole in the bottom of the impeller well. The trick is to pull the shaft out(with the seat on it) and then re-insert the shaft only part way. Then put the impeller back in then replace the well cover. I've done this twice now and it seems to eliminate the rattle. I don't know if yours will do this, but keep that in the back of your mind in case it ever does. Once done, the filter runs very quiet, lots of flow.

--chris

[Bok]

That's interesting about the impeller seat. A common complaint about the filter from those that don't like it is the rattle. I found it odd that some were quiet, some weren't.
So,with the seat too high on the shaft it doesn't seat properly. Makes sense.
Looking forward to getting this tank and having a good look at the Fluval. Hopefully this Saturday!
Now, where do we put our refrigerator...hmmmmm...

[Paw Broon]

I'm jealous of all you people with big tanks! Sounds like it will be a nice tank, are you going to bump up any numbers of the fish like the neons or corries?

[terrapin24h]

That's interesting about the impeller seat. A common complaint about the filter from those that don't like it is the rattle. I found it odd that some were quiet, some weren't.
So,with the seat too high on the shaft it doesn't seat properly. Makes sense.
Looking forward to getting this tank and having a good look at the Fluval. Hopefully this Saturday!
Now, where do we put our refrigerator...hmmmmm...

I think it's actually not the stem in the seat, it's the stem *and* seat in the hole in the impeller well. What i think happens is that there is too much vertical clearance between the top of the seat and the bottom of the impeller well cover. By only inserting the seat and stem partially into the hole in the well, you reduce that clearance and alter water flow/pressure enough to keep the impeller from cavitating in the well and making the clacking sound(in hind sight, nylon washers stacked on top of the impeller would prob accomplisht the same affect). I thought to try it for two reasons: first i have a eclipse filter that does the same thing. If you sink the impeller in the well it rattles. Pull it up a bit and it's silent. Second, I noticed on the 405 when it was rattling if I closed the aquastop valve about 1/4 way the rattle would go away. This told me that the impeller was too loose. When the back pressure against it went up, it was put under enough load to stop bouncing about. Just a theory. Hopefully you won't have a clackety one and this discussion will be moot Now go move that fridge!

--chris