Rate of flow on Fluval 404

[Ruth]

I have two Fluval 404 on a 125 gal tank. One of them has a pretty
good rate of flow out of the output tube and has a little bit of
pressure (not like a faucet, but substantial). The other one has a
terrible flow rate and I can hardly even feel it when I put my finger
near the output tube, even though it is obviously working.

I'm relatively new to this and took over an already-set up tank. Is
there something wrong with the one Fluval, or is this unevenness
normal across filters fo the same model?

Thanks,
Ruth

[rtk]

Ruth wrote:
> I have two Fluval 404 on a 125 gal tank. One of them has a pretty
> good rate of flow out of the output tube and has a little bit of
> pressure (not like a faucet, but substantial). The other one has a
> terrible flow rate and I can hardly even feel it when I put my finger
> near the output tube, even though it is obviously working.
>
> I'm relatively new to this and took over an already-set up tank. Is
> there something wrong with the one Fluval, or is this unevenness
> normal across filters fo the same model?
>
> Thanks,
> Ruth

Open the top. See the blue thingy? Push the lever so it doesn't cover
the hole so much.

Another Ruth (Kazez)

[NetMax]

"Ruth" > wrote in message
m...
> I have two Fluval 404 on a 125 gal tank. One of them has a pretty
> good rate of flow out of the output tube and has a little bit of
> pressure (not like a faucet, but substantial). The other one has a
> terrible flow rate and I can hardly even feel it when I put my finger
> near the output tube, even though it is obviously working.
>
> I'm relatively new to this and took over an already-set up tank. Is
> there something wrong with the one Fluval, or is this unevenness
> normal across filters fo the same model?
>
> Thanks,
> Ruth

Their flow rates should be comparable so you are looking for something
which is causing a restriction. This could be anywhere, from the intake
screen, debris in the hoses, build-up in the media etc. If you swap the
2 filter canisters, and the problem follows the filters, then it's
inside, otherwise it's in the hoses. Swap the media boxes and if the
problem follows the box, then the media is clogged, otherwise it would be
a restriction in the head (ie: impeller cavity, shut-off valve etc).
This substitution methods narrows it down to one of 3 places to look.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[ManWorld42]

rtk > wrote in message >...
> Ruth wrote:
> > I have two Fluval 404 on a 125 gal tank. One of them has a pretty
> > good rate of flow out of the output tube and has a little bit of
> > pressure (not like a faucet, but substantial). The other one has a
> > terrible flow rate and I can hardly even feel it when I put my finger
> > near the output tube, even though it is obviously working.
> >
> > I'm relatively new to this and took over an already-set up tank. Is
> > there something wrong with the one Fluval, or is this unevenness
> > normal across filters fo the same model?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Ruth
>
> Open the top. See the blue thingy? Push the lever so it doesn't cover
> the hole so much.
>
Good advice. When I got my Fluval 2+, I noticed that the valve was
pretty much closed.

> Another Ruth (Kazez)

[Ruth]

It turned out to be easier than either of these things. Although
before I figured it out, I did check the blue thingy and it was OK. I
started to swap out components to isolate the problem, and lifted out
the hose assembly from the canister and for some reason, water was
spraying out of the hoses all over my floor. I grabbed towels and
jammed the hoses back into the canister top and locked them down. I
decided I would live with the low flow rate, but then noticed that the
output tube end was floating loose in the tank. It must not have been
on there tightly, and water was probably "leaking" out into the tank
before the actual end of the output tube. I put it back on tightly,
and voila, good pressure out of the output tube - in fact, same as the
other filter!

Now I'm scared to take the hoses off again - I've done it several
times now, without incident, and have no idea what I may have done
wrong.

Thanks for the suggestions!



"NetMax" > wrote in message >...
> "Ruth" > wrote in message
> m...
> > I have two Fluval 404 on a 125 gal tank. One of them has a pretty
> > good rate of flow out of the output tube and has a little bit of
> > pressure (not like a faucet, but substantial). The other one has a
> > terrible flow rate and I can hardly even feel it when I put my finger
> > near the output tube, even though it is obviously working.
> >
> > I'm relatively new to this and took over an already-set up tank. Is
> > there something wrong with the one Fluval, or is this unevenness
> > normal across filters fo the same model?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Ruth
>
> Their flow rates should be comparable so you are looking for something
> which is causing a restriction. This could be anywhere, from the intake
> screen, debris in the hoses, build-up in the media etc. If you swap the
> 2 filter canisters, and the problem follows the filters, then it's
> inside, otherwise it's in the hoses. Swap the media boxes and if the
> problem follows the box, then the media is clogged, otherwise it would be
> a restriction in the head (ie: impeller cavity, shut-off valve etc).
> This substitution methods narrows it down to one of 3 places to look.

[rtk]

Ruth wrote:

I
> started to swap out components to isolate the problem, and lifted out
> the hose assembly from the canister and for some reason, water was
> spraying out of the hoses all over my floor. I grabbed towels and
> jammed the hoses back into the canister top and locked them down.

The last time I did something of the sort the spray went into the power
strip which then made a scary noise, so I tried to press the red button
to turn it off and I got shocked all the way up my arms. Pretty scary
business.

The other Ruth (Kazez)

[Ruth]

Did you figure out what you did wrong? I am going to do a water
change tonight, and am thinking I should rinse out the filter sponges
from the canister at the same time, but I'm scared to death to lift
the lever to open the canisters. Do you think I can not worry about
cleaning the sponges, as long as the water returning from the filters,
through the output tube in other words, is clean?

Thanks,
Ruth


rtk > wrote in message >...
> Ruth wrote:
>
> I
> > started to swap out components to isolate the problem, and lifted out
> > the hose assembly from the canister and for some reason, water was
> > spraying out of the hoses all over my floor. I grabbed towels and
> > jammed the hoses back into the canister top and locked them down.
>
> The last time I did something of the sort the spray went into the power
> strip which then made a scary noise, so I tried to press the red button
> to turn it off and I got shocked all the way up my arms. Pretty scary
> business.
>
> The other Ruth (Kazez)

[rtk]

Unplug and TAKE THE CANNISTERS OUT OF THE WATER. Take it all apart at
the sink, rinse it and put it back. Make sure the inside of the
cannister feels smooth or it will be difficult to get apart next time.
Been there, done that.

the other Ruth


Ruth wrote:

> Did you figure out what you did wrong? I am going to do a water
> change tonight, and am thinking I should rinse out the filter sponges
> from the canister at the same time, but I'm scared to death to lift
> the lever to open the canisters. Do you think I can not worry about
> cleaning the sponges, as long as the water returning from the filters,
> through the output tube in other words, is clean?
>
> Thanks,
> Ruth
>
>
> rtk > wrote in message >...
>
>>Ruth wrote:
>>
>> I
>>
>>>started to swap out components to isolate the problem, and lifted out
>>>the hose assembly from the canister and for some reason, water was
>>>spraying out of the hoses all over my floor. I grabbed towels and
>>>jammed the hoses back into the canister top and locked them down.
>>
>>The last time I did something of the sort the spray went into the power
>>strip which then made a scary noise, so I tried to press the red button
>>to turn it off and I got shocked all the way up my arms. Pretty scary
>>business.
>>
>>The other Ruth (Kazez)

[rtk]

rtk wrote:
> Unplug and TAKE THE CANNISTERS OUT OF THE WATER. Take it all apart at
> the sink, rinse it and put it back. Make sure the inside of the
> cannister feels smooth or it will be difficult to get apart next time.
> Been there, done that.

In answer to myself: I will write on the blackboard 100 times that a
Fluval 404 is not a Fluval 4+. Everything I advised with such great
authority should be tossed out.

Ruth Kazez