Re: Fluval 404 disaster

[Stan]

Yes I know what you mean.

What's really fun is having the top slide open when you start it up.

I have found that the big O-ring will overtime get non-slippery and when
you close the top it will hold back some tension instead of sliding
fully into place. This seems to happen whether it or the case is wet or
not. I lubricate these days with petroleum jelly and has not happened
since. The top slides closed very easily. Before I had some Vaseline,
I used KY and chapstick.

These days I lubricate all the rubber O-rings on all my filters, even my
Emperors.


"Dan J.S." > wrote in message
...
> I turned the filters off (two fluval 404s on a 150 gallon tank) to do
a
> partial water change. As I am doing the change, I notice water
creeping from
> under the stand. Sure enough, one of the filters is leaking. This is
the
> second time in one year that this has happened (leak when they are
off).
> Anyway, because we had a bunch of storms in the area, this was always
in the
> back of my head. Today I tossed the one year old filter (I would not
even
> consider selling it) and have placed two Emperor 400s on order from
big als.
> I don't think I will ever buy another Hagen product. Last time this
> happened, and I called Hangen, I was told this is unusual. A quick
google
> news search would suggest other wise. If this happened while I was on
> vacation, I would have 150 gallons on the floor. At least with the
> suspension filters, that's one less worry.
>
>
>

[Stan]

Thanks, did not know that. The KY liquid worked great and dissolved
away after all was in position....but it was embarrassing to have on my
fish shelf. :)

"NetMax" > wrote in message
.. .
> That's a good idea (lubricating all the O-rings regularly), especially
as
> canisters are tight fits. I've been told to avoid petroleum jelly as
it
> breaks down rubber O-rings (but not silicon O-rings). Plumber's
grease,
> available in hardware stores is potable and supposedly good for any
> O-ring material.
>
> NetMax
>
> "Stan" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Yes I know what you mean.
> >
> > What's really fun is having the top slide open when you start it up.
> >
> > I have found that the big O-ring will overtime get non-slippery and
> when
> > you close the top it will hold back some tension instead of sliding
> > fully into place. This seems to happen whether it or the case is
wet
> or
> > not. I lubricate these days with petroleum jelly and has not
happened
> > since. The top slides closed very easily. Before I had some
Vaseline,
> > I used KY and chapstick.
> >
> > These days I lubricate all the rubber O-rings on all my filters,
even
> my
> > Emperors.
> >
> >
> > "Dan J.S." > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > I turned the filters off (two fluval 404s on a 150 gallon tank) to
do
> > a
> > > partial water change. As I am doing the change, I notice water
> > creeping from
> > > under the stand. Sure enough, one of the filters is leaking. This
is
> > the
> > > second time in one year that this has happened (leak when they are
> > off).
> > > Anyway, because we had a bunch of storms in the area, this was
always
> > in the
> > > back of my head. Today I tossed the one year old filter (I would
not
> > even
> > > consider selling it) and have placed two Emperor 400s on order
from
> > big als.
> > > I don't think I will ever buy another Hagen product. Last time
this
> > > happened, and I called Hangen, I was told this is unusual. A quick
> > google
> > > news search would suggest other wise. If this happened while I was
on
> > > vacation, I would have 150 gallons on the floor. At least with the
> > > suspension filters, that's one less worry.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[Dan J.S.]

"Stan" > wrote in message
...
> Yes I know what you mean.
>
> What's really fun is having the top slide open when you start it up.
>
> I have found that the big O-ring will overtime get non-slippery and when
> you close the top it will hold back some tension instead of sliding
> fully into place. This seems to happen whether it or the case is wet or
> not. I lubricate these days with petroleum jelly and has not happened
> since. The top slides closed very easily. Before I had some Vaseline,
> I used KY and chapstick.
>
> These days I lubricate all the rubber O-rings on all my filters, even my
> Emperors.
>

I lubricated everything a month ago using the non-toxic 95% pure silicone.

[Dan J.S.]

"Stan" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Dan J.S." > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > "Stan" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > Yes I know what you mean.
> > >
> > > What's really fun is having the top slide open when you start it up.
> > >
> > > I have found that the big O-ring will overtime get non-slippery and
> when
> > > you close the top it will hold back some tension instead of sliding
> > > fully into place. This seems to happen whether it or the case is
> wet or
> > > not. I lubricate these days with petroleum jelly and has not
> happened
> > > since. The top slides closed very easily. Before I had some
> Vaseline,
> > > I used KY and chapstick.
> > >
> > > These days I lubricate all the rubber O-rings on all my filters,
> even my
> > > Emperors.
> > >
> >
> > I lubricated everything a month ago using the non-toxic 95% pure
> silicone.
> >
> >
>
> Well, all I can suggest then is that you will be happy with twin
> Emperors. I have 3 on my 150 gallon along with the Fluval 404. I
> actually bought the Fluval after I decided to add a UV and needed a way
> to pump water through it. It is a pain to service (especially with the
> occasional leakage) and it weighs a lot to lift from the floor over the
> top of my tank. I keep waiting for the day when I quick disconnect the
> line and they do not stop, or a hose pops off when the lines get
> wiggled.
>
> Floss works great sandwiched in the Emperors media baskets. I have a
> total of 6 of these filters and they are handsdown my favorite of them
> all......I do have a 25 year old whisper that is still going.....who
> knew...
>
>

Thanks! I had one of my 55 a while back! It was a great filter. I can't wait
till they arrive from Big Als so I can toss the other Fluval. Thanks for the
floss suggestion. That's what I will do!

[Graham Broadbridge]

"Stan" > wrote in message
...

> These days I lubricate all the rubber O-rings on all my filters, even my
> Emperors.

I've done that on my eheims ever since one sprung a surprise on me one night
after I'd gone to bed. Eheim actually supply a tube of petroleum jelly with
the filter, but its role was forgotten until that incident.

Motto: Always lubricate rubber O-rings when you service the filter :-)


Graham.
>

[Graham Broadbridge]

"Stan" > wrote in message
...
> Thanks, did not know that. The KY liquid worked great and dissolved
> away after all was in position....but it was embarrassing to have on my
> fish shelf. :)

So put in on your bathroom shelf. lol :-)


Graham.

[Dan J.S.]

"Graham Broadbridge" <graham at peachy dot org> wrote in message
u...
> "Stan" > wrote in message
> ...
>
> > These days I lubricate all the rubber O-rings on all my filters, even my
> > Emperors.
>
> I've done that on my eheims ever since one sprung a surprise on me one
night
> after I'd gone to bed. Eheim actually supply a tube of petroleum jelly
with
> the filter, but its role was forgotten until that incident.
>
> Motto: Always lubricate rubber O-rings when you service the filter :-)
>

I lubed and it still went out a month after the lubbing. Still leaked.

[NetMax]

"Dan J.S." > wrote in message
...
>
> "Graham Broadbridge" <graham at peachy dot org> wrote in message
> u...
> > "Stan" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >
> > > These days I lubricate all the rubber O-rings on all my filters,
even my
> > > Emperors.
> >
> > I've done that on my eheims ever since one sprung a surprise on me
one
> night
> > after I'd gone to bed. Eheim actually supply a tube of petroleum
jelly
> with
> > the filter, but its role was forgotten until that incident.
> >
> > Motto: Always lubricate rubber O-rings when you service the filter
:-)
> >
>
> I lubed and it still went out a month after the lubbing. Still leaked.

When they go without lubrication for a long time (which is probably not
your case), then adding the grease only works temporarily. I'd inspect
the O-ring for damage. The pressure on the O-ring might reverse from
normal running operation (slightly negative?), to when it was turned off
(slightly positive), causing the contact to move to a damaged area of the
O-ring. An incorrect installation (having the O-ring installed too high
up the motor head) might also cause damage.

I would gladly take both your Fluvals. I'm running 8 of the 04 series
right now (7 in the shop and 1 at home). So far (knocking on head ;~),
all working flawlessly. Email me for shipping details, which I would pay
for. Can never have too many filters at home :o)

NetMax

[Dan J.S.]

"NetMax" > wrote in message
.. .
>
> "Dan J.S." > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > "Graham Broadbridge" <graham at peachy dot org> wrote in message
> > u...
> > > "Stan" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > >
> > > > These days I lubricate all the rubber O-rings on all my filters,
> even my
> > > > Emperors.
> > >
> > > I've done that on my eheims ever since one sprung a surprise on me
> one
> > night
> > > after I'd gone to bed. Eheim actually supply a tube of petroleum
> jelly
> > with
> > > the filter, but its role was forgotten until that incident.
> > >
> > > Motto: Always lubricate rubber O-rings when you service the filter
> :-)
> > >
> >
> > I lubed and it still went out a month after the lubbing. Still leaked.
>
> When they go without lubrication for a long time (which is probably not
> your case), then adding the grease only works temporarily. I'd inspect
> the O-ring for damage. The pressure on the O-ring might reverse from
> normal running operation (slightly negative?), to when it was turned off
> (slightly positive), causing the contact to move to a damaged area of the
> O-ring. An incorrect installation (having the O-ring installed too high
> up the motor head) might also cause damage.
>
> I would gladly take both your Fluvals. I'm running 8 of the 04 series
> right now (7 in the shop and 1 at home). So far (knocking on head ;~),
> all working flawlessly. Email me for shipping details, which I would pay
> for. Can never have too many filters at home :o)
>
> NetMax
>
>

The one that leaked, I already tossed. The other one, I still have. Let me
give it some thought.