HELP - quick fluval question

[Zach]

I just got done installing a Fluval 204 filter on my tank. This is my first
canister filter. The instructions say to start the filter without the water
being above the output nozzle. Now that I have it running, can I let the
water now go above the output nozzle or will it cause some harm?

Thanks for the help,

Zach

[Graeme]

"Zach" > wrote in message
...
> I just got done installing a Fluval 204 filter on my tank. This is my
first
> canister filter. The instructions say to start the filter without the
water
> being above the output nozzle. Now that I have it running, can I let the
> water now go above the output nozzle or will it cause some harm?

Yes you can do. I believe it is recommended though to have the output of
the water "break" the water surface (or for it to be above the surface).
The reason it asks you to keep it above to start with I think is so you can
see your pumping action to prime the filter has worked.

Graeme

[Zach]

Graeme -

Thanks so much for the rapid reply....it is super appreciated :-)


Zach


"Graeme" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Zach" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I just got done installing a Fluval 204 filter on my tank. This is my
> first
> > canister filter. The instructions say to start the filter without the
> water
> > being above the output nozzle. Now that I have it running, can I let
the
> > water now go above the output nozzle or will it cause some harm?
>
> Yes you can do. I believe it is recommended though to have the output of
> the water "break" the water surface (or for it to be above the surface).
> The reason it asks you to keep it above to start with I think is so you
can
> see your pumping action to prime the filter has worked.
>
> Graeme
>
>

[james mitchell]

>Now that I have it running, can I let the water now go above the output
nozzle?

Sure. If the output nozzle is above the water, it will splash everywhere.
I keep mine a few inches below the surface so it doesn't splash too bad
during partial water changes. You may want it closer to the surface for
agitation if you don't run an air pump.

Another helpful hint:
After servicing the canister (media change, cleaning, etc), you don't
have to lift the output nozzle above the water surface to restart if you
fill the canister with water before reconnecting it to the Aquastop. Fill
canister with tank water, if possible, to avoid killing benefitial bacteria.
The siphon will begin on it's own after powering the unit. If for some
reason it doesn't, remove power immediately to avoid burning out the motor.
Then pump the siphon starter a few times and try again (I've never had to do
this, YMMV).

HTH,
Jim

[Dinky]

"Zach" > wrote in message
...
> I just got done installing a Fluval 204 filter on my tank. This is my
first
> canister filter. The instructions say to start the filter without the
water
> being above the output nozzle. Now that I have it running, can I let the
> water now go above the output nozzle or will it cause some harm?
>
> Thanks for the help,
>
> Zach
>
>

Nope, fill'er up. The reason for this is that if both the inlet and outlet
are immersed, a siphon cannot be created, and the canister will be difficult
to get started. Now that it's running, you can position the outlet wherever
you like, above the water in a fish-only tank improves aeration, below the
surface in a planted tank to reduce surface agitaion and preserve CO2
levels.

billy

[Zach]

Thanks everyone,

Everything is up and running perfectly. This is for my moderately planted
29 gallon taht suffered a disaster by an unreliable friend while I was away
for 5 weeks on business. Now that I am back home, and forced to restart the
tank(at least the fish, and a heavy pruning), I thought I would upgrade the
filter. Now if I could get these snails (all 10k of them ;-) out of the
tank I'd be happy.

Thanks again .....I really do love this list for a ll the great info.

Zach


"Dinky" > wrote in message
link.net...
>
> "Zach" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I just got done installing a Fluval 204 filter on my tank. This is my
> first
> > canister filter. The instructions say to start the filter without the
> water
> > being above the output nozzle. Now that I have it running, can I let
the
> > water now go above the output nozzle or will it cause some harm?
> >
> > Thanks for the help,
> >
> > Zach
> >
> >
>
> Nope, fill'er up. The reason for this is that if both the inlet and outlet
> are immersed, a siphon cannot be created, and the canister will be
difficult
> to get started. Now that it's running, you can position the outlet
wherever
> you like, above the water in a fish-only tank improves aeration, below the
> surface in a planted tank to reduce surface agitaion and preserve CO2
> levels.
>
> billy
>
>

[Graeme]

"james mitchell" > wrote in message
. com...
> Sure. If the output nozzle is above the water, it will splash everywhere.
> I keep mine a few inches below the surface so it doesn't splash too bad
> during partial water changes. You may want it closer to the surface for
> agitation if you don't run an air pump.
>
> Another helpful hint:
> After servicing the canister (media change, cleaning, etc), you don't
> have to lift the output nozzle above the water surface to restart if you
> fill the canister with water before reconnecting it to the Aquastop. Fill
> canister with tank water, if possible, to avoid killing benefitial
bacteria.
> The siphon will begin on it's own after powering the unit. If for some
> reason it doesn't, remove power immediately to avoid burning out the
motor.
> Then pump the siphon starter a few times and try again (I've never had to
do
> this, YMMV).

I have also just purchased my Fluval 204 (been used to Internals before) so
I haven't yet had to need to clean or add new filter media - but reading the
manual I didn't think you needed to empty the filter of water? Just use the
Aqua-Stop, switch of the power (or the other way around) and then open the
case?

While I am hi-jacking Zach's thread :-) in the 204 model in the top media
basket you have a kind of tray which sits into the basket - what is that
meant to be used for? Is it to divide the top basket into 2 separate ones,
or just to limit what you can place (space wise) into the top?

Graeme

> HTH,
> Jim
>
>

[Dinky]

"Graeme" > wrote in message
...
> I have also just purchased my Fluval 204 (been used to Internals before)
so
> I haven't yet had to need to clean or add new filter media - but reading
the
> manual I didn't think you needed to empty the filter of water? Just use
the
> Aqua-Stop, switch of the power (or the other way around) and then open the
> case?
>
You don't have to empty it before opening. You *do* want to empty it during
servivcing, the gunk at the bottom of the canister is NASTY.


> While I am hi-jacking Zach's thread :-) in the 204 model in the top media
> basket you have a kind of tray which sits into the basket - what is that
> meant to be used for? Is it to divide the top basket into 2 separate
ones,
> or just to limit what you can place (space wise) into the top?
>
I have Some Eheim Eheifubustrat (sp) in those baskets. If I had a need, I
could put a bag of carbon or something in there.

[Iain Miller]

> Now if I could get these snails (all 10k of them ;-) out of the
> tank I'd be happy.

3 clown loaches should fix that!

I.

[Zach]

Iain --
I thought about adding the clown loaches, but i only have a 29 gallon and
don;t really have room for expanding to a larger tank. I thought it would
ultimately be considered cruel to have 3 loaches in this tank...and they are
supposed to bekept only in groups...I think? Since I am starting
fishless....This might be a good time to try and change the substrate over
to Flourite, something that I wanted to do in the beginning.

Thanks,

Zach


"Iain Miller" > wrote in message
...
>
> > Now if I could get these snails (all 10k of them ;-) out of the
> > tank I'd be happy.
>
> 3 clown loaches should fix that!
>
> I.
>
>

[STEELHEAD]

it will be fine now
"Zach" > wrote in message
...
> I just got done installing a Fluval 204 filter on my tank. This is my
first
> canister filter. The instructions say to start the filter without the
water
> being above the output nozzle. Now that I have it running, can I let the
> water now go above the output nozzle or will it cause some harm?
>
> Thanks for the help,
>
> Zach
>
>