Prefilter for Fluval 404?

[Harry Muscle]

I asked this question over in the misc group, but since prefilters seem to
be most often used in planted tanks, I thought I'd ask the same question
here too:

I'm setting up a 55G planted tank with a Fluval 404. I can't decide if I
should get a prefilter for the intake tube or not? What are the pros and
cons of having a prefilter? If it's a good idea, know of any prefilters
that easily attach to the Fluval 404 intake tube? Or maybe one that
I can attach to 1/2 or 3/4 PVC pipe?

Thanks,
Harry




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[Graham Broadbridge]

"Harry Muscle" > wrote in message
...
> I asked this question over in the misc group, but since prefilters seem to
> be most often used in planted tanks, I thought I'd ask the same question
> here too:
>
> I'm setting up a 55G planted tank with a Fluval 404. I can't decide if I
> should get a prefilter for the intake tube or not? What are the pros and
> cons of having a prefilter? If it's a good idea, know of any prefilters
> that easily attach to the Fluval 404 intake tube? Or maybe one that
> I can attach to 1/2 or 3/4 PVC pipe?

Unless you have some fish that likes making salad out of plants (Silver
Dollars spring to mind), I much prefer leaving the filter to do its job, and
not bother pre filtering. Q. What does pre filtering achieve in a normal
planted tank? A. Daily cleaning of the pre-filter :-)

G.




>
> Thanks,
> Harry
>
>
>
>
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I disagree - I use a block of filter foam over the intakes of my Ehiems.
Medium planted tank (90 gallon) medium population. Every water change
(weekly) clean the prefilters. easy. just cut a block of foam to the size
you need (I'd think 2"x2"x2" for a 404) cut an "X" into the end and slip
it over the intake.

Just my 2cents

Kirk Penney

Graham Broadbridge )
wrote: : "Harry Muscle" > wrote in message
: ...
: > I asked this question over in the misc group, but since prefilters seem to
: > be most often used in planted tanks, I thought I'd ask the same question
: > here too:
: >
: > I'm setting up a 55G planted tank with a Fluval 404. I can't decide if I
: > should get a prefilter for the intake tube or not? What are the pros and
: > cons of having a prefilter? If it's a good idea, know of any prefilters
: > that easily attach to the Fluval 404 intake tube? Or maybe one that
: > I can attach to 1/2 or 3/4 PVC pipe?

: Unless you have some fish that likes making salad out of plants (Silver
: Dollars spring to mind), I much prefer leaving the filter to do its job, and
: not bother pre filtering. Q. What does pre filtering achieve in a normal
: planted tank? A. Daily cleaning of the pre-filter :-)

: G.




: >
: > Thanks,
: > Harry
: >
: >
: >
: >
: > -----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
: > http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
: > -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =-----



--

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Remove *NOCANNEDMEAT* to respond

[Graham Broadbridge]

> wrote in message news:uXZbc.4161$G3.41340@localhost...
> I disagree - I use a block of filter foam over the intakes of my Ehiems.
> Medium planted tank (90 gallon) medium population. Every water change
> (weekly) clean the prefilters. easy. just cut a block of foam to the size
> you need (I'd think 2"x2"x2" for a 404) cut an "X" into the end and slip
> it over the intake.

We'll have to agree to disagree :-) I rinse the filter media weekly, so no
need to clean a prefilter :-) That keeps the nitrate levels down to where
I like them. I guess that your maintenance achieves the same end result.

Graham.

[Dave Millman]

wrote:

> I disagree - I use a block of filter foam over the intakes of my Ehiems.
> Medium planted tank (90 gallon) medium population. Every water change
> (weekly) clean the prefilters. easy.

> Graham Broadbridge )
> wrote:
> Q. What does pre filtering achieve in a normal
> : planted tank? A. Daily cleaning of the pre-filter :-)
>

I'm with Graham on this one. My cannister is up to three months between cleanings.
Prefilters clog fast, then faster with age.

[Graham Broadbridge]

"Dave Millman" > wrote in message
...
> wrote:
>
> > I disagree - I use a block of filter foam over the intakes of my Ehiems.
> > Medium planted tank (90 gallon) medium population. Every water change
> > (weekly) clean the prefilters. easy.
>
> > Graham Broadbridge )
> > wrote:
> > Q. What does pre filtering achieve in a normal
> > : planted tank? A. Daily cleaning of the pre-filter :-)
> >
>
> I'm with Graham on this one. My cannister is up to three months between
cleanings.
> Prefilters clog fast, then faster with age.

I don't let my filter get that old though. I clean it weekly just to remove
the amount of crud it picks up, such as small bits of plant which decompose
and add phosphates back into my phosphate free tank :-)


Graham.

[Rick]

"Dave Millman" > wrote in message
...
> wrote:
>
> > I disagree - I use a block of filter foam over the intakes of my Ehiems.
> > Medium planted tank (90 gallon) medium population. Every water change
> > (weekly) clean the prefilters. easy.
>
> > Graham Broadbridge )
> > wrote:
> > Q. What does pre filtering achieve in a normal
> > : planted tank? A. Daily cleaning of the pre-filter :-)
> >
>
> I'm with Graham on this one. My cannister is up to three months between
cleanings.
> Prefilters clog fast, then faster with age.
>


a prefilter in a "heavily" planted tank should allow you more time between
cleaning the canister. It's a lot easier to remove a block of sponge over
the intake or the commercial prefilter that will fit right onto the intake
tube and rinse it then it is to disconnect a 404 filter and remove and clean
all the media. Regardless of prefilter or not I clean my 404 about once
every 4-5 weeks. Not hard to tell when you have used a prefilter or not.

Rick

[C.S.]

"Rick" > wrote in message >...
> "Dave Millman" > wrote in message
> ...
> > wrote:
> >
> > > I disagree - I use a block of filter foam over the intakes of my Ehiems.
> > > Medium planted tank (90 gallon) medium population. Every water change
> > > (weekly) clean the prefilters. easy.
>
> > > Graham Broadbridge )
> > > wrote:
> > > Q. What does pre filtering achieve in a normal
> > > : planted tank? A. Daily cleaning of the pre-filter :-)
> > >
> >
> > I'm with Graham on this one. My cannister is up to three months between
> cleanings.
> > Prefilters clog fast, then faster with age.

I've got a prefilter on mine that I only clean about once every 6-8
weeks. My fluval gets a thorough cleaning once every 3 months. I have
a pic of my tank posted here at this forum check it out:

http://www.pricenetwork.ca/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14667

As you can see my tank is heavily planted and I've got about 20 happy
fish in total.
> >
>
>
> a prefilter in a "heavily" planted tank should allow you more time between
> cleaning the canister. It's a lot easier to remove a block of sponge over
> the intake or the commercial prefilter that will fit right onto the intake
> tube and rinse it then it is to disconnect a 404 filter and remove and clean
> all the media. Regardless of prefilter or not I clean my 404 about once
> every 4-5 weeks. Not hard to tell when you have used a prefilter or not.
>
> Rick