Fluval 304 not working!!!

[shmookins]

Hi everybody,

I am new to this forum and desperate for some assistannce. My fluval 304 is not working. I have just reset my tank back up after moving house. I have planted it out with live plants and a sand bottom as l have always worked this way. Now alas after plugging the fluval in, there is no sign of the motor running. I have taken out the propeller shaft and cleaned it. It was very rusty which is a bit concerning. This has not helped in the slightest.

I rushed out a brought a temporary internal filter as my live stock is being delivered to me today, but needless to say l much prefer to use the fluval.

Has anybody got any suggestions as to what might be the problem, or is it a plain and simple thing of the motor has burnt out.

Also can anybody tell me what fuse is meant to be in the plug as lm not sure if my sons pinched the old fuse and put a different one in its place.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Orion]

Not sure on the fuse, but you should be able to get onto fluvals website and look up the user manual and it should be able to tell you.

The only moving part of the motor is going to be the impeller. So I would make sure that the magnet part can move freely around the shaft, and that it can move freely once inside the motor housing. The only other sugestion I would have is to just make sure the impeller and everything around it is as clean as possible. Sometimes it can be something very small to stop the whole thing from working.

Sounds like this filter might have been in storage for a while. Is this the case, or has it been in use and you just set everything back up after the move?

 

[TLH]

How come the impeller shaft was rusty? It's a ceramic shaft on a plastic retainer.

The fuse should be a 3 amp.

 

[FroggyFox]

sometimes gunk appears 'rusty' in color...I'd take a toothbrush to it...thats what I've found is the most efficient cleaning tool when it comes to filter parts If when you plug it in there is no sound, I'd guess that the motor could be burnt out...but if it was working before I don't know that there's any reason to suspect that its completely dead. I know mine is a pain to prime (actually get the water flowing) but I don't recall if its a 304 or smaller...its been too long since I got it I guess lol

 

[missdixie256]

You may not have put the impeller back in correctly. I find that if the shaft (the stick through the impeller) is not put back in just so the filter wont work. Also, the rust gunk you are seeing is probably tank gunk that has either dried or stopped up the impeller area. Taking your toothbrush to the inside of the impeller area too. Will help create a better turning radius. I know this sounds like a dumb question, But did you open the hoses back up? Sometimes I forget to do this and I have had my 304 for ages..


I too have a fuval 304 and I HATE to take the friggin thing apart. Sometimes it will work like a charm... Others well... It wont Just one of those things I guess.