Fluval 304 problem

[baotchi]

Hi there

I have 2 Fluval 304's that I bought used. The guy said one was working perfectly, and the other needed an impeller shaft assembly. I ordered a new shaft and a new impeller because the old one was broken. Yesterday I installed both filters on my new tank, and one works fine, but the other one seems not to pump water. The impeller runs, the canister fills with water, but it does not pump water.

I checked everything inside, everything seems to be fine, there is no weird noises or anything. It just won't pump. I tried to move it side to side, shake it a little, to evacuate any air bubbles that could have got stuck inside, but nothing makes it start to pump.

Could anyone help me with that? I must admit that it pisses me off a little... Everything else is working, and I want to get this tank running as soon as I can... I know somebody here will know what to do.

Thanks

Simon

 

[Purple]

Ok - let's run through the possibilities......

Does the impellor turn at speed
Is the impellor still turning when running against water pressure as opposed to just air.
Is the hose lock arrangement wide open.
Are the hoses the right way round with the input below water.
Are the hoses kinked or blocked.

That's your check list - and even if you can answer all correctly, one answer must be wrong.

My guess is that the impellor is not seated correctly, and that although it will turn in air, it will not turn in water.

The only way to check that is to immerse the head in water - no pipes - no can - just the head

 

[baotchi]

Okay Purple, thank you very much for that. Let me think about it...

No hoses are kinked or blocked.
Both canisters are sitting right under the tank, so yeah they are below water.
The filter I'm having problem with is a little older and does not have that "hose-lock" thing, so yeah it's open.

All that is left to check is the impeller. I'll do that tonight. I'll whatch it turn, and take the pipes out, and see what happens... Something must be wrong, and I have to find it...

Thanks again

anyone else have any idea ?

Simon

 

[Orion]

You may also want to take out all the media containers in the filter and see what that does. Might have something blocking it.

But I have to say, it does sound that the impeller is just not spining fast enough. So besure to check the well, and that the impeller cover is properly seated on there.

Just wondering, is it making any sounds at all? Could be a crack or leak somewhere allowing air into it, not allowing the vacume to be created.

 

[baotchi]

I tried a few more things.... and nothing works...

I took out the media baskets and sponges, and tried it with water alone. No more vacuum. Well, there is a little, because when I start it, I see the water come trough the clear pipes, the canister fills up, then nothing. There is a big air bubble in the in and out tubes, and they move back and forth if I activate the manual prime lever... But no vacuum.

I removed the top of the canister, removed the round plate that clips and retain the impeller shaft. Then I had everything exposed, I see the impeller turning, and it's strong enough that I can't stop it with my fingers.

Still no vacuum... Now I'm really pissed...

If anyone has another idea of something I could try now, that'd be great.

I am a little desperate right now.

Thanks

Simon

 

[mike the zealot]

When the impeller turns it should be churning that water like crazy. Break your other filter down to the same point and run em side by side. If they run the same then start putting them back together step by step, checking them against each other.

My magnum did the same thing, it would start, and pump a quick jet, then it would trickle. Turned out that the filter cartridge wasn't allowing any water into the center column. I know you're working with a media basket, but I think if you do as I suggested above you'll figure it out, especially having the same model (that works) to compare to.

 

[dana307]

fluvals can be quite tricky. I've had that problem, as well as others, with my fluvals. Some of the time I can't figure it out but just keep taking it apart and redoing it. The shaft isn't broken right? That's the small stick that the fan like thing sits on. Is the rubber ball there? Is it set into the rubber ball right? Other than that, just make sure those clips are on tight and correctly. I've had one stop becuase it wasn't clipped in all the way. Grrr. good luck and keep us posted.

 

[baotchi]

I'll open the working one tomorrow and try to compare them... I will do all that I can, but still, there are only 3 things there... the shaft, the impeller itself and the round cap. The shaft is there, and no there is no rubber ball, it's an early model I think, the one which the shaft is held in place by a yellow platic thing. Everything really seems to be there.

I tried something also, I put it in the kitchen sink, then I pluged it in, and poured water in the IN hole 'til the canister was full. Then I got a moderately powerfull splash of water in the face trough the OUT hole. It means that it pumps... How come it wont pump my tank's water then?!?! Damn this pisses me off

tell you more tomorrow

Simon

 

[baotchi]

I AM SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW

The sucker just started!! I asked for help on Pirana-Fury also and a guy told me to pump the priming lever and then plug the filter while still pumping... At first it sounded weird, but I said to myself, why not... So I tried it and it worked! I am not sure if it worked because of this pump-then-plug thing, or because I pumped like there was no tomorrow for at least 2 minutes after I plugged it in, but all of a sudden bubbles started comming out in the water and YEAH! It was working. This really made my day... I was so pissed about that, I even went to the LFS this afternoon and caught me looking at new filters... Now I'll be able to sleep well.

Thanks to all those who helped me!

*celebrate

Simon

 

[Orion]

Sweet!

I need to remember this trick if mine ever starts acting up like that.

Congrats!!

 

[dana307]

yippeee.

 

[BOWDY]

HIT IT

mide did the same, it would hum, so i would belt it on the head and it would turn, and i still do it to this day, bloody thing. i think the motor/magneto lol has a problem, nothing a good fisting wont fix

 

[BOWDY]

did i say a good fisting ???

 

[baotchi]

ahahah a good fisting

I try not fist mines! Try a fast "finish-him" style pumping on the priming lever instead...

Simon