Just got a Fluval from a existing tank...

[TommyB]

My mother gave me her 55 gallon tank and the Fluval 404 she had with it.

Is there any maintenance i need to do to this thing? When should i replace the media?

Is this a good filter? It seems nice and quite compared to my Emperor 400 in my other tank.

 

[mike the zealot]

a 404? I'm getting ready to buy a 304 for my new 55... is it going to be big enough?

 

[TommyB]

I'm not sure, but i know my step dad thinks bigger is better. He probly just tried to buy the most expensive the the LFS had. He's a sucker for a good salesman.

 

[geoff]

The 304 pumps 260 gal/hour and is made for up to 70gal tanks.

The 404 pumps 340 gal/hour and is made for tanks up to 100gal.

I think it will be more then big enough.

Source:
http://www.hagen.com/usa/aquatic/sub_category_psubtype.cfm?CAT=1&SUBCAT=107&PSUBCAT=10720

 

[MrKrispy]

I got a NEW Fluval 304 about two months ago, I love it. The older ones had some issues, but this new design is great. I have mine in my living room under the tank and can't hear it at all. The media baskets are great, you can take a few out to alternately clean them and leave the others alone. I have a 46gal bowfront if it matters.

As for replacing the media, I mainly just have biological media, and the sponges. Rinse them and that is all you need to do. You can use carbon if you like, and it still has room for other stuff.

 

[red belly pacus]

You can download the manuels for the hagen fluval 404 very easily it will tell you the options for all the filters and the types of media. Also depending on the fish you have it does pump a lot of water out so watch where it pumps it to dont stress your fish some love the current though.

 

[red belly pacus]

goto www.Hagen.com/hagen/pdf/aquatic/fluval04newpdf this will help you out very good info on it

 

[sinasster]

Originally posted by mike the zealot
a 404? I'm getting ready to buy a 304 for my new 55... is it going to be big enough?

I use a 304 on my 55 and i almost feel its too much current... so yes plenty big enough. Make sure you buy it offline, as it will cost you almost half. Even compare petsmart/petco web prices to the store prices..... BIG difference.

 

[MrKrispy]

For my Fluval 304 I paid $80 at Drsfostersmith.com

Local Petco had it at $140. LFS was about the same....

 

[red belly pacus]

goto www.bigalsonline.com very very good prices I think you will agree.

 

[mike the zealot]

Well I found a Eheim Classic 2213 for $66.90 at http://aquatic-store.com , so I think I'm going with that. LFS here had Fluval 304s for $159.99 hehe