Fluval U-Seris Filters

[fishman256]

Hello,

I have seen these filter advertised in a magazine recently and wondered if anyone had got one?

[JamieH]

Hello,

I have seen these filter advertised in a magazine recently and wondered if anyone had got one?

Yes.

I hate it...

The inside top of the filter is open so you can;t completely submerge it or it won't work... but the instructions don' make this clear.

Also, when the top is out of the water, the lid vibrates.

I bought 2 fluval U4's and they went on ebay within i week... replaced with eheim 2212 pick up filters.

[Jgray152]

I Looked at those at the LFS and the cartridges fit pretty close to each other. Didn't seem to mater if the top was open or not, the water being filtered really only had one path to flow.

I doubt hagen would make an underwater filter that would not be able to be completely submerged.

Little Video on it
http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/show_article.php?article_id=713

[JakeH]

Check this link... http://www.hagen.com/uk/aquatic/addinfo/fluvaluseries.cfm Scroll down to where it says "adjustable 3-way flow". The illustration for "top output" clearly shows the whole filter underwater. Maybe something was wrong with yours?... I just find these things too pricey for small tanks.

[JamieH]

I Looked at those at the LFS and the cartridges fit pretty close to each other. Didn't seem to mater if the top was open or not, the water being filtered really only had one path to flow.

I doubt hagen would make an underwater filter that would not be able to be completely submerged.

Little Video on it
http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/show_article.php?article_id=713


nope you're wrong, the water can completely bypass the mechanical cartridge if you submerge it fully... the entire top inside under the lid is a cavity.#


but hey.,.. when you buy one and find that out feel free to remember me.

[JakeH]

I dont think he's calling you a liar or anything... It's just not very common to hear such a bad review of a Fluval product. Especially since you're saying the design is flawed, not just low-quality or noisy or some other normal complaint. Those kinds of complaints are easier to swallow when Fluval is known for their design/R&D work.

[JamieH]

I dont think he's calling you a liar or anything... It's just not very common to hear such a bad review of a Fluval product. Especially since you're saying the design is flawed, not just low-quality or noisy or some other normal complaint. Those kinds of complaints are easier to swallow when Fluval is known for their design/R&D work.


i have been keeping fish for 21 years... trust me... i didn;t shell out £80 on two filters to sell them on a whim.

the lid is hollow.... you can see that in the images - when the filter is fully submerged water can flow straight over the top of the outside two cartridges.

it may be hard to believe, but it is true.

i'm not some sort of fluval hater either.... i have a 405 and love that to bits.

[Jgray152]

nope you're wrong, the water can completely bypass the mechanical cartridge if you submerge it fully... the entire top inside under the lid is a cavity.#


but hey.,.. when you buy one and find that out feel free to remember me. I know there is a cavity but what I am trying to say is that I don't believe water is being forced through the mechanical media so the water that is being sucked through it starts on the side and flows through the mechanical media and into the bio media and then pushed through the output. The tops of the cartridges don't have a large void between them so the very little tiny bit of water that would bypass is not enough to say this filter does not work.

Just because there is a cavity and water fills this void, does not mean water is bypassing the mechanical media.

I am not saying this filter is 100% bypass free because I highly doubt that but just because there is a void up at the top means nothing.

when the filter is fully submerged water can flow straight over the top of the outside two cartridges.The water can flow over all the cartridges but this does not mean in any way that, that specific water is bypassing the media.

it may be hard to believe, but it is true.

I believe your statement about the water flowing over the cartridges because I saw that 100% possibility the first few seconds I looked at these filters.

[Jgray152]

Next time I go to the LFS I will take some pics and investigate the design more to see how the engineering is.

According to this pic, there is not a whole lot of room between the cartridges for the amount of bypass you speak of at the moderate flow rates these offer.

Like another member said, I am not calling you a liar, only think you may have looked at the engineering the wrong way.
http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/images/fluval_u2.jpg

[Cheetah]

I've got two of the previous models of fluval in tank filters. Filled them with ceramic rings and hide them in the display tank.

Then when I need to set up a quarantine or hospital tank I just pull them out. Works for my purpose, not sure how they would fare by themselves though.

Posted on mobile.monsterfishkeepers.com

[JamieH]

http://i32.tinypic.com/2wrnbeh.jpg

i've marked the openings... there is a grid along the top of the bio cartridge thats completely open at the top... when submerged the water can take the path of least resistance and flow up the side, over the top and straight down the middle...

[Jgray152]

i've marked the openings... there is a grid along the top of the bio cartridge thats completely open at the top... when submerged the water can take the path of least resistance and flow up the side, over the top and straight down the middle...Hmmm, I was wondering if those ribs were an open grill or not. Thanks for the clarification.

Now I am really going to have to look at this filter. Some Silicone should fix :) lol. Stupid Hagen.

[selki]

Hagen messed up :O lol

[JamieH]

Hmmm, I was wondering if those ribs were an open grill or not. Thanks for the clarification.

Now I am really going to have to look at this filter. Some Silicone should fix :) lol. Stupid Hagen.


it wont be fixed with silicone... there's 3mm or so gap between the cartridges which allows you to slide them. better filters out there for the money.


try the new eheim biopower internal.

[fwiffo]

i built my own underwater internal filter out of a jiff peaute butter jar. i just drilled out the bottom, put a white plastic sink strainer there, drileld a hole in the lid for the powerhead and presto, i built a simple underwater filter. next, the thing was filled with bio max and filter floss. finally,i spray painted it black to blend it in.

why buy when you can make?!

[JakeH]

good idea