Fluval 103 help.

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
O

oii

Candiru
MFK Member
Oct 22, 2007
489
2
46
Michigan
I just picked up a ton of stuff off of my local free cycle.

3 x 5g tanks w/ lids
1 x 10g tank w/lid
3 x 1/2 working lights
2-3 bubblers
3-4 heaters
1-2 filters
1-2lb's of carbon
gravel
shells
3-4 x sponge filters
a couple pieces of decor
and some other stuff..

one of the filters I got was a fluval 103. I looked in the book and everything but I can't figure out what size tank its suitable for. I also can't get it to cycle water. I filled it about 80% full of water and it's still not sucking good enough. I checked all the seals, they seem to be fine. It sounds like its trying to work.

I'm going to try to fill it up with water and see if that helps. I've never used a canister filter so I don't really know. Should I have it above or below my tank or what?
 
maybe I'm a idiot and I just didn't know this but I sucked on the output really hard for a second or two and this thing started working like a charm.

it's a beast but I still don't know what tank I should use it in?
 
I have it hooked up to my 30g right now which has a whisper 30 on it. Once I finish setting up my 10g tank I'm going to throw it in there w/ a small sponge filter and heater that I also scored for free! I'm just excited that I got all this stuff for free haha. free cycle owns.
 
here is a terrible picture of the 10g tank I put it in..

fbd5b320.jpg


I have the out of my fluval connected to a spraybar attachment which you can see shooting up bubbles in the front. It works pretty good. I have it angled to squirt everything to the backside of the tank where the input is. I'm hoping that and the sponge filter I have in there will cycle the tank good enough to keep something in. I wanted to use this tank to either keep my feeder goldfish in or to keep my convict fry in until I can get rid of them.
 
Why would a huge, heavy canister go above the tank?
The current small Fluval canister series is the '05'. Meaning, 105,205,305,405. The series before was the 04 series. The 103 is probably 4-6 years old.
 
Mystix212;1260534; said:
Why would a huge, heavy canister go above the tank?
The current small Fluval canister series is the '05'. Meaning, 105,205,305,405. The series before was the 04 series. The 103 is probably 4-6 years old.
Click to expand...

because I am a moron and I have no idea how to use a canister filter.. What are your suggestions? I don't really know where to put this thing. It currently sits at the same level as the tank itself.
 
Canister filters go BELOW the level of the aquarium...that's most likely why your having problems with it. You can use it on your 30 gallon tank with no problems at all but due to it's age I would recomend running ALL low restriction bio-media in it. You should also look into picking up a pair of shut off valve/ quick disconnects for the hoses.

When trying to prime these old units (and even the new ones in fact) It's best to COMPLETELY fill the canister and then plug it in for a couple of moments...then turn it off for an equil amount of time. aftewr the air bibbles stop you can fire it back up and let it run. The motor in on the TOP of the unit so unless it's totally full it wont move any water on its own. You stumbled on one of the old ways to prime one of these beasts...sucking on the return line.

The 03 series is anywhere from 6 to 12 years old and not one of my favorites...but hey...it's hard to argue with the price..
 
first off I do have the shut offs and quick disconnects but I don't know what qualifies as low restriction bio-media. Right now I have a sponge, carbon, and then some clay rock things, nothing too compacted other than the carbon which I'd like to keep.

secondly.. I don't have enough hose to run this thing below my tank but I imagine I can get some.. Is it going to hurt my filter to run it at the same level as my tank until I can get some longer hose for it? Also.. did you guys just mean my canister has to go below the tank or do I have to actually plumb it into the bottom of my tank?
 
it will cut the flow rate down a great deal...

Keep the sponge in the bottom...scrap the rest and pick up enough scrubbies or ceramic bio-rings (noodles) to fill the other baskets.

Also be careful with the motor housing o-ring...at this age it's not what it used to be. Spray a little Pam cooking spary on it next time you servace it.

The hose is just standard stuff from home depot. The filter will work a LOT better if its placed below the water level of the tank.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom