Fluvals Flow Rates Anyone Managed To Get Them

[mystic.bertie]

years ago i tried this with a fluval external number 4 (the big one) i measure the flow rate the tank was getting and it was nowhere near what the fulval spec was, after much experimenting and checking flow rates i found that the thinner hose on the supply side was not even supplying enough water anywhere near what the filter was meant to deliver, so to cut a long story short i used the 22mm white plastic push fit plumbing elbows and the heavy fluval tubiong on both supply and output and i managed to get something very close to the specified flow rate, this was using 2 sponges and bio filter media.

i recently bought a full set up with a fluval 304 and 205 external filters, so i measured the output of the 304 and im getting 600lph with the standard tubing and fittings, i checked the water that was actually getting to the filter by measuring the amount by siphoning it and it only recieves 800lph approx, so there is no chance of the filter putting out 1000lph it specifies when the hosing they supply wont even deliver that to the pump, so has anyone recently done any modifications to their modern fluvals to improve the flow rates. As i have many malawis im looking for high flow rates so trying to maximise these filters.

the fluval fittings look decent and clend in with the tank well so i dont want something that will stand out as its a nice show tank in my living room.

 

[Guerillah]

years ago i tried this with a fluval external number 4 (the big one) i measure the flow rate the tank was getting and it was nowhere near what the fulval spec was, after much experimenting and checking flow rates i found that the thinner hose on the supply side was not even supplying enough water anywhere near what the filter was meant to deliver, so to cut a long story short i used the 22mm white plastic push fit plumbing elbows and the heavy fluval tubiong on both supply and output and i managed to get something very close to the specified flow rate, this was using 2 sponges and bio filter media.

i recently bought a full set up with a fluval 304 and 205 external filters, so i measured the output of the 304 and im getting 600lph with the standard tubing and fittings, i checked the water that was actually getting to the filter by measuring the amount by siphoning it and it only recieves 800lph approx, so there is no chance of the filter putting out 1000lph it specifies when the hosing they supply wont even deliver that to the pump, so has anyone recently done any modifications to their modern fluvals to improve the flow rates. As i have many malawis im looking for high flow rates so trying to maximise these filters.

the fluval fittings look decent and clend in with the tank well so i dont want something that will stand out as its a nice show tank in my living room.

Sorry to go kind of off topic but... what flow rate did you find the fluval 405 to be outputting?

 

[mystic.bertie]

Sorry to go kind of off topic but... what flow rate did you find the fluval 405 to be outputting?

hi it was a while ago and it was ye old 403 with the old round filter sponges, i cant say what i got going back into the tank but it was maybe about 100lph less than the specified flow rate.

 

[puntoturbo]

Hi! yea! i have a 405 running,i replaced the ribbed hoseing with eheim 16mm tubing and cut them a short as possible and regulary clean them out,since i have done this the flow rate has improved greatly! ALSO on my FX5s i again replaced the ribbed hoseing with eheim 25mm tubing again cut them as short as possible and the flow has increased ALOT.In my fx5s and 405 i just use Biomax in all baskets and the foam/sponge on the outa.

 

[mystic.bertie]

Hi! yea! i have a 405 running,i replaced the ribbed hoseing with eheim 16mm tubing and cut them a short as possible and regulary clean them out,since i have done this the flow rate has improved greatly! ALSO on my FX5s i again replaced the ribbed hoseing with eheim 25mm tubing again cut them as short as possible and the flow has increased ALOT.In my fx5s and 405 i just use Biomax in all baskets and the foam/sponge on the outa.

hi, i looked up the parts list, for the 304 i have, the hoses for the 404 are the same as the 304 so the 404 is held back even more by the hoses they supply, where did you get the eheim tubing and what did you use for bends and nozzle ?

 

[puntoturbo]

I just bought the eheim tubing from my local aquatic fish store! but im sure you can find a place online that sells eheim tubing.On my 405 i replaced the output nozzle with a eheim diffuser BUT if you want more FLOW i would go with the origonal nozzle that comes with the 404/405. I dont rate spray bars UNLESS you cut them shorter so theres not as many holes meaning more stronger output/flow! i only do this with spray bars on my Eheim canisters.If your looking for current,throw one or two LARGE power heads in your tank alongside your fluval canisters!

 

[Knowdafish]

I just bought the eheim tubing from my local aquatic fish store! but im sure you can find a place online that sells eheim tubing.On my 405 i replaced the output nozzle with a eheim diffuser BUT if you want more FLOW i would go with the origonal nozzle that comes with the 404/405. I dont rate spray bars UNLESS you cut them shorter so theres not as many holes meaning more stronger output/flow! i only do this with spray bars on my Eheim canisters.If your looking for current,throw one or two LARGE power heads in your tank alongside your fluval canisters!

Doesn't a shorter spray bar with fewer holes = more of a restriction and LESS flow?

 

[puntoturbo]

Trust me it doesnt. I have been doing this for YEARS!

 

[puntoturbo]

Doesn't a shorter spray bar with fewer holes = more of a restriction and LESS flow?

Try it out on an old canister if you have one! It does work better i find,well in my case.

 

[mystic.bertie]

just been out to buy some plumbing stuff and im fitting 22mm pipe with push fittings for the supply and return, i will report back what results i get, if it works on my 304, i can use the bigger tubing from the 304 on my 205 as the 205 has smaller tubing so all going well using the bigger fluval tubing on the 205 will improve its flow rate