Q: problem with 301 FLuval

[starrfish71]

hi- yes I said 301 Fluval. The filter itself is at least 10 years old, but in all of that time, I have only used it for a few months. the rest of the time it was in storage.

I recently pulled it out, cleaned it up and tried to get it running. It seems to be in working order, but I can't remember how to prime it. Can anyone tell me this littel tid bit?

 

[shovelnose]

I usually tip my 303's sideways for a couple seconds. usually gets them going as long as the canister is filled

 

[I3u11he4d]

10 years old hmmmmmm.So I take it that they didnt have a primer pump on em then.If te canister is full and the water level is above the top of the filters pump it sould work,worst comes to worst and you could stick a turkey basster in te intake end and force water into the pump to jump start it.I know it sounds wierd but it works trust me i've done it

 

[rweedon]

you wanna know why you can't get it to work? It is a canister and they are retarted I hate canisters because they are impossible to get to work...

 

[joeytoe]

I used to have a fluval 404 10 years ago, before they redesisgned them. each time I cleaned it I made sure to unplug it an turn the valves off, so when I was done there was really no need to prime it. to get it primed from when it was dry I just had the Intake tube in the water an sucked water into the tube then just installed the valve (making sure it was closed first) an then attacthed it to the filter canister. with a Small amount of Air they should start right up, you just need the "syphon" motion at first then the Impeller does the rest.

 

[redtailfool]

if water doesnt go down to the fluval, i open the pump ( this will let the air out) and snap the top part back in .

I usually do once or twice and the fluval will prime itself. Worse comes to worse, fill it up with water and stick a powerhead into the intake tube. That will prime it.

 

[DeLgAdO]

the 30 models of fluval are a pain in the ass, becasue they leak and its a ***** to get that O-ring on.

 

[fishnthings]

you wanna know why you can't get it to work? It is a canister and they are retarted I hate canisters because they are impossible to get to work...

ive got a few canister filters and they are awesome, youre just getting the wrong ones

 

[starrfish71]

Thanks for all the advice. I like cannister filters.

 

[mkpeters6]

the 30 models of fluval are a pain in the ass, becasue they leak and its a ***** to get that O-ring on.

i got an older 301 model, i love the simplistic design an ease of changing media, but delgado is right, the o-ring is the big pain in th *** -- just getting the o-ring to stay in place when shutting it can drive me nuts

but other then that it has a strong flow and holds a ton of media - i havent used or seen a new fluval in action but from the pics ive seen of them the compartments are too confusing - i like the old school three cylinders