fluval304

[briansreeftank19660426]

i have a 29 gallon fish tank with live rock and live sand. i keep fish and in future maybe one anemone. ihave skimmer seaclone and uv 9watt. 2 powerheads.. is this fluval a piece of junk? for a fish tank? not reef? please advise t hanks

 

[y2says]

I have a Fluval 404 on my 75g FO tank and it seems to work pretty good. The only thing is, you should clean it often because you don't want a nitrate build up. Clean it with salt water too so you won't kill the good bacteria.

 

[briansreeftank19660426]

how do i clean it? u mean the filter pads? wash them in tank to keep bacteria in tank right? i mean how else? surely u dont mess wiht the bio?
do wet drys also build up nitrates as much.. as compared to canister filters?

 

[dwf]

I had a fluval 404 for a while. I think they are crap. They get full of algae and other stuff. A sump, bioballs and poly filter is a much better choice. <img src="graemlins//urrr.gif" border="0" alt="[urrr]" />

 

[kris]

I have actually had very good luck with the fluvals (only the newer series, ending in 4 not 3) I think they do a great job for the price. Cleaning is very important as is what media you choose to use in it. I usually at water changes siphon some tank water into a bucket then rinse all the media in it and put it back together. Also helpful is to wrap those clear tubes in black electrical tape so they don't get full of algae. I agree totally that the sump is the best way to go, if you've got the cash for it.

 

[briansreeftank19660426]

you wash the media!? what lol you shouldnt touch the media with salt or fresh. dont disrupt it much like a sand bed.. the fluval is ok but they are nitrate traps.. i just went to a DSB 4 inches 2 inch dead sand 2 live. its awesome did it tonight.. ill slowly phase out the fluval total or just keep it running empty for medical treatments and carbon treatment. my friend has a 150 gallon live sand live rock fish only tank. he only has powerheads.. heater and skimmer and uv.. no filter.. hes fish are 7 yrs old.. never lost one fish.. did it slow though.. sand beds rock!!!!!!! his trates are like 5ppm.. with alot of fish and minimum water changes of 10% every 2 weeks down alot from his wet dry of 25% every 2 weeks.. i cant wait!!!!