3reef Gets Up Close to the Fluval G

3reef recently got up close to the new Fluval G and was given a very impressive walk-through by the great guys at Hagen. From the water in, to water out, it was evident that Hagen has really done their homework with this filter and improved upon what may very well be every aspect of canister filtration from A-Z.


The New Fluval G3 Aquarium Filter


In fact, let's start with the water intake. The intake strainer has been modularized - meaning you can add additional ones to have the intake go along behind plants or rocks. They snap together with ball joints so that you can turn them to the desired angle as you wish. The end of the intake has been capped for nearly an inch up from the bottom. Why is this a good move? Perhaps you are like me and have put the intake too close to the sand bed and sucked in sand. This helps prevent that. The hose quick-connects twist easily to remove or change out hoses. The entire input/output assembly on top of the Fluval G can easily be removed for cleaning with a flip of a switch.


The Fluval G Quick-Release Filter Cartridges


Moving into the filter, it gets really interesting. First of all, as you may know, there are two quick-release filter cartridges - one is the pre-filter and the other is chemical - which you can get to without disassembling the entire filter. The pre-filter is a pleated mesh cartridge, more effective than foam, which can easily be cleaned - the Hagen rep pulled out a bottle brush that was designed to fit perfectly inside the pre-filter to clean it out fast. Most importantly, the water goes from the inside out of the mechanical pre-filter - no longer giving water a by-pass and also trapping the debris inside of it so when it's time to clean, the debris doesn't drop back into the filter. With this in mind, the great minds at Hagen went further by adding slip on sleeves to the bottom half of the cartridges that actually prevent spillage of water when you remove the cartridges! This is the level of detail that is evident throughout the Fluval G. Beyond the quick-release cartridges are the biological filter baskets that fit together seamlessly. These are reached by turning the four corrosion proof chromed latches around the top of the filter and removing the head. Yes chrome. There are actually quite a number of strong chrome pieces on the outside of the filter and it's beautiful. This is actually a filter you want to display and show off - not hide in your stand yet its compact so won't take up too much room in the cabinet. Don't worry, do it. It's virtually silent electronically controlled motor is pretty impressive yet is has rubber feet and vibration is hardly noticeable to the touch.

Going through to the water output, there are several different diffuser options that may be attached to suit your needs. Another example of attention to detail is the hose bracket that attaches to the top of the aquarium. It has an adjustable brace for various glass thicknesses and the hose connectors snap easily on top.


The Fluval G Hydrotech Performance Monitor


As impressive as this all is, what really makes the Fluval G stand out is its Hydrotech Performance Monitor which displays statistics for such vitals as flow rate, conductivity and water temperature in numerical and graph format along with how long it has been since you cleaned your filter cartridges or the biological G-Nodes. Conductivity is a bonus for the saltwater hobbyist as you can use it to determine your salinity with a high degree of accuracy. Very interesting. The Fluval G will also display alerts for such things as low flow rate. The Hagen rep turned the down the flow switch the AQUASTOP valve and we watched the monitor as it showed in real-time the flow reducing and then it displayed an easy to read alert on the screen. Great stuff. These alerts can be user defined as well allowing you to customize to your aquarium's needs. Oh, and Hydrotech Monitor retains 8 to 48 days of historical data! And will keep it all in memory if the power goes out. At this point in the demo, my head was spinning. This kind of data would help you realize things about the environment around the aquarium before major disasters - such as when the office turned off the heat on the weekends and my heater eventually exploded. And there would be no more guess work on when to change filters. Rather than sticking to a preset timeline like 1 month, you will actually know when for your aquarium by noting such things as the reduction in flow rate. Wow. I was getting a bit speechless at this point.

The Fluval G is a game-changer.


matt



Official Fluval G Web Site:
Fluval G Aquarium Filter: Future of Freshwater & Saltwater Filtration from Hagen

Official Fluval G Blog:
FLUVAL: The Official Blog from Hagen

Fluval G on Twitter:
Fluval (fluvalblog) on Twitter

Fluval G on Facebook:
Fluval | Facebook



Related posts:
http://www.3reef.com/forums/3reef-radar/fluval-g-series-canister-filters-71905.html

 

Official Press Release on the Fluval G

Official Press Release on the Fluval G..



EXTREME DESIGN

ONE DAY ALL FILTERS WILL BE LIKE THIS

Aquarium filters have never been objects of desire. You would never show one off to your friends, or linger longingly in the aquatics store, working out how you could get your hands on one. Those clunky, ugly boxes have always been functional, never desirable…until now. Introducing the FLUVAL G Series, a filter so revolutionary in every way that it is destined to change the way filters are designed…forever.


QUICK RELEASE CARTRIDGE SYSTEM

SAVES TIME AND EFFORT

With the important biological media nestled below, the pre-filter and chemical cartridges remain easily accessible thanks to Fluval G’s quick release cartridge system. The cartridges can be quickly removed without opening the body of the filter and with zero mess.



COMPACT PRE – FILTRATION

NO - BYPASS

The traditional mechanical filtration foam has been replaced with a compact high capacity durable long lasting pleated cartridge, which traps much more suspended debris. With regular rinsing waste can be removed from the aquarium water before it breaks down, thus resulting in a heather aquarium.



HYDROTECH TECHNOLOGY

ADVANCED AQUARIUM MONITORING

Fluval G’s Hydrotech Performance Monitor is an intelligent system capable of monitoring vital functions such as flow rate, conductivity and water temperature, while displaying results in numerical and graph format, as well as providing maintenance alerts on the interactive LCD screen.

MAIN SCREEN

Flow Rate
Maintenance Temperature
Conductivity
Scheduler


EASY NAVIGATION MENU




CONDUCTIVITY GRAPH



TEMPERATURE GRAPH


SYSTEM ALERT SCREEN

 

Official Press Release on the Fluval G

Official Press Release on the Fluval G...


The Future of Filtration
Hagen Introduces The Fluval G System


MANSFIELD, MA (For Immediate Release) – Rolf C. Hagen, Inc. is marketing its new Fluval G Filtration System around the theme, The Future of Filtration. In that case, the “future” looks very bright indeed for aquarium hobbyists and the Fluval dealers who serve them. The introduction of the Fluval G not only sets a new standard for aquarium filters, it essentially redefines the entire category by offering a unique combination of aesthetics, monitoring capabilities and performance features.

Aquarium enthusiasts will be able to tell that the Fluval G is no ordinary filtration system just by looking at it. The new filter is so stunningly attractive, it almost demands to be shown as part of the aquarium, rather than being hidden away behind cabinetry. Evoking a contemporary high-tech image, the Fluval G features a stylish cubic design, a gloss back finish, chrome and aluminum detailing and a backlit monitoring display.

The easy-to-read backlit display is part of the Fluval G’s revolutionary Hydrotech™ Performance Monitor System. Actually to call the Fluval G a “Filtration System” isn’t completely accurate. Thanks to its advanced microprocessor-based Hydrotech™ Monitor, the Fluval G can more aptly be described as a “Filtration and Information System.”

Featuring 63 distinct screens, the Hydrotech™ Performance Monitor
puts a world of information at the hobbyist’s fingertips, including water temperature, water flow, conductivity, salinity and other aquarium parameters. The monitoring system automatically alerts hobbyists by flashing if any of the set parameters deviate from the optimal range of readings. For example, the screen will flash if water temperature is too high or too low.

The Hydrotech™ Performance Monitor also shows historical charts (typically 48 days) for different parameters, so the aquarium hobbyist can identify and address recurring issues. Another very attractive feature is the Maintenance Scheduler. Customizable to meet the needs of individual users, the scheduler serves as a reminder to perform important tasks, such as changing filter media.

All of the readings, historical data and reminders generated by the monitoring system are presented in an intuitive, user-friendly form.

Raising the bar in filtration performance, the Fluval G features a high capacity 3-stage filtration process that includes:

1. Mechanical Filtration Cartridge– Featuring a long lasting pleated pre-filter cartridge that traps significantly more debris than traditional foam filter models. This is a closed system in the Fluval G, so all water that flows through the filter must first pass through the pre-filter cartridge for pre-cleaning. The pre-filter cartridge is available in two formats: standard weave and 75μm for marine aquariums or water polishing in freshwater tanks. The effectiveness of the Fluval G’s pre-filtration process means that less solid waste is solubilized in the aquarium water for less waste accumulation and also makes the chemical and biological filtration components of the system more effective.
2. Chemical Filtration Cartridge – The Fluval G offers a combination of media options to make chemical filtration simpler and more efficient. Featuring high-capacity ionic exchange filtration media, the system will efficiently remove nitrates, phosphates and waste. For pure consumer flexibility, the chemical cartridges can be refilled with any type media the aquarium owner chooses.
3. Biological Filtration – The Fluval G Bio Baskets filled with the new Fluval G Nodes accommodate billions of nitrifying bacteria to purify aquarium water. The Fluval G’s biological filtration media comes in two sizes for maximum compaction and lasts six months before maintenance is required.

The Fluval G’s filtration system also features extended contact time to clean water more effectively. All media used in the filtration process can be changed promptly with little or no mess and no disruption to the aquarium. The pre-filter and chemical filter media are housed in separate cartridges, both of which are readily accessible from the top of the filter. This timesaving feature allows hobbyists to remove the media for replacement or cleaning without having to disassemble the filter itself and disturb the biological filtration.

Having filter cartridges readily accessible from the top of the filter is only one of the convenient features that make the Fluval G easy to maintain. The system’s proprietary Aqua Stop feature allows users to stop water flow through the filter, so its housing can be disconnected quickly and easily. Another feature, the Primer Button, starts water flow promptly without manual siphoning when the system is being set up or restarted.

Other features, such as the silicon gasket and locking levers, contribute to the Fluval G’s long-term reliability, durability and quiet performance. The telescopic intake tube that adjusts to different aquarium depths ensures the optimal flow of water into the filter, while the dual output nozzles or spray bars help ensure maximum dispersal of water when it flows out.

No possible enhancement feature has been overlooked in developing the Fluval G. With its designer aesthetics, cutting-edge Hydrotech™ Performance Monitor System, superior filtration process and other performance features, the Fluval G Series represents not only the next step in the evolution of the Fluval brand. . .but the arrival of the future of filtration!

For more information, contact Rolf C. Hagen (USA)

 

Ok got my attention, Where are they available, and the big question, How much?

 

About $450. Cha-Ching!

 

There very nice, but from what I have read you have to use the filter cartridges from fluval. This can get expensive. I like being able to buy bulk media, and add whatever I want to mine. This does not seem to be an option on these. Maybe I'm wrong.

 

Not true from what I was shown. When I was holding the chemical cartidge, the top had a tab and you could open it up and put whatever you want in there as far as media. This goes for the bio baskets as well of course.

Their media did look very interesting though. They even had a phosphate remover.

I haven't been excited about a canister filter in a long time, but these Fluval G filters are over the top.

 

I stand corrected, now if they just bring the price down.

 

I hear ya, but at least you get what you pay for. The quality is really evident throughout this filter. It's impressive down to the packaging.

 

One thing that I don't understand is are you going to experience the same problems of trapped detritus on a improperly cleaned filter like you would on a normal canister? This gives me the impression that you never need to fully open up the filter for maintenance.