should I ditch my Fluval404??

Discussion in 'Filters, Pumps, etc..' started by daidevo, Mar 25, 2006.

to remove this notice and enjoy 3reef content with less ads. 3reef membership is free.

  1. daidevo

    daidevo Plankton

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2005
    Messages:
    12
    Hi All -
    right now I have a 110gal with about 100lbs of LR, aqua-c remora hang on skimmer, 2 powerheads, and a fluval404. I have 4 smaller fish and want to ass some corals.
    Im so tired of the fluval shooting a burst of airbubbles into the tank every few minutes i was thinking of ditching it. I've been reading that some people dont use a cannister and was wondering if I coudl ditch it?
    I shoudl note that the tank is sort of built into the house and a sump is not possible so im limited to small spaces on the ends of the tank.
    Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated :)
     
  2. Click Here!

  3. giopimentel

    giopimentel Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2005
    Messages:
    88
    Location:
    Fall River, MA
    In my opinion i would keep it. Just keep up with regular maintenance on it so the nirates dont get out of hand. But it's great at anything out of the water like extra thatyou might feed or whatever stuff you want out.
     
  4. Phil5613

    Phil5613 Purple Spiny Lobster

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2003
    Messages:
    492
    Location:
    Wheaton, Illinois
    Too Funny!


    First I would personally and emphatically ask you not to A$$ any corals as that could be painful and the toxins could be deadly! Now that I have stopped chuckling lets answer that question. I would keep the Fluval if its working for you just watch your Nitrates and keep it maintained. I read that space is an issue is a remote sump possible? Like the basement, crawlspace or garage?
     
  5. daidevo

    daidevo Plankton

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2005
    Messages:
    12
    lol whoops! freudian slip! No, unfortunately a remote sump isnt possible where its installed. well if i keep the fluval does anyone know how i can get it to stop shooting out air bubbles?
     
  6. Jason McKenzie

    Jason McKenzie Super Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2003
    Messages:
    5,538
    Location:
    Vancouver, BC,Canada
    As I read the first post I was coming up with the perfect ass line, but Phil beat me too it. Nice on Phil

    I personally would ditch the fluval
    A sump is really only used for hiding your equipment and has little benifit beyond that. If your OK with your Aqua C and you seen to have enough LR I see no need for the Fluval.

    J
     
  7. coral reefer

    coral reefer Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2006
    Messages:
    4,860
    Location:
    Wonderland
    I also have a Fluval404. I like it in that I can add things to it such as carbon, phosphate remover and adds more surface area. It also aids in water movement. Like yourself, I also have the AquaC Remora which does wonders for my tank and love it! The one thing I would suggest to you is to add more powerheads to increase your water movement, because with that bi a tank and with 100lbs. of live rock you are not effective enough at removing detritus, carrying oxygen and food to your future corals, inverts, and living bacteria infauna and around your live rock. Just a suggestion to help you!
     
  8. Click Here!

  9. gerry45

    gerry45 Plankton

    Joined:
    Jan 19, 2006
    Messages:
    10
    hi,
    I had the same bubble problem with my rena xp3 in my 75 gallon tank.
    I think maybe the bubbles from the skimmer were getting sucked into the filter and when they built up out came a cloud of bubbles.
    finally I got rid of the rena and bought a new fluval fx5,overkill for 75 gallons but great flow and no more bubble problems!!!
    the pump has a microprocessor that purges air daily and does same when you start or stop the filter.
     
  10. Tanked001

    Tanked001 Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Mar 31, 2006
    Messages:
    58
    Location:
    Orland IL
    I would ditch the fluval and set up a refugium (the best way to go for coral) If you don't have the space perhaps a hang on fuge would work.
    Personaly I don't know why anyone would run a canister filter.... when a sump/fuge work so well. I recently built a 20 gal fuge for friend that couldn't get any softies to last longer then a week in his 55gal running a fluval. Now I set him up with some colony polyps and leather coral that are doing great!
     
  11. coral reefer

    coral reefer Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Jan 9, 2006
    Messages:
    4,860
    Location:
    Wonderland
    I don't have a sump on my tank so to increase water flow as well as be able to add say phosphate remover or carbon it is ideal...