NEW FILTER

I have just bought a new Fluval filter for my tank after the old one died on me a few days ago.

I have now got a Fluval 4U, a new design for fluval. It is totally different from my other one. There are three sections. The middle one has small ceramic hoops in which you leave alone (well, they say replace them after a few months but I wil ignore that) and on either side of that are cartridges for the usual foam bits. I have replaced them with the foam bits from my old filter so that I dont have a mini cycle etc.

As well as this though there is a charcoal filter cartridge which they say should be kept in and replaced every few weeks. I have taken this out as I know that charcoal is normally used when meds etc have been used, but I have just watched a vid on PFK about this new filter and it shows it being used with the charcoal in situ.

Do you think it is ok to run it without or will the filtration be affected in some way??

na it will be fine.

the new hagen fluvals do look better bits of kit over that old fluval +

It does seem quite good. The new design gives you the option of having the outflow coming out of a nozzle at the top for surface agitation, a nozzle at the bottom if you need flow there, or you can have it coming out of the built in spray bar if you have a planted aquarium and dont want a lot of afitation that will disturb the O2/CO2 balance!

I like the way that it's alot easier to access the filters and impellor, too, but wish they had kept the blockage warning button which was useful.

Can't have everything though

true, but surely giving it a quick check each WC cant be too bad?

edit - My own messages are showing up as new posts in the thread

Ooh sounds posh...

The ceramic noodles never need to be replaced so that's tosh for a start and the carbon will be fine being left out as I don't have carbon in any of my filters but I have a box of various bags of carbon chips in the fish cupboard.

GeordieDave wrote:

edit - My own messages are showing up as new posts in the thread

Thanks GD. It does seem to be something that happens intermittently with the forum for some reason. I cleared it last time by changing the icon used to show new posts etc, so might have to do that agin.

Let's see if it clears itself over the next few days, I will report it as a fault and see if their techy people have any ideas and take it from there.

GeordieDave wrote:

My own messages are showing up as new posts in the thread

That's prob 'coz they're so good, they're worth reading twice...

Oooh, why didn't I think of that response?!!!!!

Hee hee - 'coz you gave the "proper" Admin reponse...

Just not quick enough off the mark