Equipment Review and Discussion :: Fluval 404 Owners in here plz.

[Rubicon]

Well I just bought one and it should be here wensday. Did you guys run the media that comes with it? Also has anyone bought different tubing for theirs? If so what size?

[BullDog]

The only media that comes with it is the foam blocks, and nothing else. (Unless you bought it used perhaps). You'll have to buy media to fill it up (search the forum for "media" to get an idea what everyone uses).

I just used the tubes that came with it.

[Chrisbarnett]

I got mine off ebay and it came with free media. Biomax, carbon and the foam pads. I would recommend you buy Biomax if it doesn't come with it. It's one of the best biomedia's.

I just used the stock tubing as well. After about 6 months, when I feel like the tubes will be dirty, rather than clean them I will just go ahead and convert over to vinyl tubing. But the stock tubing works nicely.

[Rubicon]

Sweet, I've actually got a box of Biomax that I used with my little 501 canister. Should be plenty left for the 404.

Whats the advantage to vinyl tubing?

[Chrisbarnett]

Just the fact that it has no ridges in the tubing to slow down the flow of water.

But after a month or so, the algae/gunk inside the stock tubes builds up so that the tubing becomes basically smooth on the inside.

[BullDog]

I read once that the Fluval ribbed tubing doesn't build up as much algae as the vinyl tubing, since no light can get it. When I took down my 404 after about 2 years, the inside wasn't terribly gunky. I can't remember if I even ran a rag though it, but I did run my finger along the inside, and it wasn't terribly slimy.