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fluval 405

PostPosted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 12:07 am
by krysten
just bought a fluval 405 for an upcoming 55 gallon setup. I havnt scrolled through all the threads but i paid 150 for it brand new...is this a good price? also what are you experiences with the filter...im a noob to canister filters and have only only my res's for about a year now.

PostPosted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 12:27 am
by BullDog
Sounds good to me. I paid $80 for a used 404 several years ago. A few months ago you could get a brand new 404 for about $80, but I think they were just trying to blow them out, because you can't find them for that anymore.
$150 sounds like a fair price.

PostPosted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 1:56 am
by jozzep
Fairly good price.....I've seen new 405's on ebay for around $110.00.
The filter is great.I have a 404.

PostPosted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 9:02 am
by Rubicon
You'll enjoy the 400 series fluvals! The are easy to setup and easy to prime. Great filter overall IMO. I have a 404 BTW.

PostPosted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 1:58 pm
by jozzep
Rubicon wrote:You'll enjoy the 400 series fluvals! The are easy to setup and easy to prime. Great filter overall IMO. I have a 404 BTW.


I wouldn't exactly say "easy to prime".It's not easy at all matter of fact!
Only good thing is that once it is primed you won't have to do it again unless you need to clean the lines cause of the aquastop valve that keeps water in the lines.

PostPosted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 2:21 pm
by BullDog
Easy to prime! I agree with Jozzep, that's a bit of a stretch.
I once spent about an hour trying to prime my 404, and got a blister doing it :evil:
After that, I figured out the trick is to fill the canister with water, and then just use the little primer pump to fill the last little bit. Of course, I figured this out after two years of having the filter. :roll: Filling it makes it easier to prime.

But I definitely agree they're a good series of filters :D

PostPosted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 3:17 pm
by jozzep
BullDog wrote:I figured out the trick is to fill the canister with water, and then just use the little primer pump to fill the last little bit.

But I definitely agree they're a good series of filters :D


Yup....I figured that out too ;)
I even prime the intake by sucking the air out myself.Then i put my finger over the hose and connect to the aquastop.
But yes....great filter otherwise

PostPosted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 8:51 pm
by mike hill
kry-en The 405 is a good filter and puts out about 300 gph which is good for a 55 gallon. When priming try and get the filter full of water and it will prime easier. The hose connection is very easy. Good Luck! m.

PostPosted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 9:25 pm
by Rubicon
Well I'm not sure how you guys are priming yours but mine was easy. Dunno what to tell ya.

PostPosted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 8:04 pm
by meltedspork
You guys have problems priming them? Very weird. I have two 304's that I've had for years now and have never had a problem priming them... except when one had a broken part that I had to replace. Usually I plug them in and they start right up, I don't even have to pump.

PostPosted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:48 pm
by jozzep
meltedspork wrote:You guys have problems priming them? Very weird. I have two 304's that I've had for years now and have never had a problem priming them... except when one had a broken part that I had to replace. Usually I plug them in and they start right up, I don't even have to pump.


The ONLY way you're doing that is if you fill the canister with water before hand, or the lines are already filled with water when you open the aquastop and the water fills the canister which is what me and BullDog pointed out already.
If you aren't doing any of these things...Sorry...Filter can't work when you plug it in.

PostPosted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 10:56 pm
by Rubicon
I fill mine, then re-attach the lines, plug it in, and a few pumps and it's set.

PostPosted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 6:27 pm
by meltedspork
jozzep wrote:
meltedspork wrote:You guys have problems priming them? Very weird. I have two 304's that I've had for years now and have never had a problem priming them... except when one had a broken part that I had to replace. Usually I plug them in and they start right up, I don't even have to pump.


The ONLY way you're doing that is if you fill the canister with water before hand, or the lines are already filled with water when you open the aquastop and the water fills the canister which is what me and BullDog pointed out already.
If you aren't doing any of these things...Sorry...Filter can't work when you plug it in.


Duh, you are supposed to fill the canister with water.

PostPosted: Sat Jun 20, 2009 4:22 pm
by Rubicon
LOL

PostPosted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 7:43 pm
by mike hill
Kry-ten Yep! You are supposed to fill the 405 canister full before you hook it up or you will be pumping the littel handle for along time. That makes the filter heavier to get in place but that is easier than pump, pump, pump. Open the valves on top and fill it full and you should be ok to start right up. m.