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Has anyone had to replace the fluval 404 "ceramic" impeller shaft on their filters?
I got home from the shore last night and found my tank all murky and smelly and the filter not pumping.Took me a good hour to figure out what was wrong.
Fluvals are great filters, but the parts are made so cheap and all replacement parts go from $10.00 up.
A stupid 3" ceramic stick cost me $13.00!

I had to replace mine earlier this year. I've spent maybe $30 total on replacement parts over 5 years...not bad really.

jenaero wrote:I had to replace mine earlier this year. I've spent maybe $30 total on replacement parts over 5 years...not bad really.

The thing that bothers me, is that they are parts that you wouldn't have to replace if they were built with better materials.
Like why does the impeller shaft have to be ceramic?I understand that metal wouldn't work right because of the magnetism, but why not hard plastic?
The piece snapped in half from normal use, and to add insult to injury, it happens right when i'm gone for the weekend!

I had to replace mine once. I think I broke it when I was cleaning it. It only cost me $5 or 6 to replace though. Sounds like you got ripped

BullDog wrote:I had to replace mine once. I think I broke it when I was cleaning it. It only cost me $5 or 6 to replace though. Sounds like you got ripped

Hey BullDog, what type of mechanical media do you use in your FX5s?

BullDog wrote:I had to replace mine once. I think I broke it when I was cleaning it. It only cost me $5 or 6 to replace though. Sounds like you got ripped

I searched every website that sells fluval parts.The part costs $7 and the shipping is $5-$6.Some sell it less and make the shipping more expensive, but it evens out to $12-$13 anywhere.Trust me....I'm not one that gets ripped off
I probably could have ordered at the petstore and save a few bucks, but that would have meant 2 trips and it's not worth my time.

papoopeepoo wrote:Hey BullDog, what type of mechanical media do you use in your FX5s?

Fluval prefilter (bleh) and a coarse filter pad made from an air filter. I'm also currently testing a coarse green scrubby, since after about a year the air filter is starting to fall apart.

jozzep wrote:I searched every website that sells fluval parts.The part costs $7 and the shipping is $5-$6.Some sell it less and make the shipping more expensive, but it evens out to $12-$13 anywhere.Trust me....I'm not one that gets ripped off
I probably could have ordered at the petstore and save a few bucks, but that would have meant 2 trips and it's not worth my time.

Bummer Yeah, the pet store I went to had it in stock, so I didn't have to get it shipped.