Fluval 304 - help

[mpeaks]

Hello hi everyone,
I would appreciate some help please from all you experts.
The problem is I have a 128 litres (28 gallons u.k) tank with a fluval 304 filter system for about a year now, I have never done anything to it, changed no filters at all, have never opened the box, have no instructions on how to even begin changing filters, I have'nt got a clue ( my ex neighbour setup the tank for me).

My fishes are great, looking very sharp & colourful, water is clean ( I regular do a water change about 20% once a week and vacuum the gravel), I feed them once a day with normal fish food and I change the plants in the tank every four weeks.
I have never done any water tests of any kind, yet I see a lot of test kits in the shops.

Can anyone tell me, am I doing anything wrong?
Do I have to change filters?
if so how? and how often?
Does anyone know where I can get hold of a manual for fluval 304?
Do I have to change the gravel at any particular point?

I'm a bit lost! Please help

 

[houndour]

hi,

I'm going to say yes you should be cleaning your filter, but if something works, then why mess with it? Have you ever lost any fish for unknown reasons?

What is your stocking levels by the way? How many fish, what species.

I have an internal filter at the mo, which I'm currently running along side my new external filter (104). I used to have to clean my internal one once a week.

I've asked how often I might need to clean my external one, but I just get an answer of "it depends". I've read posts where people have said they clean theirs once a year, others once a month.

If you do decide to open up and have a look and do decide to clean it, DO NOT clean under tap water. Clean in Tank water, otherwise you will kill the good bacteria.

If you ever replace any of the filter media, don't do it all at once. Stagger the replacing process.

I don't think the 304 is the same as the 104 or 204, so I won't tell you how mine works or you might break yours There must be someone else out there with a 304 that could help.

Sam

//edit
You shouldn't have to change your plants every four weeks! if i did that it'd cost me a fortune. Is there a reason you are changing them/. DO you have a picture of your tank?

As for test kits, I'm guilty for not testing very often, but if you do see a fish is looking 'off' or does infact die, then you can test the water and it gives you an indication of what might be wrong. If you consider getting a test kit I would recommend the API Master test kit, it comes with Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate and pH. And is cheaper than buying them all separate.

Changing gravel...no you don't need to change your gravel.

 

[freddyk]

Here's the deal with the filter cleaning:

We vacuum the gravel to get waste out of the tank for a reason right? Waste in the filter is as good as waste in the aquarium - the water runs through it, the waste rots.

How often should you clean it? Well, how often do you want the waste building up to rot? Many people say 6 months or a year because the canister has a lot of space to hold a lot of waste. I do it monthly because I don't care how much it holds, I don't want it in my aquariums system, and it takes only 10 minutes of my time - the fish are worth an extra 10 minutes per month to me!

You don't need to worry about replacing the gravel media. You can rinse it out in aquarium water. The foam pads can be well rinsed and used a couple of times before being replaced.

In addition it's good to clean out the impeller and other components. The better you treat the filter the longer it will stay in good condition.

But, after all this, the best thing to do is open up the filter. What does it look like in there?

 

[mpeaks]

Hi Sam,

Thank you very much for your advice very useful, here are a few answers to your questions,
yes I have lost some fishes within a year, but only a very small amount for unknown reasons
my stocking levels at the moment consists of 2 moonlight gourami's, 2 leopard cat fishes, 2 clown loaches, 6 neon tetra's, 6 guppys, 2 parrot fishes and 6 cherry barbs.
I won't decide to open up the fluval 304 box cos I'don't have any instructions and would not be very positive about changing filters.
I change by plants very 4 weeks because they go brown and rot away.
I do have a picture of my tank on my digital camera but don't know how to display on forum.
API master kit, well yes I will go out this w/end and purchase one, any idea about the cost of one?

Once again thanks for all your help.

Pete.

 

[andyj]

Pete,

Where abouts are you ?!?

There may be someone local to you who may be willing to assist you in cleaning your filter etc

If your plants are rotting away, I'd say that you have got some form of problem in your tank, which is causing it.

304 is easy peasy to clean... if you know how !!!

 

[mpeaks]

Hi freddyk,

Thanks for your advice, very cool straight forward thinking idea's, much appreciated.

Pete.

 

[mpeaks]

Hi Andyj,

Thank you for your reply. I live in chadwell heath, near dagenham, their are a few shops around here, but boy they are hard work, it's like getting blood out of a stone. It would be very helpful if someone nearby knew about aquariums.
Do you guys feed your plants with anything?

 

[houndour]

I change by plants very 4 weeks because they go brown and rot away.

There must be something wrong then. But it could be many reasons why your plants aren't surviving...CO2, light, not enough nutrients in the water. If you are interested in having a successful planted tank then check out the planted forum on this website. If you're serious then theres a lot of reading up to do. If you aren't so serious but just want some plants for decoration, then go for hardier plants. Best to search the planted forum to find out which ones, but Java Fern is one of them. You can normally buy javafern already attached to a piece of bogwood in the LFS.

Do you have an air bubble thing in your tank? This does nothing to help plants, as plants take in CO2 to photosynthesise during the day. Another thing...but you prob wouldn't know, is you might have a carbon filter in your filter...these generally remove the types of nutients that plants might use up.

API master kit, well yes I will go out this w/end and purchase one, any idea about the cost of one?

Pets at Home sell them (at least mine does) for under £20.

I won't decide to open up the fluval 304 box cos I'don't have any instructions and would not be very positive about changing filters.

I think you should try and get it open, if anything just to check the impeller as freddy mentioned. If this gets bunged up it might do damage to the motor or something, I don't know. Have you tried writing to fluval? I could get you an address from inside my manual (if there is one).

 

[mpeaks]

Hi sam,

Thanks once again for your reply, your sincerely very helpful, I have just been on the planted forum on this website, your right, there's a lot of reading to do and lots to learn, but maybe not on a friday night, it just won't work with my social agenda.

And no I don't have a air bubble thing in my tank, but I will have to investigate regarding the carbon filter and learn more about nutrients in my tank.

Thanks a million for all your help.

Pete.

 

[freddyk]

Surprise!
http/www.hagen.com/pdf/aquatic/Fluval04.pdf

 

[mpeaks]

Thanks a lot freddy, that was a great surprise, very helpful info indeed.

cheers

Pete.