Fluval 305 External.

[Jjsmith46]

Im looking to get a 305 external but seen a review saying it leaks out through seals,ive been told you have to lube the seals to keep in prime condition,has anyone had bad experiances with the 305,and are they as efficiant as say a juwel 180 filter which has like 5 sponge 2 biomax etc,cheers.

 

[ZoddyZod]

I've ran a 305 for about 8 months now with no issues. Really simple to put together and clean and there's plenty of room in the media compartments.

I also read that there are leaking issues, but if you type any filter name + "issues" into google, then you're bound to find some.

 

[star4]

I run a 205 and a 405, absolutely love these filters, but like any external if the seals go they leak. I run a little vasaline around the seals on my filters when I clean them out.

 

[Jjsmith46]

If the filter did trip out could it empty the tank dry? I just had a vision of coming home to a water loged house and dry dead fish- not good.

 

[ZoddyZod]

would depend on how bad the leak/drip was, but it would have to be pretty severe to empty a tank in 10hrs.

 

[Jjsmith46]

I guess you could put the intake pipe close to the water surface,this would prevent that ever happening wouldnt it?.

 

[ZoddyZod]

I guess you could put the intake pipe close to the water surface,this would prevent that ever happening wouldnt it?.

yeah good point. Hadn't thought of that.

 

[Gvilleguy]

I'm just not sure Fluval recommends the intake pipe being close to the surface...but I have not tried it. I have not had any leaks on my 205 yet, but it's only been running about three months.

 

[Jjsmith46]

With good mantaince do u get good powerfull concistant flow from out pipe

 

[Gvilleguy]

My 205 is on a 26 gallon tank, and the 205 is rated up to 40 gallons, I think. I have had to do very little maintenance - after 3 months the impeller is still clean - and I'm only having to give the foam media a good clean every 5 - 6 weeks. And the entire time I've had good flow from the pipe. The way I have it pointed it hits the bow front of my tank, curves left, and creates a slow circular flow that seems apparent in most areas of the tank (based on watching the fish reacting to the flow).

 

[Jjsmith46]

Had it runnin for a week now,very nice water clear and clean,only prob its a #28### to open but other than that no leaks no probs,

 

[rlhirth]

i have had a 405 for a year and half and have loved it... its on my turtle tank... and does a good job... only issue i have had is the check value in the intank went... havent replaced it yet.... so when i do water changes (i do 100%) the water will drain out of the hose and is a pain to start again....

solution: either i need a new check value or for now when i do a water change i put a bucket under the intake full of water so it cant drain out the tube lol easy fix but like i said i love it


i clean in every other week(turtle is very messy) and when i do i just relube the seal while i have it apart.... nother fancy....

 

[Jjsmith46]

Do u mean the aquastop valve fails,

 

[rlhirth]

Do u mean the aquastop valve fails,

OH NO NO NO.... lol the intake has a ball the when the filter is running the water passes around then when the filter stops the ball will drop causeing the water to not lease the tube...

something happened to the ball in mine... (had it a year and a half) so the water will leak around the ball back into the tank causing the tube to empty and making it harder to start back up...

so i put a bucket of water in the tank with the intake value in it so the water cant empty the tube...

never had any water ever hit the floor.... (well i take that back my turtle LOVES to splash)

 

[Jjsmith46]

Lol turtles are cool,are they expensive and do they need to be water turtles