fluval 403-404

[vantgE]

Buying tank this weekend one 66 used has a 404, the 90 has a 403, i know the 404 is better but how much? would i have to buy another filter for the 90-403, i have african cichlids they suposed to be dirtier than most other fish i think

are they noisy tank might go in a fairly main room

 

[EddieW]

Hi vantgE,

I find the Fluval's are quiet - I have four in my living room and cannot hear them most of the time.

The specs on the two filters are as follows:

Fluval 404
Flow rate 1,300 l/hr (285 UK gal/hr)
Mechanical filter area 76,300 sq mm
Biological volume 4.2 l
Filtration volume 8.5 l
Max aquarium capacity 400 l - 87 UK gal - 100 US gal

Fluval 304
Flow rate 1,000 l/hr (220 UK gal/hr)
Mechanical filter area 56,000 sq mm
Biological volume 3.1 l
Filtration volume 6.6 l
Max aquarium capacity 300 l - 66 UK gal - 70 US gal

Looking at these specs it seems to me that the filters are the wrong way round. The 404 is more suited to the 90 and the 304 to the 66, but both are only JUST enough to provide normal levels of filtration on the tanks (tank sizes are workewd out based on a normal bio-load).

With cichlids - if they do need higher than normal filtration - the 404 makes sense on the 66. With the 90 you could probably get away with adding another 304 (or even a 204 at a push) - this also give the advantage of allowing you to clean/service one filter at a time and protection if one breaks down.

HTH, Eddie

 

[njparton]

For what's it's worth, my Fluval 104 is much noiser than my Eheim Ecco 2231.

A recent review in PRactical Fishkeeping Magazine also raised this point and hence recommended Eheim filters over Fluvals. Eheims also have better fitting internal compartments

 

[thecichlidaddict]

The 403 and 404 will to the same filtration job on the tank, but the 404 is a big improvement in quality of the filter in general.

 

[vantgE]

Thanks all guess it shouldn't affect much which tank i buy then

 

[blakwidoe]

get the biowheels

 

[tdins_2]

heres a wensite that has some filters and tells a little about them

http/www.aquatichouse.com/