Power Goes Out, Filter Leaks And Floods Floor

[RcketGrl]

Does anyone else have this problem or was my filter faulty.

It's a Fluval 404 and when the power goes out, the water continues to fill the filter and because it's no longer pumping back into the tank it leaks out, and can cause quite a mess.

The first time this happened we shut the power off in the house to do some electrical work for about 1/2 an hour before we realized it.

Then tonight, the power went off for a brief moment during a storm while we were out and we came home to a flooded living room AGAIN. This time it looks like the motor burned itself out trying to start pumping when the power came back on, because it won't do anything.

Time for a new filter but I'm not sure I want to go with the same if this is the risk I run everytime the power flickers. We get too many summer storms!!

Any advice?

 

[The-Wolf]

sounds like the rubber seal has perished.
if you are thinking of a new filter go for eheim, tetratec or jebo
all of which as way better than fluvals.

 

[andywg]

Welcome to the "My Fluval leaks and Floods the Floor" club.

Our membership is growing faster and faster. B)

 

[RcketGrl]

hmm... thanks for the replies, I guess I'm not alone.

I was able to get it working this morning again, took the magnet thing out and re-seeded it and it pumped, although, yep it leaked down the sides so I'm sure the seal is gone. I'm going to take it in and see what they say, but I've wrote down those other models and I'm likely to purchase something new and hopefully more reliable.

 

[ridewake210]

whoa

fluval's no good?

i run 4 of them on 3 differant tanks..

how long did it take this to happen?

 

[andywg]

Fluval cannisters are gaining a fair rep for failing and leaking, particularly after a year or two's use. It seems particularly likely on the x04 series.

 

[snydley]

I must be the most recent member of the My Fluval leaks club. I have tried the Vasoline trick with improvement of the leak but without resolution. From what I read, there is no answer to this problem other than buying a new filter. Sounds rather drastic. If this is the only answer, are most of you going with the Eheim filter - if so, which one. I have a 90 gal tank filled mostly with Parrot Fish.