Fluval 307

[fishboy1]

I everyone can someone help me as this is the first time owning this filter as I bought before xmas and the first time I decided to clean it. When I turned it on nothing happened so I unplugged it and realised the I didn't lower the lever. I lowered the lever and water was filling it up and then I plugged it back in and it suddenly started snowing in my tank. Did I do anything wrong or forgot something.

 

[Evil1]

Did you replace any of the chemical media? How did you clean it and why do soon if you recently set it up for the first time?

 

[fishboy1]

Its so I know what I am doing sort of. I did replace the chemical media but I dipped the bio media in tank water without moving them around.

 

[Freenow54]

It is siphon fed You don't start it right away let the water stop flowing you may have created an air lock. You defiantly were sucking air. Do you see the small paddle like handle ? It is a purge or prime pump. Pump it until the air quits coming out you may have to do it for a while

 

[FUNGI]

Grey Pump for priming....however, really only need tho use this on initial start-up or lose of syphon.

The snow is from not cleaning out the new media properly.

 

[fishboy1]

I think it might be from the biological media as I didn't rinse my matrix and Bio fx properly. I'm hoping it is anyway.

 

[Evil1]

I think it might be from the biological media as I didn't rinse my matrix and Bio fx properly. I'm hoping it is anyway.

And that’s what I asked you in my initial reply. That said I will say it’s a great filter. I used the Fluval 07 line for many years with no issues. You will be happy I’m sure.

 

[fishboy1]

My fault not reading the posts properly, 10 years without an external filter and I didn't wash the biological media properly .

 

[fishboy1]

Quick question, how regular do you clean the filter. Is it every few weeks or months.

 

[Evil1]

Quick question, how regular do you clean the filter. Is it every few weeks or months.

Months 3 to 4 unless you notice a flow decline prior to the above

 

[zwalter38]

Quick question, how regular do you clean the filter. Is it every few weeks or months.

I think it depends on each individual system. A lot of people do not like canisters but I’m currently running three on my system. Two fx4’s and a 407. I probably clean my between 1-3 times a year and it’s only because the water starts to not be as clear as I’d like, not necessarily because of bad testing levels.

Also about the “snowing” when you plugged it back in. All of my canisters do that when I clean them. Not because of lack of cleaning or anything, I believe it’s buildup in the tubes that get flushed out when you restart the siphon of the filter. I haven’t had any noticeable negative effects of not cleaning the tubes before restarting and it “snowing”. However if it happens to you again and you’re afraid of it harming things I would suggest just cleaning out the filter pipes. That all being said, it could very well still be what people have suggested above, I just thought I’d add my 2 cents because I have had a very similar thing occur.