Chris45 Posted June 13 Share Posted June 13 I did a filter clean on my Fluval 407 tonight, and managed to snap the impeller shaft. Pretty low odds of it happening and I'm really surprised I managed it. I tried another shaft from another filter I had, but didn't fit. I've since ordered another impeller assembly, but it won't arrive for a week. So I've put the sponges into bags and placed them into the tank. I've also put the media containers from the filter into the tank as well. I've setup a small internal filter in the tank with very limited sponge media inside, just to keep some water flowing in the tank until the new impeller arrives. The internal filter also has a venturi tube, so it's adding a nice amount of extra oxygen into the tank. My question is about the media, which is just sitting in the tank without water flow passing directly through it. Will the bb die off like this or will it survive a week until the 407 is back online? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rube_Goldfish Posted June 13 Share Posted June 13 On 6/13/2024 at 11:36 AM, Chris45 said: I did a filter clean on my Fluval 407 tonight, and managed to snap the impeller shaft. Pretty low odds of it happening and I'm really surprised I managed it. I tried another shaft from another filter I had, but didn't fit. I've since ordered another impeller assembly, but it won't arrive for a week. So I've put the sponges into bags and placed them into the tank. I've also put the media containers from the filter into the tank as well. I've setup a small internal filter in the tank with very limited sponge media inside, just to keep some water flowing in the tank until the new impeller arrives. The internal filter also has a venturi tube, so it's adding a nice amount of extra oxygen into the tank. My question is about the media, which is just sitting in the tank without water flow passing directly through it. Will the bb die off like this or will it survive a week until the 407 is back online? Caveat: I'm speaking as a hobbyist and not a microbiologist, but I think bacterial colonies like this are more resilient than we sometimes give them credit for. They're wet, there's a food source, and there's dissolved oxygen in the water. It's not flowing over them as rapidly as normal, but I'd have to think that, worst case scenario, you'd get a small amount of die back, but most of them would be fine. Remember that people also talk about how much nitrifying bacteria can be found on every surface -- glass, substrate, hardscape, plants -- and those bacteria are in basically the same circumstances as the ones on your filter media are now. If you want to be cautious, it's probably not a bad idea to cut back either the amount or frequency of feeding (or both) and increase your frequency of water testing, but if the tank has been running a while, I'd bet you'll be fine. 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pepere Posted June 13 Share Posted June 13 My suspicion is the same as above. The bacteria should be mostly fine. It is well worth keeping a spare impeller kit, aquastop assembly, o ring gasket and hose assembly on hand for oopses like this…. With those parts on hand you can pretty much turn an oops into a halfhour inconvenience at worst… 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airborne 82nd Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 +1 with Pepere all the spare parts I bought plus the red cover that snaps over the impeller and the 4 orings for the aquastop assembly. I keep a hob just in case. All my 407 media will fit in the hob. You might have to do an extra water change. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mynameisnobody Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 I’ve done this before and it works, you’ll be fine. I cannot tell you why or how, but I can tell you that afterwards, I had a mini bacterial bloom for 1-2 days and then all was well. I fed lightly until the canister was up and running again. I also seed my sponge filters by placing them in a stock pond with no air running through the ones to be seeded. I’ve pulled them out and have stocked an aquarium with them and never had an issue. Good luck, but I don’t think you’ll need it. PS awesome bala’s 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris45 Posted June 14 Author Share Posted June 14 On 6/14/2024 at 6:03 AM, Pepere said: aquastop assembly, o ring gasket I assume the aquastop assembly is the valve at the end of the pipes? Do these often fail? Also, what is the usual shelf life of the o ring gasket? I assume this gasket is the rubber that goes around the motor head? Thanks in advance On 6/14/2024 at 2:02 PM, mynameisnobody said: PS awesome bala’s Thank you! They are indeed the feature fish in the tank. However they have grown quite big now and I've been tossing up selling them. They thrash around and shred the leaves of any large leaf plant that I put in the tank... Also, they don't seem to have stopped growing yet... (!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mynameisnobody Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 What size aquarium is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pepere Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 On 6/14/2024 at 5:35 AM, Chris45 said: I assume the aquastop assembly is the valve at the end of the pipes? Do these often fail? Also, what is the usual shelf life of the o ring gasket? I assume this gasket is the rubber that goes around the motor head? They may not fail often, but they are cheap enough to simply have a spare on hand. If you ever need it, you would be very happy to have one on hand. $18.00 https://www.amazon.com/Hagen-Fluval-AquaStop-A20062-Filters/dp/B07VWQB811/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2KS3OFJ2MYAHU&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7kPIGo-4lwKCNfPGkUztb7E5Tvf6RCoH9dMQEK80Nzb-jeSml1gl6DFe8XacdfqVK4VsfVg5hxQvZ5h_HLgS0LW6NXxbmPRyRCzfmYsgD-TeNGAYBUBR9kA-3vP_3KdJzipitP_j8ACzNKbcUNEnHnzmsjHxx37xZW3m6HL6sB652kpf2BwXtzBAP6wGDFVsmkcOhkJszNpHDkQ2Or5ZomdH9U-6AHhNxDOg4lO8mOu-61yHGpxlnjb7ndWqfHT5_KiFXnalwhUeM0GqbbiHI8c7w7XxYnhEoOTnO8G0cGw.XmYqqjz3hsRulv1FeQ9jy5kGhbr7AJdv3BSdaapppBs&dib_tag=se&keywords=Fluval+207+aquastop&qid=1718365321&sprefix=fluval+207+aquastop%2Caps%2C164&sr=8-1 the manufacturer recommends cleaning and lubricating the large O ring every month and replacing it every 6 months. Having one on hand and using it at the 6 month mark and replacing it means you would never have to worry about the shelf life. given the low cost of O ring and impeller kit at $27.00 the inconvenience of a leak, I change them at 6 months… https://www.amazon.com/Fluval-207-Motor-Head-Maintenance/dp/B07VXPX3G2/ref=sr_1_8?crid=1BFMPJKGYL7K5&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.X2VUUIel9mog81ioJ2ZC0um7Xv9OsPsEYkNAarvetWhl41-w9sFD46FE1Gr-VQLa3LR8npe6RMdqvOdC6Vt8ubj5kCZv1Wx-a50-tBaOeUzNBkbBQxb7Ehd8OYdxV5zY2P5Vt1ii5atjxRc4tNm1d-UwMI0B6f7AdE9lNRVHHktYiofeyz_gjRW83Si1XqmVlQnB1qoX8zOzkz7QYLj524rcvwWMHrfcqY6LB4Or6Q_CvE_NgvqgpbVt5gKQ0tkodm3zS1UCV8yVSvlpT0_7SMOygKaWUg5ZGXFVEaFw9HU.nuItTqlDVcIIzpBLgLlOtqXs0zTXrTm8ThLIsk2SP60&dib_tag=se&keywords=Fluval+207&qid=1718365247&rdc=1&sprefix=fluval+207%2Caps%2C96&sr=8-8 alternatively you can buy just the o ring for $9.00 https://www.amazon.com/Ring-A20038-20038-Replacement-Fluval/dp/B0D39DV7XX/ref=sr_1_25_sspa?crid=2MKTRJNGOODRB&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.X2VUUIel9mog81ioJ2ZC0um7Xv9OsPsEYkNAarvetWhl41-w9sFD46FE1Gr-VQLa3LR8npe6RMdqvOdC6Vt8ubj5kCZv1Wx-a50-tBaOeUzNBkbBQxb7Ehd8OYdxV5zY2P5Vt1ii5atjxRc4tNm1d-UwMI0B6f7AdE9lNRVHHktYiofeyz_gjRW83Si1XqmVlQnB1qoX8zOzkz7QYLj524rcvwWMHrfcqY6LB4Or6Q_CvE_NgvqgpbVt5gKQ0tkodm3zS1UCV8yVSvlpT0_7SMOygKaWUg5ZGXFVEaFw9HU.nuItTqlDVcIIzpBLgLlOtqXs0zTXrTm8ThLIsk2SP60&dib_tag=se&keywords=Fluval+207&qid=1718365539&sprefix=fluval+207%2Caps%2C131&sr=8-25-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&psc=1 $21.00 for a hose kit is cheap enough to have on handnin case you accidentally nick one too… https://www.amazon.com/Hagen-Fluval-Rib-Hose-14-5mm/dp/B0006JLOC8/ref=sr_1_1_pp?crid=FE8PGXMYPZWR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.G2I1rPd5X2ocqTE9_Gay2ZbGQzryGaWRkH_NoqLAc4URAy2IUvBVesN7_wQ7iO76dBxMRNbQP1ouB-AGvmTqooEM3fh9xa9WU3BvoS-cB1bosd6HeGAc1wVUeTGGsvhs7HJqw7UbVv0kxnKz41jsdBnFuQVR4hkcOeUisc4HdH6lDus9Jz5nJpMh-XSsRE7RPoaf5yHXkBs_Zz6NWCGtG_Iba-_naWUA_oaTsFmljDVaIDM9Dt5SjkYGHe6bN2aacTcP21Hffu7JN8B3KT29at6HcxgDqLjCkEFY3Yh4XR8.kNI9X0zxGRhD557TIFXReaeeGVNGOJTbpitxAkrw848&dib_tag=se&keywords=Fluval+207+hose&qid=1718365420&sprefix=fluval+207+hose%2Caps%2C142&sr=8-1 Of course the ultimate back up would be to have a spare pump in the box just in case…. $145.00 https://www.amazon.com/Fluval-207-Perfomance-Canister-Filter/dp/B07JHG13WP/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2MKTRJNGOODRB&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.X2VUUIel9mog81ioJ2ZC0um7Xv9OsPsEYkNAarvetWhl41-w9sFD46FE1Gr-VQLa3LR8npe6RMdqvOdC6Vt8ubj5kCZv1Wx-a50-tBaOeUzNBkbBQxb7Ehd8OYdxV5zY2P5Vt1ii5atjxRc4tNm1d-UwMI0B6f7AdE9lNRVHHktYiofeyz_gjRW83Si1XqmVlQnB1qoX8zOzkz7QYLj524rcvwWMHrfcqY6LB4Or6Q_CvE_NgvqgpbVt5gKQ0tkodm3zS1UCV8yVSvlpT0_7SMOygKaWUg5ZGXFVEaFw9HU.nuItTqlDVcIIzpBLgLlOtqXs0zTXrTm8ThLIsk2SP60&dib_tag=se&keywords=Fluval+207&qid=1718365539&sprefix=fluval+207%2Caps%2C131&sr=8-2 If I had 5-6 tanks with canister filters I would probably have a spare canister on the shelf… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris45 Posted June 14 Author Share Posted June 14 On 6/14/2024 at 8:34 PM, mynameisnobody said: What size aquarium is it? 290 litres (75 gallon) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris45 Posted June 14 Author Share Posted June 14 On 6/14/2024 at 9:49 PM, Pepere said: the manufacturer recommends cleaning and lubricating the large O ring every month and replacing it every 6 months. Having one on hand and using it at the 6 month mark and replacing it means you would never have to worry about the shelf life. Wow I did not know this. My filter has been running for 4 years and the o rings haven't leaked. Maybe they leak more with salt water. I will definitely get them replaced now. What do you lubricate with? On 6/14/2024 at 9:49 PM, Pepere said: Of course the ultimate back up would be to have a spare pump in the box just in case I'm tempted to do this On 6/14/2024 at 9:49 PM, Pepere said: They may not fail often, but they are cheap enough to simply have a spare on hand. If you ever need it, you would be very happy to have one on hand. At the very least I will replace the o rings for the aquastop. I wonder if I could find equivalents at a hardware store for 10c each instead of 100x that much... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pepere Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 On 6/14/2024 at 9:25 AM, Chris45 said: At the very least I will replace the o rings for the aquastop. I wonder if I could find equivalents at a hardware store for 10c each instead of 100x that much... Maybe yes, maybe ever so slightly smaller that they leak…. personally I wouldnt risk it unless I had a spare aquatop valve on hand, cause if it dont work, you are waiting on a replacment… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rube_Goldfish Posted June 14 Share Posted June 14 On 6/14/2024 at 9:25 AM, Chris45 said: What do you lubricate with? I'm running a SunSun HW-302 but I've lubricated the o-ring with food grade silicone grease, specifically this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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