I have a Fluval 405 that leaks water when ever the power is shut off. I have replaced the motor head seal with a nil fix. We had a power failure last week and I lost about 1/3 of the water all over the floor. It is odd that as soon as the power is on, the problem stops.
I am stumped and seriously considering buying a new filter, can not afford anymore water on the hardwood. Has anyone ever had this problem before and what is the fix.
Very simple fix. Go to a hardware store and ask for silicone lubricant or plumbers silicone past NOT LODERING FLUX... someone tried to give that to me. They sell it at Preston Hardware. It is about $4 or $5. Use it liberally on the ring then put back in place.
When the power goes out the pressure drops that is holding the ring tightly in place. In fact Fluval sells a tiny tube of lube for the ring for twice the cost of the plumbers paste.
rub some vaseline around seal and make sure there is no sludge buildup where seal sits on,clean around seal ledge with a qtip.
Make sure there is no cuts in seal,if that doesnt work replace seal.
I had same problem with my 304.
Vasline is made of petroleum it will break down the rubber after awhile.
I replaced the motor head "O" ring and applied a liberal amount of silicone grease and the problem still exists. I am beginning to wonder if there is another seal somewhere in the motor head that has deteriorated. As I previously stated, it only leaks when static! Very odd.
The are two additional 'O' rings where the hoses go in.
Check that you have a 'check ball' in your intake strainer - it is there to prevent black-flow.
You can also try keeping your out-take spigot/spray bar slightly above the water line
Yes I forgot I always grease those 2 as well... the grease usually fixes the issue... ???
why get frustrated over a filter that leaks when its off? how often is it off?
just stick your filter in a bucket and stop worrying. i have a 403 and I have it in a bucket. mine doesnt leak...but its there just in case.
Quote from: Rob Labonte on April 17, 2009, 06:25:44 PM
why get frustrated over a filter that leaks when its off? how often is it off?
just stick your filter in a bucket and stop worrying. i have a 403 and I have it in a bucket. mine doesnt leak...but its there just in case.
Power failures!!!!!!!!!!
I learned of this problem the hard way, we lost power during the night, only to wake up to about 40 of my 100 gallons leaked out.
Quote from: dan2x38 on April 17, 2009, 11:11:19 PM
Wow that is a lot of water! Did you grease the other rings? Any luck?
Hi Dan,
This is how I found out about the problem. I have changed the main O ring and used heavy silicone lube. It seems to pour out from under one of the clamps that attaches the motor head to the canister. There is no cracks in either piece, this is why I am confused as to where th leak is coming from. I wish I had a full schematic of the power head so I could trouble shoot a possible source.
If the two small O ring are leaking, the water will run into the top of the filter and come out by the clamps.
Check for the ball in the strainer - it is probably either stuck or missing.
Quote from: bergenm on April 17, 2009, 11:48:41 PM
If the two small O ring are leaking, the water will run into the top of the filter and come out by the clamps.
Check for the ball in the strainer - it is probably either stuck or missing.
You may have hit the nail on the head, that is exactly where the water is coming out from. Kind of weird that it only leaks when static but not when powered.
40 of 100 gallons? ouch.
k, sorry didnt know you were losing that much water.
what is this ball and strainer that people are talking about??? I have a 405 and dont see any balls. and what part is the strainer?
The strainer in on the end of the intake (inside the tank). If you remove the strainer from the rest of the intake, there should be a 'check ball' inside the fixture.
I have a 405 and I drilled a small hole in the intake tube right near the top of the water so that if I do have a problem like that once it goes past the drilled hole the filter will lose its siphon, that may help but hopefully you get the problem solved.
Get yourself an Eheim and trash those Fluvals.