Fluval 404 Canister Filter: How to Clean, Setup, and Prime
Keeping your aquarium water crystal clear requires regular filter maintenance. In this video, I perform a deep clean on the Fluval 404 Canister Filter. I walk you through the entire process: from disconnecting the AquaStop valves to cleaning the 4-layer sponge system and media baskets.
I also share a pro-tip on how to "burp" the air out of the motor head so you don't have to use the manual primer pump, and I explain why cleaning your sponges every 1-2 weeks is the secret to stopping algae growth in African Cichlid tanks.
Verified Chapters:
00:00 Fluval 404 Overview & Corner Tank Setup
01:28 Pre-Cleaning: Unplugging heaters and pumps
02:17 How to use the Fluval AquaStop Valves (Removing the canister)
04:10 Opening the canister: The "Side-Press" trick
05:02 How the primer work
05:30 Accessing and Cleaning the Impeller
06:37 Disassembling the media baskets and sponge rails
08:55 Cleaning filter sponges without losing bacteria
07:04 Media Tips: Using Lava Rocks and Charcoal
07:35 How water flow throught canister
12:42 Reassembling the Fluval 04 series correctly
17:55 Fluval canisters specifications
19:06 Connecting valves and the "Self-Priming" hack
21:25 How to "Burp" air out of the filter head
22:21 Final review: Why I prefer Fluval over Aqueon
Fluval Amazon link:
https://amzn.to/3SQdlMQ
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