Fluval 406 and Water Flow?

HI all,

This is my first post here so I apologize ahead of time if its a lengthy one. I am not brand new to the hobby, as I maintained a 10 gallon years ago so I have the basic idea of what I am doing. However, with that being said, I just recently purchased a 55 gallon tank with the hopes of turning it into a community tank with the possible addition of some friendly more peaceful cichlids. From a friend, I purchased a slightly used Fluval 406 canister filter. This is my first time with a tank this large and first time trying to understand how canisters work and how to avoid the headaches that can come with them.
I have had my 55 up and running trying to get the cycle started with some plants and hardy zebra danios and tetras from my 7 gallon biocube. The filter was kind of a pain to get started but now it seems to be functioning or so I think, as I have never used one of these before, so I'm still learning. My first question is pertaining to the Fluval, as every now and then the impeller in the motor will start rattling and making that sound like marbles are being run through the filter. The first time it did this was last week but the rattling didn't stop, so I opened it up, took out the impeller, cleaned it and put it back in ensuring everything was in place. No more sound until today the impeller started rattling again lasting for a few seconds before stopping and going back to silent. I've noticed that if I pump the primer up and down once that will get the rattling to stop... Is there something that I am doing wrong? I purchased a replacement impeller kit that will be here tomorrow but I just want to know that my canister filter is working as it should. Also its important to note that I don't have any air stones near the intake or any in my tank for that matter as I was told that the Fluval filter would do plenty to oxygenate the water without the need for airstones.
My second question is how strong should the intake suction be? I ask because like I said I have nothing to compare it too as I have never used a filter this large before. When looking at the intake, I will watch particles or detritus float by it but if it isn't within inches of the intake it passes by or floats erratically until either getting sucked up or moving past in the current. I have brand new tubing attached so I know that there isn't any gunk buildup in the intake tube. Is this mild suction what's to be expected from these things?
Lastly, the biggest challenge upon moving up in tank size is trying to understand water flow within the tank. Currently in regards to my setup, I have my input in the back left with my output in the back right with the output nozzle facing the input. Just to the right of the output nozzle is my Hydor Koralia 600 GPH that I have slightly below the surface pointed upwards. My question is this enough water movement, or is the positioning of the PH in an improper place? I ask because while the water is moving nicely on the right side of the tank at the surface, on the left side surface there appears to be a film and detritus that is just floating at the top getting pushed around. I'm unsure how to combat this so that it gets moved down below into the intake? Should I get another PH for the left side? Maybe a HOB filter? I'm just not sure the best positioning for everything given the 4 foot length of this tank. Thank you for any advice given as I really want to learn so this becomes a hobby and not the chore that it has been for the past week.

 

Welcome! I'll be honest I didn't read everything but I did skI'm through. The marble sound will usually go away on its own and another thing you can do is gently rock it back and forth front to back and side to side to get the air free from the media most likely. I have a 406 and an AC70 along with 2 sponge filters running on my heavily stocked and planted 55 and I think they are great filters. But I would definitely keep an O-ring on hand just incase down the line when you do filter maintenance if it leaks your ready for it. Aside from that welcome again and looking forward to see how your tank turns out... Lastly even tho the durable fish you added to help with your cycle please have an API liquid test kit to be able to keep a close eye on parameters and do WC's if the ammonia or Nitrites get anywhere above .50-1.0... Best of luck!!

 

I have a 406 that I bought I can't even remember when , maybe 16 years ago. As mentioned above, tilt the canister each direction a few times after starting, but then do it again about an hour later just to be sure you have gotten all the air out.. Often there is more. Make sure you have it loaded correctly with your mechanical media in the bottom tray (foams and/or floss) . You don't have to use the bottom tray for mechanical media as the foams on the side catch a lot but I find they don't catch enough. I like some finer foams in the bottom tray. Then move up a tray or more with your bio media which goes in the 2nd tray and 3rd and 4th if you want. If you plan on using a chemical media like carbon or nitrate reducers etc.. those go in last, in the top basket and never put a piece of foam or filter floss on top of them "to give them one last filtering or polish" . Make sure you don't lose the little rubber tip on the stem of impeller and always remember to make sure your gasket is fitted in properly . Once you put the motor lid on and before you attach the hoses it sometimes helps to pour some water into the intake side, then attach the hoses.

It sounds like your intake is working properly. They don't suck in debris from more than about an inch away, all is well. If it doesn't get sucked in the first pass by it will soon enough on another. If you want to see how much water is pumping through, just unclip your outlet and bring it above water level. there should be a good fairly powerful stream of water coming out.. I have my outlet (75 gal tank) about 10 inches from the right side angled towards the front center of the tank because I also have a HOB filter on the right side of the tank. Try different positions and angles for the outlet.

Running properly your 406 should be almost silent.. great filters.

 

I have a 406 that I bought I can't even remember when , maybe 16 years ago. As mentioned above, tilt the canister each direction a few times after starting, but then do it again about an hour later just to be sure you have gotten all the air out.. Often there is more. Make sure you have it loaded correctly with your mechanical media in the bottom tray (foams and/or floss) . You don't have to use the bottom tray for mechanical media as the foams on the side catch a lot but I find they don't catch enough. I like some finer foams in the bottom tray. Then move up a tray or more with your bio media which goes in the 2nd tray and 3rd and 4th if you want. If you plan on using a chemical media like carbon or nitrate reducers etc.. those go in last, in the top basket and never put a piece of foam or filter floss on top of them "to give them one last filtering or polish" . Make sure you don't lose the little rubber tip on the stem of impeller and always remember to make sure your gasket is fitted in properly . Once you put the motor lid on and before you attach the hoses it sometimes helps to pour some water into the intake side, then attach the hoses.

It sounds like your intake is working properly. They don't suck in debris from more than about an inch away, all is well. If it doesn't get sucked in the first pass by it will soon enough on another. If you want to see how much water is pumping through, just unclip your outlet and bring it above water level. there should be a good fairly powerful stream of water coming out.. I have my outlet (75 gal tank) about 10 inches from the right side angled towards the front center of the tank because I also have a HOB filter on the right side of the tank. Try different positions and angles for the outlet.

Running properly your 406 should be almost silent.. great filters.

So a couple of things I think part of the problem is that I don't have a rubber stem on the tip of the impeller. Also when I would tip the filter from side to side, water would leak out from the attachment point between the motor head and body of the filter. So I bought a replacement kit that includes a new impeller, o ring gasket and impeller cover. So I'm hoping these replacement parts do the trick because I would just like to get my tank cycling already.
Also in regards to my media I have sponges on the bottom tray followed by carbon bags on the 2nd tray, biomax bio rings on the 3rd and then more carbon bags on the top tray.

 

So a couple of things I think part of the problem is that I don't have a rubber stem on the tip of the impeller. Also when I would tip the filter from side to side, water would leak out from the attachment point between the motor head and body of the filter. So I bought a replacement kit that includes a new impeller, o ring gasket and impeller cover. So I'm hoping these replacement parts do the trick because I would just like to get my tank cycling already.
Also in regards to my media I have sponges on the bottom tray followed by carbon bags on the 2nd tray, biomax bio rings on the 3rd and then more carbon bags on the top tray.

The new parts should fix it.. make sure you have the rubber gasket installed correctly and when you put the motor on top press down hard on it then use the side clips.
You wasting tray 2 by having carbon in there and it should really be in the last tray before water goes back in the tank, which is tray 4. . You need more bio media and should probably have bio media in tray2 and tray 3, you could even have a little more bio media in tray 4 and then a couple of small bags of carbon on top of that.. Just make sure that the you don't put too much in any tray that the tray above it doesn't seat well on top of it, particularly the top tray, so that the tray cover fits on nice and tight. If you're not having any smells and your water looks clear enough,, then you don't really need carbon imho.