Daniel Posted April 8, 2004 Share Posted April 8, 2004 I have a friend who is having some problems with his 6 month old Via Aqua 650. We measured the flow rate to be about 320lph which is well down on the 1000lph rating of this filter. I understand that filters often run at around 70-90% of maximum flow rates but 320lph against the 1000lph rating is extremely low. This is after I helped him clean out the impellor and housing free of debris very recently. The filter medium does not seem overfilled. It is running in a 120x35wx45h (standard 120cm size tank). He is also battling fish losses which I am trying to help him sort out. Unfortunately, I have never used a cannister filter myself so am still learning about these filters. Anyone have any ideas what might be causing the restricted flow rate ? Perhaps its a case of you get what you pay for ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardie Posted April 8, 2004 Share Posted April 8, 2004 Daniel, have you tried running the canister without an media in it? Also also make sure that no air bubbles or anything is stopping the impeller? Just a thought Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gigitt Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 this might sound stupid... but are the Taps fully open? also check for kinks in the tubing and give them a clean if they a lined with gunk. Also as Beardie said... test flow rate without any media. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rol&Jas Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 I agree with Daniel. I have a Via Aqua 650 (which was my very first filter) and I could say the crappiest one. Flow rate is so slow that it would take minutes to fill up a cup. I reckon it even does less than 320l/h. I would not recommend that filter to anyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ant Posted April 9, 2004 Share Posted April 9, 2004 Yep, i use the smaller one again, the VA 300, its supposed to do 600lph and only really does 200-300lph. I've tested it with no media but not a real difference. I am really dissapointed in them, i think i'll spend the extra money and get a fluval cannister. Anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter_Gun_Riff Posted April 11, 2004 Share Posted April 11, 2004 i have a 650 on 1 of my tanks and it seems to go good with the media i have and i notice a big difference it water quality when its not on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bijengum Posted April 11, 2004 Share Posted April 11, 2004 Filter flow rates are optimistic. They are also rated at minimum head. As soon as you place them below the level of a tank on a stand they drop dramatically. I use them purely as biological filters. By that I mean there is no fine media in the cannister so the flow is not restricted. I use a secondary filter either an over hang or internal to filter the particles. This also has the advantage that I don't need to clean the cannisters more than about every 6 months. I generally also have species tanks that are relatively understocked that reduces the load on the filters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted April 13, 2004 Author Share Posted April 13, 2004 Thanks for your thoughts, I will (later this week) check thoroughly for kinks, open taps etc. And I will check flow rate without media, but I am not too optimistic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.