First Ever Set Up! Noisy Pump!

[ZoddyZod]

You should fill the tank up to the 'max fill line'. On my Fluval 125 it is on the left hand side.

I don't understand what you mean about the heater though...

hmmm, didnt see a max water line on the tank itself. Will check this evening.

The rim of the lid protudes about about an inch to the outside and inside of the tank glass. Therefore, due to the heater being attached very close to the glass, the top of the heater has to sit underneath the lowest part of the lid.

......should really have taken a picture for clarity.

is your water level underneath the lowest part of the lid?

 

[m00se]

Just a quick tip - every Homebase I've ever been in also stocks Ammonia if you don't have a Boots near you. Don't bother asking anyone, just head for the household cleaning aisle and it's right there in a white bottle with blue lettering

 

[Curiosity101]

If you're looking dead on at the tank. Then the water level is just above where the lid meets the glass. So looking from the outside you can't see the surface of the water. But if you look inside it's no more than 1cm above where lid meets glass.

Hope that makes sense.

Then I have my heater pretty much vertical, submerged so that water covers all of the heater element and a bit of the plastic top part which has the twisty dial on it. But only around 1cm past where the actual heater element ends. Just to make sure it's never un submerged. I've already broken far too many heaters! Hehe

 

[ZoddyZod]

If you're looking dead on at the tank. Then the water level is just above where the lid meets the glass. So looking from the outside you can't see the surface of the water. But if you look inside it's no more than 1cm above where lid meets glass.

Hope that makes sense.

Then I have my heater pretty much vertical, submerged so that water covers all of the heater element and a bit of the plastic top part which has the twisty dial on it. But only around 1cm past where the actual heater element ends. Just to make sure it's never un submerged. I've already broken far too many heaters! Hehe

that's exactly how I have mine set up.....but the heater has a max water line mark that is about 2cm from the base of the dial/plastic part......so if I set it up accordingly, some of the element would be exposed to the air. Confusing!

 

[Curiosity101]

Ah, You're right that is a bit odd...maybe mine has a max waterline that I just haven't noticed.
Seems very weird to expose some of the heater element, but if that's what it says then it must be ok I guess...

 

[m00se]

I've always just submerged mine fully after one that had a max waterline on it went ping while it was on. No others that I've had have had a max waterline on them, but yes, I guess if it says that then it must be right.

 

[ZoddyZod]

Ah, You're right that is a bit odd...maybe mine has a max waterline that I just haven't noticed.
Seems very weird to expose some of the heater element, but if that's what it says then it must be ok I guess...

Think I'll contact Hagen/Fluval as they have supplied the heater with the tank as part of a complete kit, you'd expect that they'd made sure they actually fit together

It probably works fine with the entire element covered and only the top above the water, but it may be a 'get out of jail free' card for them if anything goes wrong during the warranty

 

[ZoddyZod]

I've always just submerged mine fully after one that had a max waterline on it went ping while it was on. No others that I've had have had a max waterline on them, but yes, I guess if it says that then it must be right.

Ideally I'd like to know exactly where the thermostat is in the tube. If it's right at the top and out of the water, surely the readings are off becuase it is measuring the air???

Also the leaflet that comes with it shows an image of installing it in two ways. One horizontally and one at a 45 degree angle......which is clearly fully submerged!

Doesn't make sense to me.

 

[ZoddyZod]

With the tank filled to the line of the hood/cover, the heater 'max water line' is covered by about an inch of water (but still with the grey part/ temp dial out of the water).

Anyone esle know if this is ok? The only way to set it up as the heater states is to have the water line about an inch under the hood/cover......not exactly great

I've done a stupid, the 'max' line I was talking about is in fact the min line. Was looking at it through the corner of the tank, mis-read, and dashed to the forum for help! Sorry!