Fluval 404

erk628 · Jan 2, 2010

Alright this filter stopped working about 2 years ago and while trying to get it to work again I broke the propeler rod. Well I found the part to put it in and it works fine kinda. Now it leaks under the handles on both sides. The prime knob if its all the way down like its suppose to be it leaks to. It has to be all the way up for it not to leak there but it still leaks around the handles. Read online that people put vasaline around the rubber seal which looks like new dont have any vasoline though. Anyone have ever have this problem. Even if I can get it to stop leaking I'm still weary about using it since it leaked once it could again and coming home to water on the ground would not be a pretty sight. I have it on my 150 gallon. I might just have to bite the bullet and get a fx5. I'm wanting to start a african cichlid tank so I'm going to need all the filtration I can get.

shelaghfishface · Jan 2, 2010

have you ( yes ts gonna be a stupid Q) simply tried refitting the lid a few times? i had the very same problem recently( with a 405), and after a few attempts at refitting managed to stop it.. these filters are like overfilled luggage IMO they need to be just about sat on to seal properly prior to fastening the clips

erk628 · Jan 3, 2010

shelaghfishface said:
have you ( yes ts gonna be a stupid Q) simply tried refitting the lid a few times? i had the very same problem recently( with a 405), and after a few attempts at refitting managed to stop it.. these filters are like overfilled luggage IMO they need to be just about sat on to seal properly prior to fastening the clips

Yeah I tried doing that several different times. I even put my knee on it with all my weight. That seems to make a perfect seal but still started drizzling out. Like I said I never had this problem when I was using it before. From what I gathered online a lot of people had this problem and they put vasaline on the o ring inside and it stopped. Im going to get some tommorrow and see if that helps. Even if I get it to stop leaking then theres still the problem around the prime hole. I dont know if I want to take the risk of it leaking when I'm not home or fork over $300 for a fx5 which is really want I want just cant afford it right now.I thought since I have this one that I would try to get it to work.

star4 · Jan 3, 2010

I love these filters but they are a pain like this. Under the handles is a gap at the top of the container part, this sometimes fills with water, get a cloth and shove it right into all the gaps and dry it out, see if that works, if not you may need a new seal. My 404 lid fits so tight I have to get a spoon and pry it off!

fishyfeet · Jan 3, 2010

i have two 305's used to have three, and they do have this problem, i find they some time keep doing this, and what i do is remove the rubber seal around the top and clean in the groove where it sits, sometime a little snail, or gravel gets in there, then refit the seal, this nearly always works. di