Fluval 404
 

Hey guys. I have some old filters I was going through and I realized only the Fluval 404s will work on the Hex since the back isnt wide enough to put a HOB filter.

Anyways, If I want to add sand to the bottom, will sand get sucked up into the filter and mess up like the impeller or anything?

-Matt

No, if the sand is properly rinsed and the intake isn't right down on the sand it won't suck anything up. A lot of people like to shut off their filter when they mess with anything in their sand bed tank though. Personally I don't, because I washed the every loving daylights out of the sand and it just doesn't get stirred up for me.

oh ok cool. Thanks Tyyrlym

Your best bet for sand is actually a sponge filter but second best, as far as equipment damage, would be a canister. Canisters have the distinct advantage that by the time anything from the tank gets to the pumping part, it has gone through the whole filter. This means the sand can't get to the impeller at all, even if you do suck some up.

Oh ok. Well the Fluval 404 is a canister Filter btw.



oh and Im filling up the tank later tonight!!!
Im spray painting the trim I guess you would call it,
(the last person to have it sprayed it yellow -ick- so im doing it black in a few minutes.)
and the Lid and then Im gonna let it dry for a few hours
then fill it up. Im so excited. I cant wait!! :-D

Im so angry right now :evil:
I did pretty good spray painting the tank...until I did the top FRONT peice.
I HAD to mess up the FRONT. I hope it drys out good. Dad said to do about 2 more light coats aswell.
But yeah, I hope it turns out good.

lol my fingers are black so I put the masking tape I taped the tank with on my finger tips so I dont stain my keyboard lol typing this is taking forever :-P

ok, I sanded it down after screwing up the first coat. So we redid it a few times with light coats and it looks great! The sandpaper gave it a 'wood-ish' look so now it looks like we spray painted wood. I like how it turned out so im happy I messed up lol :-D