Advantages: Kept my water in excellent condtion clean and smelling fresh Disadvantages: Only disadvantage is cleaning the foam filtration pads,it's disgusting.
...9am-5pm)
***Address***
Rolf C. Hagen (UK) Ltd
50 Hampden Rd
Mansfield
Ma.02048-9107
Having started off as do most people with a regular fish bowl and two rather boisterous goldfish i was soon keen to expand to a larger tank with more fish so about 2 weeks later i headed down to my local Pets at home store in Ashton under lyne.After deciding on a 2 foot x 1 foot tank,plants,ornaments,gravel etc it was time to decide on a filter,Knowing absolutely nothing about them i sought the help of the nearest member of staff who took me to a locked glass cabinet where the filters were stored and explained that for the tank size that i had decided on the Fluval 3 was the best choice for keeping the aquarium water crystal clear and clean.
************** THE FILTER ****************
The Fluval 3 filter comes in a rather slim box with a nice photo of the product of the front of the box and also a diagram of how it works on the side of the box,it also shows close up pictures of the main features of the filter including the 2 foam filtration pads that trap any uneaten food particles or even yuckier fish poo.
The main points of this filter 1)clogging indicator. 2)Horizontal water outlet with 90% directional flow. 3)Water flow adjuster. 4)Airflow control device. 5)Optimal water filtration system with large filter volume and effective flow control. 6)Double filter with 2 foam pads for alternate replacement. 7)Space for optional filter media and special carbon filter media. The filter itself is very simple to assemble and comes with an easy step by step picture guide (everything just slots together).
************* INSTALLATION***************
Before you put your foam pads into your filter it is important to remove a small amount of water from your fishtank and put it in a bucket so you can rinse the pads,after doing this return the pads to the filter and dispose of the water in the bucket( NOT BACK INTO THE AQUARIUM)
Place the filter inside the aquarium and ensure that it is placed below the water level. Attach the filter to the aquarium by using either the rim clamp or suction cup bracket. Rotate exhaust outlet to desired angle. Plug into power. The top of the filter MUST only be half a cm under the water.If you have a deeper tank then you can raise the filter acordingly by sitting it on a mound of gravel or have a lower water level.If your tank is too deep/big then i recommend a larger filter.It also has a dial on the top so that you can introduce air to the aquarium.
**************** OVERALL OPINION************
Well i have no complants so far,its very quiet,all i hear is a very soothing and relaxing bubbling sound and not that usual rotten droning you get from some filters.It has kept my tank water in excellent condition,very clean and smelling fresh,it has 4 flow settings and even on the highest it barely disturbes my fish giving only a nice flowing current which some like as many are from rivers .One night i was feeding my fish and as always i turn the filter off before i do,having woken the next morning i discovered that i hadn't plugged it back in and the water was very dirty and cloudy,i plugged the filter back in and on the highest setting and within 2 hours the tank had cleared and the water was perfect once more.After 3 weeks i decided to clean the filter pads,when i removed them from the filter they were disgusting,full of all manner of nasty stuff so i suggest this is done often and with the aid of rubber gloves (do not use any chemical cleaners) and just water.It's a fabulous filter which i recommend to any fish keeper if they want to keep they're tank in tip top condition as it did mine.It comes with a 2 year guarantee if you send away your warranty registration card which is printed on the instruction manual or you can register it online (Details below).I purchased this filter from Pets at home for £24.99,the same one i've seen in regular aquarium /pet shops for £35.Having 11 fancy Goldfish in my tank im amazed at how well it works.
It's also important to know that Fluval offer a range of filters in many sizes,even larger ones for outdoor pond use plus replacement foam pads.
For more info on fishcare,products,warranty registration and general advice go to http://www.hagen.com
Helpline number : 01977556622 (Between 9am-5pm)
***Address***
Rolf C. Hagen (UK) Ltd 50 Hampden Rd Mansfield Ma.02048-9107
Advantages: efficient and quiet Disadvantages: none except the dirt
So having this week moved the old school tank in to my house there is now plenty of scope for another round of aquarium equipment reviews, the first of the new items under the spotlight is the Fluvial 3 (plus) internal filter - this replaced the Fluvial 3 several years ago.
Being as it is a plain black cubiod shape there is little about it that will spoil the look of your aquascape, mine is hidden behind a few plastic aquagarden plants, which being ... ...gently constantly. It has a blue water flow adjuster, which will cause the flow to vary between the 540 ltr/hr stated above and 700 ltr/hr which in a tank which has a volume of just under 140 litres means that the water is flitered 4.5 times every hour! But importantly this doesnt seem to create too strong a current within the aquarium so the fish arent constantly swimming against a current.
The outlet can be moved through around 80degrees so that ...
scuba_angel 23.07.2007 (16.08.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Hagen Fluval No 3 (540L/Hr)
Advantages: fresh clean water Disadvantages: cleaning pads!
I had started off with an undergravel filtration system. It annoyed me a lot as i had got gravel stuck in the pipe that rattled all night and day. So i had decided to follow my dad on his route down the Fluval path. My dad has always had tanks and has always used fluval filters. I began about 1 and a half years ago with the Fluval 3 plus and has never been let down by the cleanliness of my water.
I suppose having several algae-eating fish also helps ... ...i am able to tell the difference when it comes to cleaning day for the foam pads.
The two pads are a wash with algae and old fish food. It cleans off easily but it is easier to buy a set of new pads. They arent expensive at only about £1.50 a time, but cleaning is highly recommended as after only 5 minutes of cleaning you have good as new pads again.
The Fluval filter cost £25 from Pets At Home and had a 1 year guarantee. Very quiet it is a tank ...
Nadeboll61 24.01.2005 (10.12.2009)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Hagen Fluval No 3 (540L/Hr)
