Table of Contents

  • Specifications of Fluval FX4
  • Box Contents Fluval FX4
  • Fluval FX4 Features
    • Smart Functioning Pump
    • Piece of cake Maintenance
    • High Performance
    • How To Prepare
    • Fluval FX4 Performance Racket: Loud Or Quiet
    • Filter Media
    • Self Primer
    • Purge Valve
    • Ergonomic Design
  • Fluval FX4 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
    • What's The Flow Rate Of The Fluval FX4?
    • How To Slow The Menstruum Rate Of The Fluval FX4?
    • What Size Tank for FX4?
    • How to Prime Fluval FX4?
    • How to Clean And How Often Fluval FX4?
    • How To Alter Media For Fluval FX4?
    • What Size Tank For Fluval FX4?
    • How To Clean Fluval FX4 Filter Hose?
    • Warranty Data
  • FX4 Review Recap

This FX4 guide from our reviewal squad shall assist you lot proceeds insight into the necessary features of the Fluval FX4 canister filter before you lot buy it.

Fluval is undoubtedly one of the best brands out there that deliver products of the utmost quality for fishkeeping. The Fluval filters FX series has been impressing people for several years now. The prime expectation of any customer earlier investing their money into buying a product is longevity. Of course, everyone wants the production to concluding for numerous years before beingness worn out and the Fluval FX4 canister filter fully justifies that. It's manifestly blackness body with red and white strokes lining the unlike parts, provide it a unique and attractive look.

All points mentioned in this FX4 review will determine your choice and help you pick the all-time canister filter for your keeping fish situation.

fluval FX4 canister filter box components

Fluval FX4 Overall Rating: 9.ane/x

⚠️ Warning: In this category Fluval 407  scored lower (8.8/10) and SunSun HW-3000  scored lower (viii.6/10). Brand sure to check them out, to encounter the differences!

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Specifications of Fluval FX4

  • Dimensions (L x Westward 10 H): 15.75 x fifteen.75 ten 16.5 inches / forty ten 40 x 42 cm
  • Biological Volume: ane.03 United states of america liquid gallon
  • Filter Circulation: 450 Gallons Per Hour (GPH) / 1700 Liters Per Hour (LPH)
  • Filtration Volume: three.69 U.s. liquid gallon
  • Head Height: 2.i meters
  • Mechanical Area: 1400 cubic centimeters
  • Motor Power: 30 watts
  • Pump Output: 700 Gallons Per Hour (GPH) / 2650 Liters Per Hour (LPH)
  • Aquarium Capacity: 250 The states Gallons / 1000 Liters
  • Item Weight: 6.43 kilograms / fourteen.17 lbs

fluval FX4 external cascade canister filter

Box Contents Fluval FX4

And so, to begin with, let united states of america commencement introduce you to the FX4 box contents of the bundle our review team received.

  • Smart Pump
  • 2 baskets that can be stacked over one some other
  • 3 types of multi stage filtration media- biological, chemical, and mechanical
  • Leak-proof valves
  • The 45° angled valves facilitate easy rotation and installation
  • Lid fasteners
  • Filter lid along with attachments
  • Telescopic strainer with anti-clog properties
  • Multi-directional output nozzles – these nozzles are extremely benign in controlling the flow rate of the pump.
  • Utility Valve with drain hose for quick maintenance and flushing of unit of measurement
  • Rim connectors, 3 clips, 2 O-rings and suction cup
  • Rubberized Feet
  • A connection port that allows you to easily attach the Fluval FX Gravel Vac (sold separately).

Fluval FX4 Features

FX4 components are easy to install and offer no such difficulty.

Now, coming ahead, permit'southward talk over its features one by one and come across how they play a role in the efficient working of this FX4 canister filter.

The Fluval FX4 canister filter is full of amazing features that make it a first choice for the customers, but to continue the article precise nonetheless relevant, we have tried to mention some of its exclusive features below that surely deserve your attention.

fluval FX4 multi stage filtration canister filter

Smart Performance Pump

Lower FX serial unit has an auto-start motor smart pump and after the addition of h2o, information technology starts past itself and pumps out 700 gallons of water every hour. The advanced microchip applied science ensures the smooth working of the pump and effectively expels out the air. The speed and force of the rotor assembly are continually monitored to ensure maximum output and energy efficiency, optimizing the pump performance.

The pump draws up the h2o and passes it through various stages of filtration. The filtered water is so expelled past the pump into the aquarium in 4 major directions: inside-out, forwards-backward, top to lesser, and middle-out.

Piece of cake Maintenance

No matter how good your product is, information technology volition non last long if its cleaning and maintenance are not taken care of and undoubtedly, this process is a burden for the customers. But the please while purchasing Fluval Aquatics FX series lower entry is that it is extremely piece of cake to maintain.

To remove the lid, you just take to unscrew 8 screw clamps. After removing the lid, you accept to lift the two red levers on either side of the filter baskets and and then y'all can have out all the filter media inside and change or clean them as required.

To have access to the actual pump within the filter, you volition need a crosshead screwdriver to unscrew three screws, remove them and then go to the pump. Before removing the pump, just be certain that the canister is empty, or else the water will just destroy your pump. Also, do not misplace your sealing ring in the process every bit you will need information technology to assemble the stuff once again.

This niggling process of maintenance and cleaning is not a grind and is least effortful as compared to the maintenance of several other filters. It only requires minimal fourth dimension and minimal effort. The dial on the canister reminds you whenever it's time to clean the filter.

High Functioning

The aspect where FX4 deserves a 10/10 is operation. The high performance of the filter is its' hallmark. The process of filtration performed past the pump is splendid and the quality tin can be hands determined by the color of filtered h2o. The pump prevents contamination and keeps the water clean. The credit of the filtration can exist attributed to the filter media incorporated within information technology. The more is the filter media, the cleaner is the h2o. The multistage 5 layers filtration process provides a healthy environment for the aquatic animals and is prove of its loftier functioning. The good flow rate of the pump makes it a good choice both for large and small marine exhibits.

How To Set

Just like the other aspects of the Fluval FX4, setting it up is also not challenging at all. You don't have to scratch your head to sympathise the technicalities as they provide you with a detailed user manual that can guide you lot step-by-step. Also, the instructions are explained in such a way that even an inexperienced person can consummate the task like an skillful.

The only department where you will encounter slight difficulty is setting the inlet and outlet tubes. In example they are also long, you can cut them at the desired length merely merely be double certain before you do that because you cannot undo information technology later.

Here are a few tips on how to put together a Fluval FX4:

  1. Take out all the filter media and clean them properly under conditioned h2o.
  2. Proceed the bottom filter basket into the canister and braze the media, and then once again keep the top i inside and plug in the filter media. After adding the filter media, fix them into their place with the help of red handles.
  3. Pour in the water and shut the hat. While closing the lid, diagonally tighten the screws (at contrary ends) and not circumferentially as it tin can prevent the lid from bending or lifting.
  4. Affix the inlet and outlet tubes and position them into the tank. The spray bar tin can be added at the end of the outlet tube if desired.

Aye, these few simple steps and y'all are all washed with the Fluval FX4 setup! For a detailed guide nigh how to install Fluval FX4, you tin go through the user transmission provided along with the filter or browse the online instructions FX4 manual (particular model number A214).

Tip: You would want to accept your filter media get from coarse to fine and so setup your Seachem Purigen.

Fluval FX4 Operation Racket: Loud Or Quiet

Don't judge by the size, equally this external filter is comparatively very serenity and does not make a highly loud striking sound in the surroundings. Though the filter does create a minor alarming audio which will be majorly heard from the tank and not the filter, while information technology is evacuating the air inside diminishing accumulated air bubbles, happening every 12 hours, even so tranquillity dissonance operation is all-time most of the other competitors.

Filter Media

The water flowing in the external filter passes through v different stages of filtration. To brainstorm with, the water beginning undergoes mechanical filtration, wherein most of the droppings is sedimented. The filtered h2o then passes through a biological foam pad (you can add ii bio foams) and lastly passes through a chemical filter which is ordinarily added at the bottom. Information technology is practically always best to utilize chemical filtration equally the last stage of filtration because it needs to be inverse periodically and the cleaner it remains, the better information technology is. When chemical filters are placed at the last stage, almost of the impurities in the water are filtered at the earlier stages and the h2o passing through the chemical filter is usually cleaner, and hence the longevity of the filter increases.

If you lot open the filter, you might notice some extra space left where you can contain additional filter media. People usually prefer to add together Biomax media, water polisher, or an ammonia remover.

Coming to impediments, there is a piddling shortage of space in the filter baskets of the Fluval canister filter FX4 . Even if one forcibly jam compresses the baskets with the biological media, it would still non be enough for a 220-gallon tank. Hence it should specifically be used for smaller aquariums.

Self Primer

Self primer is some other feature that differentiates the Fluval FX4 external cascade filter from the balance of the filters. It does not inquire you to take care of its priming, instead, it lessens your workload and does it all on its own. Isn't that great? That'south exactly what this busy generation is looking for. And of course, you lot would know how important priming is for a filter, and how missing information technology could drastically bear on the working of your motor.

Herein the smart Fluval FX4 canister filter, all you lot demand to do is, add a little water before switching information technology on and then forget about it considering information technology takes care of the rest affair itself.

The pump is functioned to readjust itself every 12 hours, but you lot practice demand to keep a count of this readjusting time every bit the alarm tin exist annoying and can fifty-fifty wake you lot up from a deep sleep. And then, it'south better to keep a runway of this evacuating time of the pump. And if it'due south your first experience with a self-priming filter, then you should surely keep a note of this fourth dimension every bit it can scare you in the earlier days.

Rest, there is nothing to be worried about every bit the alarm simply honks for a few minutes, usually just i or ii. Equally the alert honks, the filter stops for a while, empties the excess air, and and then restarts. This removal of air is very important for the proper functioning of the filter.

Purge Valve

This is yet some other magical feature of this external filter. The valve allows the attachment of Fluval FX Gravel Vac and additionally allows you to water change in the tank.

Isn't emptying a tank a tedious job, where you accept to move buckets of h2o forwards and backward? The utility valve of the Fluval FX4 canister filter works similar a genie and saves you from the mess of buckets. It allows you to attach a hose to the utility valve and empties the tank in no time. You can keep the other end of the hose at a nearby window or in the sink.

Just recollect to switch off the filter before emptying it, and rest the gravity takes care of the whole thing.

Now the drawback of the valve is that it tin can not help y'all in filling the tank. You will still have to use buckets for that purpose.

Ergonomic Design

The model is designed beautifully and is compact to perfectly find a place in small-scale spaces. The verbal measurements of the canister filter are as follows: xv.6 x 15.half-dozen x 17.7.  It's ever skilful to cross-cheque the dimensions of the filters with the available space before purchasing information technology or else it's only going to invite unwanted expenses afterwards on.

Though nobody cares about the beauty of the filter as it is not a prime business organization for anyone, yet with the purchase of Fluval FX4, you can be relieved near its appearance as it looks really good and has a very subtle and professional look.

 Advantages

  • It works well for both larger and smaller aquariums
  • The Cocky-priming feature is a blessing for the buyers
  • The utility valve makes it very piece of cake to drain water from the tank
  • The installation process is a cakewalk
  • The maintenance process does not require much the attempt

Disadvantages

  • Limited space for filter media
  • The process of reassembling the lid tin can be a little arduous
  • Piddling expensive

Fluval FX4 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Beneath is a compiled listing of answered frequently asked questions for Fluval FX4 pour filtration system.

What'due south The Flow Rate Of The Fluval FX4?

In the case of larger aquariums, one wishes to find a filter pump that can lengthened approximately four times the total amount of water nowadays in the tank. FX4 outside filter efficiently pumps around 700 gallons of water every hour, which is just great.

But this high efficiency of the Fluval FX4 pour filter is not a constraint when information technology comes to smaller tanks because the larger water diffusion in the tank can help it stay clean. And then, its high menstruation rate makes information technology a proficient choice both for aquariums and smaller tanks, even for huge fishbowls!

However, if you would still want to slow the flow rate of the Fluval Fx4 canister filter in cases of fish like bettas, hither are some ways to do that.

How To Slow The Flow Rate Of The Fluval FX4?

ane) Bending The Output Into The Sides

This one is truly the easiest and zero-cost method that can solve the effect of a high flow rate for you. You tin angle the output nozzle into the sides, so it flows into the glass. This method drastically lowers the Fluval FX4 h2o pressure.

2) Attach Filter Sponge To The Output Nozzles

This DIY method requires a little attempt simply is quite unproblematic to adjust. All yous have to do is attach a filter sponge to the output nozzles and cutting a pigsty in it. This effectively controls the menstruation charge per unit as the sponge absorbs a little corporeality of water which indirectly slows the flow charge per unit.

3) Add A Spray Bar

This is another DIY method in case you are good at innovations. Adding a spray bar is a cheap selection that can diminish the water period by altering a few strong currents into several weaker currents.

4) Shut The Output Valve Slightly

This one is what people greatly follow to reduce the period charge per unit. Yet, closing it fiercely might damage the inside of the canister filter over some time just doing the aforementioned slightly can assistance y'all reduce the water flow inside the canister.

These wonderful methods can greatly deadening down and control the menstruation rate of the h2o. Also, you can combine some of these methods to achieve the desired flow rate. Maje sure to as well clean your FX4 impeller, otherwise yous will need replacement of magnetic impeller assembly. Impellers assist control of water menstruation from your freshwater or saltwater tank to the canister filter, thus replacement is needed if it breaks.

What Size Tank for FX4?

The Fluval FX4 canister filter can perfectly fit an aquarium as large equally 200 gallons in size, only in instance you are skeptical nigh its apply in a smaller size tank, so here is the respond for you. The fact is that it can exist perfectly used in smaller tanks if yous inhabit the fish within and yous are creative enough. The FX4 concile the gap between the Fluval 406 and the Fluval FX6 external cascade filter, making it a great pick for tanks even for 150 gallon tank upward to 250 gallon tank. So Fluval 406 vs FX4 and Fluval FX6 vs FX4 are the biggest rivalries for the FX4 depending on the volume of your reef tank or freshwater aquarium.

This Fluval FX4 canister filter would exist best for any marine or freshwater tank from 55 gallons to 75 gallons to 90 gallons, actually this is the best canister filter for 75 gallon-tanks. If you have the right fish within, then you lot tin even use it in a aquarium as small as 50 gallons as long equally the fish are comfortable with the flow charge per unit of the water, for instance, a betta dislikes high and strong period rates, and so if you are thinking of utilizing this filter in a 50-gallon pump with betta within, then it's a complete no go. To however utilise this filter in such a instance, y'all volition have to consider the methods mentioned to a higher place to slow down the period rate of the pump.

How to Prime number Fluval FX4?

You don't need to worry about the priming of the filter every bit the Fluval FX4 has a cocky-priming feature, wherein you lot just have to add together a little water before switching it on and then it takes care of everything itself.

How to Clean And How Often Fluval FX4?

The first step towards cleaning the Fluval FX4 canister filter is unplugging information technology and then draining out all the water. Secondly, disassemble the lid and remove all the filter media, clean or replace them as required. And lastly, clean the empty external filter with h2o.

Coming to the question of how oft information technology needs to exist cleaned, the answer is a little unclear. Some adopt to clean the filter every four-8 weeks, while some might skip the process for over 10-12 weeks. Since the aquarium also has some skillful bacteria that have several biological advantages, information technology'south not advisable to clean the filter or drain the water very frequently. To determine the correct time to clean the filter, y'all can keep a count of the nitrate levels in the tank. Nitrate levels to a higher place 40 ppm can be toxic, so don't allow it shoot up and clean the filter on time.

How To Modify Media For Fluval FX4?

Changing the Fluval FX4 filter media is the well-nigh important step in cleaning the filter.  The first footstep is to drain the water, unfasten the lid, and have out all the filter media. The filter media can then exist cleaned nether conditioned water. You tin can even supersede the media if required. And once you lot are washed you lot tin stack them dorsum in the filter baskets.

What Size Tank For Fluval FX4?

Fluval FX4 is a universal filter, which can exist used both in larger and smaller volume tanks. Information technology's suitable for tanks as big equally 200 gallons and too for tanks as small every bit 50 gallons. Fluval FX4 cascade filter has a loftier flow rate and therefore, using it in a small fish tank might consequence in unbearable fishkeeping conditions but every bit long as you lot can slow down the catamenia charge per unit, it will exist all good. Besides, FX4 for turtle tanks that normally get messy is a good candidate.

How To Clean Fluval FX4 Filter Hose?

Apart from the cleaning of the Fluval FX4 loftier performance canister filter, one also needs to pay attending to cleaning the filter hose. The hose is a long pipe helpful in the drainage of the water, which is why a lot of dirt gets accumulated within it over time. Ane should be careful enough while cleaning the piping every bit a harsh manus might puncture it. The listing of things required for the cleaning of the hose is a bucket of warm h2o, vinegar/H202, Teflon tape, and a hose brush. Moving the hose brush throughout the length of the hose tin clean the debris amassed on the walls of the hose. You lot can also prefer to employ a magnetic tube cleaner that reaches difficult areas of the tube and cleans the dirt mechanically. Or else, a sump pump could also be used for this purpose. If your hose is an extremely terrible condition you should consider getting a replacement hose part for your FX4.

Warranty Information

If your FX4 stopped working and troubleshooting hasn't produced results, from the day you purchased Fluval FX4 external Filter, you lot volition enjoy a three year limited guarantee. Only faults for which you lot are not accountable are legitimate. Delight be enlightened that only then will non-replaceable items be replaced or stock-still if the filter is returned along with all FX4 parts with a proper proof of buy and paid bills. All the extra FX4 accessories and upgrades bought independently are leap to their own warranty. With the exception of the FX4 pump engine every part/addon/pad, so on, produced for FX4/5/half-dozen are interchangeable on all the FX series. Then you lot can swap around parts through FX serial except from the pump motor.

FX4 Review Recap

So, after giving y'all a detailed insight into the Fluval FX4, here is a quick Fluval FX4 review epitomize to help you focus on the important features of this wonderful equipment. Don't forget you lot can browse our all-time canister filter review to find all Fluval Aquatics competitors in the external cascade water filter category.

  • The menstruum rate is very high and in case yous program to use it in a small tank with bettas, you will have to slow down its flow rate with methods such every bit -fishing it at the peripheries of the tank, incorporating a filter sponge into output nozzles, attaching a spray bar or else closing the output valve a trivial.
  • Filtration efficiency allows usage on tanks as large as 220 gallons or as small-scale as l gallons in size.
  • The cocky-priming feature is magical and amazingly reduces your chore.
  • The purge utility valve makes information technology very simple to modify the h2o in the tank.
  • The maintenance of Fluval FX4 is quite manageable. Only Getting to the pump is laborious and requires the use of a screwdriver.
  • Setting upward the Fluval FX4 is an uncomplicated process and the manual provided along makes it even simpler.
  • Cut short the input and output hoses carefully and precisely or else yous might need new ones.
  • The Fluval FX4 is noisy just while evacuating the air from it'south inside and the noise only lasts for ii minutes. This alarm honks every 12 hours so it might not be a practiced choice to keep it in your sleeping room as it tin can scare you up.

The only minor issues associated with the Fluval FX4 are equally follows:

  • Media baskets are slightly brusk for its' design.
  • Reinstalling the lid is somewhat effortful.
  • Not all parts are compatible with acrylic tanks like the hose compartments.

Overall, our squad did felt Fluval FX4 external cascade filter is a very good buy for up to 250 gallon fish tank, rating it at 9.i/10. Chick here to bank check the latest price FX4 for sale.

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