Ceramic Impeller Shafts Suck

[Brian_Indiana]

Anyone experience problems with broken impeller shafts? You know the little white ceramic sticks with rubber caps? I was servicing my Fluval 405 and broke mine.

This was on my 120 Malawi tank. The reduction in filtration sucks, but should be ok while I fix it. In addition to the 405, it has an Emperor 400 HOB, undergravel filter with 2 Penguin 1140 powerheads, and a sponge filter running off a Whisper air-pump. My main concern was the 405’s 4 trays of established biological media.

My brother has a Fluval 304 that he wasn’t using. They share the same impeller, so I could use it until I get a new one. I got it from him and put it in my 405. As I attached the impeller cover, his shaft broke. Now I am really screwed. On top of my other problems, now I owe my brother an impeller shaft.

I ordered 3 replacement shafts from Big Al’s. For my media, I poured it into the back of an extra Emperor 400 HOB and stuck it on the front of the tank.

How many other people have had issues with broken impeller shafts and how long will bacteria colonies live in standing water? They were always in tank water in the canister, but it was not running.

 

[Joshmac8]

I agree that they are awful, i had a 405 and said screw it so i got a brand new FX5. Went through 3 shafts in 24 hours and was about to smash that 405 against the wall

 

[nfored]

Dang I thought it was bad when I broke mine in my pump. I was cleaning it and dropped it, lucky it broke about 1/4 from so I was able to continue using it. I never saw a reduction in pumping power "LoL pumping power", and only a slight vibration noise; that pump ran like that for a year before something got wedged into the free space between the rotor and the wall; destroying both.

 

[Brian_Indiana]

Yeah, they are so delicate and very easy to break. Why can't they make them out of something a little stronger?? Seems like plastic would work.

 

[bigbadfish711]

Yeah in the manual it says to be careful they are fragile. I never broke one myself but did break the clips on the impeller cover.

 

[gavigan1]

I agree, broke my mag drive impellor while taking the cover off. found some posts on replaceing with carbon rod. I was able to reseat the impellor and get it to work until the new impellor arrived. i will be more careful next time. good luck

 

[JamesF]

One of the main reasons I switched to XP filters. When I was looking after 25+ aquariums it bacame a regular problem to order spare parts for the Fluvals. I had impell shafts, impeller covers and the actual filter body break regularly. Very crappy construction. Haven't had any issues with the XPs.

 

[Joshmac8]

Yea the shafts and the clips lol Totally hated that, you would think something strong would be the best bet but i guess fluval needs to make extra $$$$ on spare parts lmao

 

[kilted6dad]

I've been using fluval filters since 1996 and boy howdy have I broken some impeller shafts. I lucked out and my LFS was getting out of fluvals so I picked up a dozen of them for $3 a piece. Only have 3 left now, 2yrs later.

 

[Brian_Indiana]

^^ You lucked out there! I found them online from $4 - $9. For $3 and local, I would have bought out the stock too.