Hagen FLUVAL MSF 104 Instructions page 10

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STARTING THE FILTER
NOTE: An empty bucket or container should be handy in case it is needed
for inadvertent leaks while working with the filter.
In order to start the water flow, remove the Output Nozzle (O) and
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ensure that hosing is below the water surface.
Pump the Self-Primer (T) several times (use a fully extended 'UP' and
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'DOWN' motion). By pumping the Self-Primer, water is pulled into the unit
through the Intake Stem. As the unit fills with water, the pressure forces the
air out of the unit through the output hosing. This causes bubbles to exit
into the water. Keep pumping the Self-Primer until you hear the water
being drawn into the unit and filling it. Return the Self-Primer to the
'DOWN' position. Bubbles will continue to exit from the hosing until the
unit is full. At that point, reconnect the Ouput Nozzle. Once the unit has
filled, you can plug it into a power source. Water should then flow in a
steady stream from the Output Nozzle. If it doesn't, unplug unit and restart
priming process.
Never plug in unit until it is completely full. The Fluval unit
should never be allowed to run dry. Premature operation
may result in damage to the motor.
NOTE: Some air will inevitably be trapped within the unit as it fills, also,
new media may release trapped air into the Filter Case. This may result in
some noise as the unit starts working. The configuration of the filter will
eventually expel all air pockets in the filter over time. If the Filter Case
continues to trap and expel air over an extended time, carefully examine
the Input/Output Sides for air leaks. Ensure there is no air source (such as
an airstone or aeration device) entering the Intake Side of the filter.
A Note About Media
Efficiency is directly affected by the filter materials used. In any canister unit it is critical that proper procedures be
carefully followed. Otherwise, the mechanical or biological efficacy may be impaired. In many cases the location of
the media in the baskets will determine its main purpose. For instance, depending on media basket positions,
carbon can act as a primary dirt screen or a major area of bacterial population. To ensure the maximum utility of
the filter, there are a few basic rules of thumb that should be followed.
Properly prepare all filter materials before use.
Porous material, such as carbon, has a tremendous open area within the matrix and requires a bit of time to expel
atmospheric gasses. It should be soaked for several minutes before being added to the media basket. There are other
materials that require more extensive rinsing. Ammonia Remover and peat fibers may require a thorough rinsing to
ensure they do not add extra particles that may prematurely clog other modules or discharge into the aquarium.
Mechanical filtration should be used during the first stages of filtration.
Create a coarse to fine screen with the media chosen. The Foam Screen is an effective mechanical sieve that will
remove coarse and medium debris. A finer screen can be placed in the lowest Media Basket to ensure the purest
stream possible before it enters the biological [and possibly chemical] filtration that relies on debris-free water for
maximum efficiency.
Incorporate Biological areas after mechanical filtration. Protect from debris as much as possible.
There are a number of media that become highly biological in nature as they mature. This is due to the fact that
these substrates provide clean, hard attachment points for the beneficial bacteria to colonize. For nitrifying bacteria
to be most effective, they must receive a constant stream of waste-free water that carries ammonia, nitrite and
oxygen in the solution.
29 Attach Suction
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Cup Bracket (M) to
Ribbed Hosing (P)
on outside of tank
to affix hosing
neatly in place.
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