Used Fluval 205 External Filter.

I know you said your computer crashes, but just in case:
fluval 205 manual
If it would be any help, you could PM me your address and I'll print and post the manual. or your email address and I can email it to you (if that wouldn't crash you computer). I know there is an email facility on this site but I can't figure out how to attach documents)

This is from the maintence section where it assumes you have been using the filter and it's full of water. But the way to get into it is the same whether it's full of water or not.

1. Close the AquaStop valve by lifting the black lever all the way up. This seals off the input and output hosing connections to maintain the vacuum that is necessary in order to restart the filter without priming.
2. Unplug the power cord.
3. Lift the silver lock lever to release the AquaStop valve.
4. Hold the unit by the canister, not the cover, and move it to an appropriate flat surface near a sink or other drain
5. Release the lift-lock clamps; then push down on clamps to lift the cover/pump housing off the canister and set it aside


DO NOT FILL CANISTER WITH WATER WHEN RE-ASSEMBLING UNIT
1. Place rinsed and filled media baskets back in canister, and put cover back on top basket.
2. Replace foam screen in canister. (Insert with flat end down.)
3. Inspect and lubricate Gasket as needed
4. Replace the cover, making certain the MSF logo and power cord are properly aligned
5. Use the lock-lift clamps to close the cover securely.
6. Place the unit back in position; re-insert the AquaStop valve, and push down the silver lever to lock it in place.
7. Push down on the black lever to open the AquaStop valve. Water should start flowing immediately. Important: If the hosing has been disconnected from the AquaStop valve, or if the system has lost its vacuum for some other reason, the canister will not fill automatically. Use the instant-prime handle to fill the canister
8. Allow the canister to fill completely, then plug the power cord back into the electrical outlet. IMPORTANT: If the canister is not full before the filter is plugged in, it may not work properly. The filter unit should never be allowed to run dry. Running the unit dry may result in damage to the motor.



As for media, this is what it suggests but I don't agree with some of them.

Alongside the baskets, the diagram shows an oblong sponge held vertically in a frame - this is called the foam screen and is designed to trap particles in the water. The water flows through this sponge before getting to the baskets. foam pads

Lower level basket:
Mechanical media to continue the mecanical filtration stared by the foam screen. It suggests carbon or carbon-zeolite. Carbon is not necessary, and if you put zeolite first in the water flow it will absorb the ammonia in the water starving the bacteria which live in the media further into the filter.
The easiest thing to use in this basket would be coarse filter sponge, cut to fit tightly in the baket (that is, no gaps to allow the water to go round bits of sponge rather than through it). Coarse rather than fine as fine would clog too quickly.

Mid level baskets:
Biomax (little ceramic cylinders)

Upper level basket:
Biomax. And you can also put a polishing pad on top if you want to remove any very fine particles.



Hope this help.

For the bottom basket, I meant any make coarse sponge cut to fit. The polishing pads are to remove any really fine bits rather than big bits. I've just noticed that besides carbon and carbon-zeolite (I wouldn't use either of those) they also say you can use something called pre-filter. This looks a bit like biomax but intead of being circular tubes, pre-filter is hexagonal tubes. Eheim have small tubes as their mechanical stage, this pre-filter looks like Hagen's version of that. I would use this not a sponge now that I've noticed it in the manual.


I have saved the manual, so I can copy and paste more bits as you need them. The only problem is that it won't let me copy the diagrams.

Hagen makes the Fluval range. I've contacted them before and they've always responded promptly. You could try asking them for a copy of the manual. Here is their contact page. Click on "send us an email" then the box "can't find an answer". If they will send you one you'll have the diagrams as well as the text.

If you can use your friend's computer, download the manual and print it then you'd have it when you can't access your friend's computer . It's only so large (2.07 MB) because it has the same thing in 4 different laguages. You'd only need to print a quarter of it.

The link to the manual is in my first post.

Has anyone got any ideas re: my previous post?

Thank you.

Thanks Sue.

I wasn't looking forward to going to the shop to buy Vaseline, but luckily I found some in the back of a cupboard that my ex-girlfriend must have bought before she left last year.

I greased it up and after 5 minutes of vigorous pumping (this is one big innuendo isn't it. lol.  ), it started to bubble and fill with water. I have plugged it in and it seems to be working fine. Fingers crossed.

Thanks again. x