Fluval 104 Notice D'utilisation page 10

Motor Maintenance
The motor unit is hermetically sealed and as such does not require lubrication or other care.
Impeller Maintenance
The impeller rests in a clear see-through cover to allow occasional spot checks for dirt and grime when the
media is being changed. The impeller well has an effective self-cleaning feature, but regular maintenance
will help to lengthen the life of the impeller and motor unit. Rinse dirt or slime from impeller well
periodically.
The impeller should be cleaned during every filter change. Unclip the two cover tabs
impeller well. Gently grasp the impeller fan and withdraw the impeller. Dirt and slime should be rinsed from
the impeller and the impeller cover before replacing.
Occasional removal of the Ceramic Shaft Assembly is recommended to ensure free water movement. To
remove this assembly intact, insert the hooked end of the supplied retrieval tool into the hole near the bottom
of the unit. Draw the entire assembly up and out.
Warning: These motor units incorporate a ceramic impeller shaft. This shaft is permanently
attached to its plastic holder for safe handling. The shaft is brittle to lateral pressure. Take
extreme care when cleaning, do not try to bend the shaft.
After rinsing in clear water, reinsert the Ceramic Impeller Assembly and slide the impeller back onto the
shaft. Be careful that the impeller shaft is re-inserted into the shaft support ring of the impeller cover. Be sure
to clip the impeller cover shut. The tabs lock into place with a slight "click". The impeller will wear over a
longer period of time. Replacement parts may be ordered from your local pet dealer.
Fluval Media Selection
Types of Filtration
Mechanical – Removal of waste particles and solid debris through mechanical strainers.
B i o l o g i c a l – Breakdown and elimination of organic toxins - ammonia and nitrite - through bacterial action.
Chemical – Active change of water characteristics through the use of chemical compounds.
Fluval Filtration Area
Section 1 – The Foam Screen
Fluval offers a wide variety of filter materials, some capable of performing more than one job. Fluval 4
generation filters provide automatic mechanical particle removal with the Foam Screen. It is extremely
important to remove wastes before they enter the more delicate media in the Module Stack.
Section 2 – The Module Stack
The true power of the Fluval System resides in the versatility of the media choices available for the Media
Stack. This section is meant more of a guide than a definitive manual. Versatility and aquarist choice of
media should be the main criteria. However, it is best to follow some or all of the following guidelines.
The choice of media should follow a number of criteria.
Bottom Module
Media that continues the mechanical capture of waste should be lowest in the stack, purifying and removing
particles before they can clog delicate pores of biological or chemical substrates. Fluval Media such as "Pre-
Filter", "Carbon" and "Zeo-Carb" can be used to further screen small particles from the water. Pre-Filter is
inert, acting solely to create a screen. Carbon removes dyes, medications and solubilized wastes that a
simple screen cannot. "Zeo-Carb" removes ammonia from the water. This is often used in beginning set-ups
to keep initial spikes lower than would occur naturally.
Middle Module
The middle module is useful for chemical modifications of the water. "Peat Fibre" and "Peat Granular" are
an example of this. An important consideration for media placement is the type. Peat Fibre consistes of
strands which can rise up and wrap around an impeller. For this reason, any media that is string-like in
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