Cichlids by Sanderling

Fluval G Series Filter- Documentation and Set-up Review

// November 20th, 2009 // Equipment Reviews, Fluval G Series Canister Filter

It has been argued that Fluval took a page from Chrysler’s marketing manual on the K Car, when they launched their advertising campaign for the new G Series filters. Carefully providing incomplete yet provocative images and holding back on detailed product description served to increase the hype and create a buzz  that could be heard from online forums, through local fish stores,  to  trade shows worldwide. As one who loves gadgets I admit I was hooked from the beginning but after more than thirty years in the hobby I remain skeptical. Is the G Series all that it promises to be?

Apart from compact design and energy efficiency the G Series has raised the bar in aquarium filtration for the hobbyist by making solid inroads into simplifying aquarium filtration and by extension aquarium maintenance. This is accomplished through a two fold approach, both effective and complimentary solutions;

1. The Mechanical and Chemical filtration media are located in compartments that allow them to be easily removed, cleaned, and replaced without dismantling the canister- this ensures minimal disruption of the bio-media which should allow its performance to continue undisturbed by routine maintenance, and
2. The HYDROtech processor and sensor array provides graphical information to the user, which permits informed decisions as to when to perform maintenance on the filter. Aquarium maintenance in general,  as well as filter maintenance can now be conducted based on the condition of the water rather than on a calendar basis.

The first feature is something that owners of  Hang On Back (HOB) filters  have enjoyed for years and is often a subject of beleaguered debate with canister filter owners as to which manufacturer has the most easily maintained model. Fluval has introduced a game changer in that debate. It is the second feature that many of us have been waiting for; a filter that can monitor and trend the water condition, allowing informed decision making in both when to conduct maintenance, and in troubleshooting water quality issues.

The equipment is expensive as would be expected from a new product introduction by any manufacturer but does it offer value to the purchaser? Over the next few days and weeks it is our intention to closely examine this new offering and comment on both its strengths and discover some opportunities for improvement. We go into this project with eyes wide open and a willingness to explore any aspects of it’s construction and performance that you the potential user wish to learn more about. If you have any questions please feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of the post and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

Documentation

Like Fluval’s earlier offering, the FX-5 , the G Series filters come complete with a a DVD that contains manuals in portable document format. The manual is available in English, German and French only, the English version being 42 pages in length.

The manual is very well structured with a colourful pictographic table of contents that allows you to quickly navigate to a specific section of interest. Of particular interest are the sections on conductivity measurement and the various chemical filtration options. The set-up instructions are complete, easy to follow and well illustrated. Out of the box the filter comes with a glossy Quick Start Guide which provides an excellent set of instructions for putting the filter into service. Give yourself at least 45 minutes to do this.

The second page of the manual has a list of safety instructions that include a warning  not to use the filter if it causes a trip on a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI). It’s encouraging to see a manufacturer make mention of this effective shock hazard prevention technology but we would prefer that Fluval require users to include this protection for the filter by using either a GFCI receptacle or some other approved device that offers the same level of protection, as the source of power that the filter is plugged into.

Among other safety cautions and warnings;  the filter is for indoor aquarium use only, not for potable water or flammable fluids, and that it should not be used for water above 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit). This is important for those who run excess heating capacity on their tanks without a safety shut off or alarm in the event of a heater thermostat failure that can cause  overheating.

Below are the equipment ratings for the G Series as shown in the Manual on page 40 in the English version;

The Certification mark in the document shown above does not indicate that equipment is certified to Canadian or US standards however the filter that we received does indicate that it is approved to the standard CAN/CSA E60335-2-41 Safety of Household and Similar Electrical Appliances- Part 2 Particular Requirements for Pumps for Liquids Having a Temperature Not Exceeding 35 Degrees Celsius.

The filter has also been approved to UL 1018 Standard for Safety Electric Aquarium Equipment

Each filter will be labelled with a certification mark located on the back of the canister where the attachment cord exits the unitthat looks like the one in the image below. Note the ‘c’ in the 8 o’clock position which indicates it is approved for Canada and the ‘us’ in the 5 o’clock which indicates that it meets US standards as well. Make sure that yours has one.

Setting Up the Filter

With the aid of the instruction manual the filter goes together quite easily. The packaging is tight and well laid out with minimal styrofoam. The filter canister is covered with a sock to prevent any scratching during shipping and handling. Below is an image of the contents of the packaging removed from the box and laid out for assembly;

Something new on the G Series is an articulating strainer on a telescoping draw tube. I’m not sure what inspired this since it only seems capable of rotating 30 degrees.  That component is shown above at the bottom left side of the packaging.

The unit comes apart easily and one is immediately impressed by the quality of the components. Fluval went the extra mile in providing key ways and symbols to guide the new user in putting together the filter for the first time;

The biological filter media is a ceramic bead referred to as  G-node. Fluval doesn’t supply enough with the filter but you do at least receive mechanical, biological and Chemical (carbon) media to get you started with the initial purchase of the filter unlike the FX-5 which comes with the external sponges only.

The material appears highly porous and it is recommended that 1/2 to 1/3 of it be replaced every six months.

Putting the filter together and start up are very straight forward, The unit has a a priming pump that launches the fill process within a couple of pumps. Its recommended that you let it flush for a couple of minutes prior to energizing the filter. Once you do, the HYDROtech screen reads “INITIALIZING” as the processor boots up and the filter begins to recirculate water. Follow the setup guide or start playing with the set up screens to program media change times on the counters and set up alarm set points for temperature and conductivity. The alarm is a flashing screen only- an audible chirp on high/low temperature would be a nice feature for G-Series V1.2.

One of the filter’s biggest selling features is the titanium conductivity probes and temperature RTD (yet to be confirmed) that comprise the sensor array of the HYDROtech module.