LEAKING Fx6 Filter | O-RING Lubrication and IMPELLER CLEANING

Fx6 O-ring lubrication and IMPELLER Cleaning video The Fx6 has EIGHT O.Rings.You could be on the verge of a HUGE leak from your canister filter if an O-ring is compromised! In this video, learn how to protect your fish and your home by inspecting and lubricating the O-rings on your Fx6 canister filter. I also show you how to CLEAN YOUR IMPELLER. This will help keep your filter from leaking, keeping your African cichlids, American cichlids, and all tropical fish safe! I will show you, step-by-step, how to inspect and lubricate your O-rings. It will be quick and easy! Thanks for watching, and remember to like and subscribe if you've enjoyed this video!
UPDATE: I missed a section! Check out the top pinned comment
Cichlid Charmer is dedicated to sharing the joy of keeping African and American cichlids and sharing information about them. I will share what I have learned about cichlids, and everyone is welcomed to comment with their own experiences and information about cichlids and aquarium practices in general.
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My aquarium equipment:
FILTERS: Fluval Fx6 a.co/d/aXJEx95, Fx4 a.co/d/e0V8DEx, and 407 a.co/d/5xAvD0S
WAVEMAKERS: Uniclife Aquarium 1058 GPH Adjustable Wave Maker a.co/d/22lHK38, Uniclife 3400 GPH Controllable Wavemaker with W-40 Controller a.co/d/8lMLgC7
HEATERS: EHEIM Jager Aquarium Thermostat Heater 300W a.co/d/boZEKaJ
TEMP CONTROLLERS: Inkbird ITC308S Temperature Controller for Aquarium a.co/d/4r1rZWo, Inkbird Heating Thermostat Aquarium Reptile Submersible Probe Sensor ITC306T
WATER CHANGES: SICCE Ultra Zero 793 GPH - Water Pump a.co/d/aJGsjAl, 50ft x 1" ID Clear Vinyl Tubing, Flexible Hybrid PVC Tubing Hose
LIGHTS: Fluval Sea Marine 3.0 a.co/d/i1sbwy9
FOODS: Northfin Jumbo Formula a.co/d/cPy1Kq8, Northfin Fish Food 3 mm Sinking Pellets, 500 g , Cichlid Formula a.co/d/4dAHkvb , Northfin Veggie Formula 3mm a.co/d/5rGGIyi, Frozen krill, Garlic Guard a.co/d/dJpwWIA, VitaChem a.co/d/9kdjnrs
LUBE FOR FILTER GASKETS: Super Lube 93003 O-Ring Silicone Grease, Translucent White a.co/d/dwKwCR9
Check out this playlist:
• African Cichlid Genera...
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#cichlidcharmer #aquariumhobby #aquarium

[@CichlidCharmer]

Did you know there are 8 O-rings on an Fx6 Filter? If even ONE gets damaged, it can leak. o-Ring inspection and lubrication as well as impeller cleaning video. Let me know if this video helped you! UPDATE: I missed an o-ring in the plunge valve. Thank you to those who advised me of this! ❤️

[@dascudder]

One of the most important videos on KZbin for FX filter maintenance. So important. Good work fella. I was about to search for an FX Impeller cleaning video

[@CichlidCharmer]

Thank you so much for watching, and remembering to drop a comment,Paul!

[@hobbestuna]

Thank you, this was exactly what I needed to learn. Embarrassed to say I've never done this (or cleaned the impeller), but will tonight!

[@CichlidCharmer]

Awesome! Make sure you read the top pinned comment. I missed one!

[@zoee1996xx]

Thank you so much for this information 🙏🏻 one of my o rings snapped today and fell out of my aquastop valve. I couldn’t see where it came from or whether it was fixable but it looks very simple to replace after seeing this video 😌 I currently have no aquastop on my intake pipe 😬

[@CichlidCharmer]

Yikes -- glad this helped though!

[@TinoushGTR]

I hear that FX6 is notorious for valve leak

[@fagan316]

This video wasn't just great it was sofa king great........ So indept yet so simple 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏 👏

[@CichlidCharmer]

I appreciate the feedback more than you know! Sofa king great… 😆

[@AndrewSparkfish]

Another great video. I also stripped down the valves and lubed the O rings in them, makes it much smoother and easier to turn.

[@CichlidCharmer]

That’s smart 💡. Thank you!

[@user-hn4el8lx2d]

This is fantastic. Thankyou

[@CichlidCharmer]

Thanks, and you bet!

[@razinfishes1918]

Another tip is to keep on hand a service kit that comes with all new o-rings. Like you said you never know when it's going to leak. So be prepared I also keep a spare valve as well.

[@CichlidCharmer]

Excellent advice 😎

[@pathornell7149]

Hello cichlidcharmer I may be wrong but I think you may have forgotten a seal in your purge valve. You have to push out the open and close valve (dial). Be sure to remember how it goes back together. There is a seal in there that sits like a boot. You pull that off and lub that as well. My fx4 has a seal in that purge valve as well. There have been a few videos on this and have forgotten to mention the seal inside the dial. You have to take something dull and give it a bit of a knock, it will come out and you will find a seal in there. Cathy

[@CichlidCharmer]

I did, yes. Thank you! Another viewer pointed this out. I will make a note in the comments and video description. I appreciate your help!

[@josejavierperez1]

Thanks! This is a GREAT video. Very educational. Good editing and excellent explanations.

[@CichlidCharmer]

I appreciate that, Jose!

[@dhiyaesmail1297]

Great video when cleaning the impeller the oring can go first

[@CichlidCharmer]

Thank you 🙏

[@irecruitfish7410]

Excellent video about where do you buy the o-rings from?

[@CichlidCharmer]

Thanks! Amazon or BRS.

[@nigelwatson9114]

Love your channel. So happy I found it! I have 2 community tanks currently but would love to start keeping cichlids. What’s a good beginner cichlid setup you’d suggest to get some experience with keeping them?

[@CichlidCharmer]

I sure appreciate the kind words, Nigel. Cichlids are tough no matter what you start with, since they always have the capacity to go serial killer on you. I don’t have any mbuna experience except for Ray, my yellow lab, so I will have to refer to peacocks and haps. I would recommend a 125 or larger no matter what, if you can do that. That gives them room to get away to some degree if someone goes crazy. You can do it in a 75, but in my experience I feel better about the additional two feet of swimming room. So you have to keep size in mind. I wouldn’t go any larger than a five inch fish in a 75. Maybe a benga sunshine, blue neon, flame tail, red shoulder, and a few other smaller and usually nicer fish. Usually 😜. Have a separate tank where you can quickly take one out if necessary, too. They say overstocking is the way to go, but I feel like no matter what, you can have trouble lightly stocked or heavily stocked. I think watching them is the best way to know. You might only have ten in a 75, and it’s great. Add one more and all hell breaks loose. I’m glad to help if you have any other questions.

[@gardensare]

Just unboxed my FX6. There's a thin O-ring at the bottom of the basket assembly.

[@CichlidCharmer]

One I missed? Can you give me more details about where it is? I also found out recently there is another gasket inside the valves.

[@gardensare]

@@CichlidCharmer It's at the bottom of the canister just where the basket assembly rests. And another such O-ring the same size came in the box....a spare?? Is there a way to send a photo here?

[@CichlidCharmer]

@@gardensare I have never found any use for that “extra” o-ring. Could you send a pic to [e-mail]?

[@kristin6935]

Yes! I hopped on KZbin just to find out about this one because it came off while cleaning & I want to be sure I put it back in the correct place. I can't find my instruction booklet. Guess I can download it from Fluval.

[@gardensare]

​@@kristin6935 I didn't see any reference to it in my install instructions. However there's a narrow circular track at the base of the filter basket area, where the rubber ring is seated.

[@ec2451]

Could NOT using the lubricant cause the on and off pausing of my fx6 . It just recently started. I have changed the propeller didn’t change.

[@CichlidCharmer]

I don’t believe so, but did you thoroughly clean out the impeller housing?

[@seeyouatthetop83]

I never use the purge valve either 😅

[@CichlidCharmer]

Yeah, I already have a pump out to refill, so why mess with the purge valve which can leak?

[@TURKO2424]

​@@CichlidCharmerif I don't use the purge valve do I still have to lube the o ring or is it fine

[@ThePhoenixw68]

Yes of course, spend $30 on specialty lube when the maintenance kit is $60.

[@brianmizway9324]

So you mentioned you only need to do this once a yr? And do i need to do this the very 1st time I buy the canister?

[@CichlidCharmer]

You would probably be okay not doing it when it’s brand new, and I never have, but I will in the future just in case. Once a year or you could do more frequently if you like.

[@stevenkay619]

Would the oil version work? Bought the Silicone oil instead of the Silicone grease from the same brand that is used in this video. Also how often should I lube the main gasket and the Aquastop gasket. The 407 have only three O ring that I know of

[@CichlidCharmer]

I really am not sure about the oil version, but I know what Fluval suggests we use, and that's the silicone, so I am using that. I am going to lube mine every year, but you can lube them more often if you like. I've read some people lubing their gaskets every 6 mos.

[@vinhle3272]

Hi. My fx5 was working well. I took the impeller out to clean like you did. Put everything back. Now it's not working. What did I do wrong? Thank you.

[@CichlidCharmer]

Hard to say without seeing it. When you say not working, do you mean there is no sound or anything? Like it's not plugged in, but it is plugged in? I may not be able to tell without seeing it. One thing I would do is check the impeller to make sure it is properly seated in the receptacle. If it isn’t sitting just right it won’t work.

[@mrfrankbosh]

I agree, hard to say but a stuck impeller is most probable. Suggest drain completely then remove to well lighted area and remove the pump. The center (impeller) should spin with a magnetic stick/spin but move freely. Also very important, in the motor hole at the bottom is a rubber grommet that holds the impeller shaft. It has to be seated and the shaft slides into it. Then re-assemble. I am usually against dry spinning and impeller but in your case once reinstalled plug it in for 2 seconds and you should hear it spin. Never spin it for more than 2 seconds dry with several minutes between attempts as the rubber can heat up. Best of luck. Frank - 20 year reef keeper.

[@ebrahimmohamed4829]

Hi i purchased a second hand filter o ring is missing could provide me with the main o ring thickness

[@CichlidCharmer]

I am not sure about the thickness. I would just buy the one made by Fluval.

[@ebrahimmohamed4829]

@@CichlidCharmer hi thanks .im in south africa struggle to get after sales support from manufacturers i was hoping to have one made.appreciate the response

[@stoneysscapes7544]

​@@ebrahimmohamed4829another trick that works perfectly AS LONG AS YOU HAVE ONE THAT'S IN GOOD CONDITION, is a good RUBBER BAND , and as most rubber bands have certain limits before the inevitable, there's no real one that is the Best , that's why depending on the size of the band and thickness the best way to go with whatever you can get that FITS is using multiple within reason but 3 - 4 thin bands or 2 minimum of the more heavy duty variety. Also remember that they can be different visually speaking, but work perfectly together since the process of making them has a lot to do with their limits for strength and the mineral makeup in the water , ETC. but once you have a few that are going to have the POTENTIAL TO WORK UNTIL finding the replacement this is the next best thing.

[@keithrobinson9766]

What about the o rings that are in the valves. Mine were leaking not sure how to get to them with out breaking the little clip on the valves.

[@CichlidCharmer]

Not sure what you mean. I am not aware of more o rings than what I have in the video. Did I miss some??

[@Horna87]

​@@CichlidCharmer the red valves have some special orings, if you remove the purge valve and press the red valve out from the socket you see. It has the same but bigger in the outlet/inlet valves.

[@CichlidCharmer]

@@Horna87Trying to picture this -- you're saying I missed a few, right?

[@Horna87]

@@CichlidCharmer it's hard to explain but i link a video and you understand. It's at 4.50 min. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jaKZfYSviZ6pnpI

[@CichlidCharmer]

@@Horna87 okay, got it. I had no idea there was a gasket in there, but I can see it would need one. Thank you!

[@iluvturtlezcatz1396]

Wtf is the other o ring for? That’s real smart to make a rubber band look like the o ring dip shit designers. It came around one of the merchandise packages in the fx6. It looks like a o ring.

[@CichlidCharmer]

Totally confused me when I set them up. I agree with you!!