Review on 🔧 Fluval Straight Fan Blades Impeller Cover - Compatible with Fluval 3/404-3/405 Models by Julie Beaird

My Fluval 404 canister filter was making a rattling/squeaking noise when I got home one day. It turned out that the clips on the impeller cover (the little clear plastic pieces on opposite ends of this product) had somehow snapped off. I didn't want to spend $5-10 to replace a flimsy piece of plastic after the stupid clips broke, especially for the extra Revain element. Rather than replacing the cap immediately, as I should have done, I reinstalled it on the impeller, trusting that the very strong impeller magnet, inserting the impeller rod into the cap, and sucking it together would hold the broken cap in place. Big. Not right. If your Fluval 404 starts to rattle or squeak, don't be like me and wait or let a jury fake it. While waiting to replace this impeller cover after the clips broke, the impeller must have been spinning incorrectly (the filter was still making a little less loud rattling noise, the water flow was still less than expected), to the point where the plastic blade casing had worn down to a thickening . and ordering a new impeller cover did not fix the rattling noise or low water flow. Look at the photo to see the difference between a new and defective wheel. My Lesson: While I was expecting, instead of a $5 replacement part (cover), I got a $30 replacement part (cover plus a new impeller because Fluval doesn't just sell plastic - you have to buy a brand new impeller magnet too). It's disappointing that Fluval designed the wheel cover with such flimsy clips so I bought two in case this happens again. It's also frustrating that Fluval made me buy a brand new impeller instead of a replacement plastic impeller blade which I felt would have cost a lot less. On the other hand, this canister filter lasted over a decade and did a good job of keeping my aquarium clean and the fish alive. Therefore I give 4 stars.