Fluval not wicking...even burning.

[polarbeardad]

I began using fluval a little over a week ago. The first couple of cart fills were fine. What I'm seeing now is the fluvall is just not wicking properly. In fact, it seems the ends of the fluval are burning turning slightly brown. has anyone else noticed an issue with the fluval. Perhaps I'm doing something wrong. I've only been at this for a couple of months.

 

[Switched]

It is a natural occurrence. All filler becomes what I call "greasy", it doesn't wick or release the liquid well. That is a sign that it needs to be cleaned under hot water and dried. I use a poly-fill plug myself and don't bother with the washing. I just toss 'em when they quit performing.

 

[son et lumiere]

When it stops wicking just throw it away. Mine ussualy lasts me about 3 weeks.

 

[Mr.Self_Destruct]

I find it needs to be cleaned every few refills. Mine never burns, but it does get brown. It seems to be the liquid. I just squish it in a paper towel to clean it. I don't use water.

 

[polarbeardad]

I've also started to notice it most with PG liquid. Not so much with VG. I wonder if the density of the liquid has something to do with it.

 

[Mr.Self_Destruct]

I just recently found it wicks better and works better, if I clean it every time I refill.

 

[BababooeyHTJ]

This is why I drip. I never got that stuff to work properly. The only thing that worked for me was the PTB and that was only some of the time.

 

[Kate51]

The burning may be from being a touch too long, or from premature dry-outs.
But the failures are consistant, it does get 'greasy' (that's a good description) over time. Washing can revive it, but before you do that look to see it the fluval is packed too tightly, or very loosely, and if there are obvious voids or lumps. If that's the case throw it and put in new.
It's a fine line when using your own filler,
too tighly packed doesn't 'hold' as much (like a compressed sponge)and it won't 'let go' or 'wick' properly:
or too loosely packed doesn't 'hold' very well, will release a lot of juice right away but dries too fast. Could be having flooding issues and dry atty with that scenario.

 

[cozzicon]

I began using fluval a little over a week ago. The first couple of cart fills were fine. What I'm seeing now is the fluvall is just not wicking properly. In fact, it seems the ends of the fluval are burning turning slightly brown. has anyone else noticed an issue with the fluval. Perhaps I'm doing something wrong. I've only been at this for a couple of months.

I soak my Fluval plugs in alcohol once a week, and then let dry over night.

They do not seem to wear out, and the alcohol leeches all the juice off of them.

 

[cliff5550]

Fluval gets brown after a time but it has never burned. I change it out every couple of weeks. Been using the same box of Fluval since August of last year. Still have plenty left.

 

[sjohnson]

Not fluval, but the blue foam I'm using is rarely cleaned, and looks today just the same as it looked 4 months ago when I cut the plug. Great flavor and vapor production.

Is this problem a fluval problem, or a problem with the size of the plug?

 

[AlexTM]

It depends a lot on the juice used, too - I mostly use Flavourart stuff, and I only have that problem with juices that contain Vanilla flavour, which is very dark, and with Tobacco Absolut, which is also fairly dark. Some ready-made liquids I had definitely produced considerably more gunk, both in the fluval and in the atty itself.