Fluval 07 Impeller w/Ceramic Shaft/Rubbers 407
Water type
Freshwater + Marine
Fits
Fluval 407
Part no.
A20169
Fluval 07 Impeller w/Ceramic Shaft/Rubbers 407
The wear part that decides how hard your biggest canister still pulls.
This is the genuine Fluval magnetic impeller assembly, part A20169, for the Fluval 407 canister filter, supplied with the ceramic shaft and rubber bushings. The 407 is the largest of the 07 Series and the one asked to lift the highest — 2.25 m of head — so it is also the one where a tired impeller shows up first as a limp outlet.
Key features
- Genuine Fluval A20169 — the 407-specific magnet. It is physically larger than the 307 part and will not swap either way.
- Complete rotating assembly — impeller, ceramic shaft and rubber bushings in one pack, so nothing worn goes back in.
- Restores the published 930 L/h — Fluval's circulation figure for a 407 with media loaded, and the flow a healthy impeller should return.
- Matters most on high lifts — head height punishes a worn impeller far harder than a fresh one. The taller your cabinet, the more you lose to wear.
- A fraction of a motor head — replacing the wear part is the standard first move before condemning a 407 motor.
Specifications
| Manufacturer part number | A20169 |
|---|---|
| Sold as | Single assembly |
| Assembly contents | Magnetic impeller, ceramic shaft, rubber bushings |
| Fits filter model code | A449 (Fluval 407) |
| Water type | Freshwater and marine |
| Tools required | None |
Will it fit my filter?
The 407 impeller is unique to the 407. Nothing else in the 07 range shares it.
| Filter | Model code | Impeller part | Takes A20169 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluval 107 | A440 | A20109 | No |
| Fluval 207 | A443 | A20109 | No |
| Fluval 307 | A446 | A20149 | No |
| Fluval 407 | A449 | A20169 | Yes |
Owners of the mid-size canister want the 307 impeller assembly; the two small-body models share the 107/207 impeller assembly. The model code is on the label under the motor head if you are unsure.
What flow you should be getting back
Fluval publishes both an empty-canister figure and a media-loaded figure. The gap between them is not marketing spin — it is the cost of the media doing its job.
| Model | Aquarium capacity | Pump output (empty) | Filter circulation (media loaded) | Max head | Power at 240 V |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 407 | 150–500 L | 1,450 L/h | 930 L/h | 2.25 m | 20 W |
Max head is the lift at which output falls to zero, so the useful working range sits well below 2.25 m. A 407 under a 60 cm cabinet serving a tall tank is already spending a meaningful share of its lift before you count hose bends and a spray bar. At 20 W running continuously the 407 draws roughly 175 kWh a year, which is about $53 at 30c per kWh — and a worn impeller costs you flow without cutting that bill.
What's included
- 1 x magnetic impeller
- 1 x ceramic shaft
- Rubber bushings
Not included
- The impeller cover. The plate over the well is the separate A20148 impeller cover for the 307 and 407.
- The motor head. A failed motor needs the 407 motor head.
- Filter media. Foam, bio media and polishing pads are bought separately.
Suitable for, and not suitable for
Suitable for a 407 that has become noisy, that hums without starting, or whose outlet has weakened with clean media in the baskets. Also the sensible first service item on a used 407, where impeller condition is the one thing a seller never mentions.
Not suitable for the 107, 207 or 307, for any 06 Series canister, or for the FX Series. It will not fix a canister that has lost its prime, and it will not quieten a filter that is simply full of trapped air.
Care and maintenance
Check the impeller every time the head comes off. The three things that condemn it are chipped vane tips, a hairline crack through the magnet, and a worn step in the ceramic shaft where it rides in the bushings. Clean the impeller well with a soft brush, because scale and biofilm in there add drag the motor must overcome for the rest of the part's life. On a 407 running marine, expect to inspect more often — salt creep and higher mineral load are harder on bushings than freshwater is.
Goes well with
- Impeller cover 307/407 (A20148) — replace together when a broken cover has let the impeller run loose
- Ceramic impeller shaft and bushing (A20039) — the cheaper repair when only the shaft has worn
- 307/407 media basket cover — keeps water passing through the media rather than around it
- 07 Series output nozzle — for a brittle or discoloured outlet
Warranty and delivery
Supplied as a genuine Fluval replacement part. Your rights under the Australian Consumer Law apply in full and nothing here limits them. Fluval does not quote a separate warranty term on wear parts. Ships as a standard small parcel anywhere in Australia.
Common questions
Does the Fluval A20169 impeller fit a 307?
No. The 307 takes A20149. Fluval lists A20169 against the 407 alone, and the 407 magnet is the larger of the two.
How much flow should a 407 lose to head height?
Fluval publishes a maximum head of 2.25 m, which is the lift at which output reaches zero. Output falls progressively as lift increases, so a typical cabinet installation delivers noticeably less than the 930 L/h media-loaded figure.
Is a 407 impeller interchangeable with a 406?
No. The 06 and 07 canisters share several service parts, but the impeller assembly is specific to each model and generation.
My 407 is noisy only at start-up, then settles. Is that the impeller?
Often, yes. A worn shaft or a chipped vane makes the assembly run off-centre until flow steadies it. A rattle that never fully clears means the assembly is due.
Can I replace just the ceramic shaft instead?
Yes, if the impeller magnet and vanes are undamaged. The shaft and bushing are sold separately as A20039. If both are worn, this full assembly is the better value.
