Fluval 406 Impeller Assembly
Water type
Freshwater + Marine
Fits
Fluval 406
Part no.
A20173
In the box
3 items
Pack quantity
Impeller, shaft, bushing
Genuine part
Yes, genuine Fluval
Fluval 406 Impeller Assembly
Restores full flow when a worn impeller is behind a quiet or slow canister.
Genuine Fluval impeller assembly, part A20173, for the Fluval 406 canister filter (model code A217). It includes the impeller wheel, ceramic shaft and rubber bushing as one assembly – the rotating parts that wear fastest in any canister filter and the most common reason a 406 that once ran quietly starts to whine, surge or lose flow.
Key features
- Genuine Fluval A20173 – impeller wheel sized to the 406's motor cup, not a shared smaller wheel from elsewhere in the 06 series.
- Complete assembly – wheel, shaft and rubber bushing together, so a worn shaft and a chipped impeller are fixed in the same job.
- Fixes the two failure signs at once – a grinding or rattling noise (shaft or bushing wear) and reduced flow (impeller wear) usually arrive together.
- No tools required – the impeller assembly lifts out of the motor head cup by hand.
Specifications
| Manufacturer part number | A20173 |
|---|---|
| Includes | Impeller wheel, ceramic shaft, rubber bushing |
| Fits | Fluval 406 canister filter (A217) |
| Tools required | None |
| Water type | Freshwater and marine |
Will it fit my filter?
A20173 is specific to the 406. The impeller wheel is sized to the 406's larger motor cup and is not interchangeable with the smaller wheels used in the 106, 206 or 306. If you only need the ceramic shaft and rubber bushing rather than the full wheel, Fluval sells that as a separate part shared across the 06 and 07 series – worth checking if the wheel itself is undamaged and only the shaft is worn.
Not included
The impeller cover and motor head housing are separate parts. This assembly is the rotating impeller only.
Suitable for, and not suitable for
Suitable for a 406 that has gone noisy, lost flow, or seized after a period out of water. Suitable as a precautionary spare for a filter running mission-critical stock. Not suitable for the 106, 206 or 306 – order the correctly sized impeller for those models.
Care and maintenance
Impellers wear fastest in filters that are regularly run dry-started or left drained for long periods. Check the impeller chamber for grit at each media change – sand or gravel that gets past the intake strainer is the main cause of a chipped impeller or scored shaft well before its time.
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. No separate manufacturer warranty term is quoted on moulded service parts. Ships as a standard small parcel anywhere in Australia.
Common questions
My 406 has gone loud – is it the impeller?
A grinding, rattling or humming noise that was not there before is the most common impeller-and-shaft symptom on this filter. Reduced flow alongside the noise makes it more likely.
Will this fit a Fluval 306 or 206?
No. A20173's impeller wheel is sized specifically for the 406. The 106, 206 and 306 need their own correctly sized impeller.
Do I need to replace the motor head cover as well?
Not unless it is cracked or the impeller assembly no longer seats correctly in it. This part is the impeller assembly only.
Can I fit this myself?
Yes. It lifts out of and into the motor head cup by hand, no tools required.
