Fluval FX-5...?'s

[Fresh250]

I just hooked up the new fluval Fx-5 yesterday and i am running it with the fluval carbon in two chambers and a polishing pad in the third. I can already see a huge difference just from having it on overnight and i am very pleased with it. Not to mention the ebay special price really helped the wallet at a staggering $237 shipped for filter,carbon and polishing pads:clap:

My question for all those who currently use the fluval is what other types of media/results have you experienced with this filter, I have no problems with the carbon, just curious because the carbon and polishing pads both had pamphlets with so many other specialty fluval media's to use.

[CWO4GUNNER]

If you look at my threads on the FX5 you will notice I use just about anything except commercial media which to me is unnecessarily expensive. Its a great filter just remember that FX5's Achilles heel is in the inline media baskets which will easily restrict with polishing type media as are all inline basket type filters. The FX5's strength is in its massive 300 square inch circumference filter. IMHO this is where you should place polishing pads where they are practical immune to clogging due to the immense surface area which 1200% larger then then all its media baskets combined. Dont get me wrong the media baskets are great but I use them for loose fitting Bio media destined to treat the water not filter it, again just my opinion. :grinno:

[Fresh250]

when you say the circumference filter do you mean the areas on the sides of the baskets where the filters stock setup has the almost foam looking filter media?

[The Zigman]

I dont run carbon in mine.
In the top tray I have the ceramic pre filter noodles..

next tray I have 2 of the blue filter pads, and a polishing pad.. and a 50 micron filter pad I cut from some material, and some ceramic biomedia

on the bottom tray I have ceramic biomedia, and another 50 micron pad.

it works ok I guess, I am getting ready to completely revamp my lighting and re-route the filtration system on my 125.

[clgkag]

go to the craft store and buy quilt batting instead of polishing pads. It is cheaper and works just as well. I would put some kind of bio media in one of the chambers.

[bgcoop8784]

i'd use just bio-media, ceramic tubes or i use sera siporax, in all three baskets, the foam on the outsides does plenty of mechanical filtration. polishing pads will clog quickly but if you want to really use them, just put one in the bottom basket, thats the last stage before the water goes back.

[CWO4GUNNER]

when you say the circumference filter do you mean the areas on the sides of the baskets where the filters stock setup has the almost foam looking filter media?

Yes. This is where the water is forced through these 3 foam filter first from the bottom outside to inside the through both sides of the last two above the bottom foam insert. Although the foam inserts seem too thick, becasue they filter from both sides it is just about right. Finally after the water is forced to pass through these filters from the bottom where it enters it reaches the top basket edge and falls in from the top basket and cascades down to the bottom to be picked up by the external pump and sent back into the aquarium clean. Because the 2 top foam filters actually filter from both sides the true surface area of the circumference filter is more like 500 square inches compared to just 25 the baskets provide. All that surface area maintains a very low pressure or low restrictive flow to water yet traps all the debris even when the filter becomes inondated with dirt. Trying to polish using the 25 CI basket surface area bottlenecks the entire system like detouring a 6 lane freeway to an off ramp, everything starts to back up eventually especially GPH.

So I maintain my baskets with high flow low restrictive media like bio balls, lave rocks, loose twine, ceramic rings, and carbon bags, but even my carbon bags are suspended over a layer of bio balls so that the carbon net bags don't restrict the basket strainer at the bottom.

[RodInCALIFORNIA]

i use CORALIFE BLACK NANO BIO BALLS i use them in all my canister filters and hot magnums perfect size for all canisters and poly pads i cut my self to fit i buy the rolls of poly fiber at walmart 10.97 for a king size bed roll size and it lasts a few months. walmart sells a flame proof type and the plain type difference is the bag color it comes in DONT GET THE FLAME PROOF TYPE. bag colors can vary depending on what part of usa your in i am told in my area the green colored bag is the plain type the purple bag is the flame proof you dont want.

[Fresh250]

awesome info guys,:headbang2:

sounds like im going to,

1. buy a roll of poly fiber from the local wally world and cut it to size in the bottom of the third basket

2. get the bio balls that i was planning to get and put those in the second basket--http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4136+14727&pcatid=14727 (http://http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4136+14727&pcatid=14727)

3. leave the cabon in bags in top basket until it runs out, then replace with the ceramic noodly things--http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4136+8228&pcatid=8228

4 . put some noodly things in third basket on top of poly fiber "finishing pad"--http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=15433

:jaw:sound right?

[bgcoop8784]

sounds good, just watch how quick the "finishing pad" clogs, if it clogs too quick then pack it less tight next time. if you wanna use the bio-balls you can probably just use the lil pot scrubbies from the dollar store a lil cheaper and they offer just as much surface area as the bio-balls if not more. i'd throw some scrubbies in the top basket and the fluval bio-max noodles in the middle and bottom with your "finishing pad" in the bottom too.

[Fresh250]

ohhh pot scrubbies..... good idea, ill have to check those out

[bgcoop8784]

and an idea for how much fluval bio max, i can fit almost 3 of the 500g(17.62 oz) in one basket. can get a lil pricey, but you don't have to use the fluval.

[FISHSHROD]

How bout anyone got pics of the baskets with the media arrangements ?

[Fresh250]

and an idea for how much fluval bio max, i can fit almost 3 of the 500g(17.62 oz) in one basket. can get a lil pricey, but you don't have to use the fluval.

thanks for the heads up :eek:

and ill probably use it the first few runs to see what its like and then slowly change it out to see if it really makes much of a difference.


as for the pics, good idea, anybody have some spare time to take pics of their arrangements?

[Fresh250]

anyone else with some experience to share with the fluval fx-5?

and a side note, i did notice a small ad for the new Fluval-G series filter and i am very intrigued, cant wait to see what thats like and finally hear some experience from those after they come out in october

[DrgRcr]

I opened mine up yesterday for the 1st time(with fish in). Here is what I have and other observations:

I used that drain valve on the bottom to make handling to the sink easier. Just a piece of 5/8" hose & a bucket, and follow the instructions in the book for draining. Makes life alot easier carrying it.

I used to have some sponge in the intake strainer as a prefilter, but I took it out when I saw how much my Mbuna were "going"! I'm hoping it helps get more out of the tank.

I realized that I had my media arrangement backwards in relation to flow. I forgot it flows top to bottom in the basket area. So I reversed my baskets. I now have:Top, Ehfimech(I use this in my canister on another tank and it catches ALOT of debris without a major flow loss). Middle, Ehfisubstrat and a the course sponge. Bottom, Ehfisubstrat and polishing pad.

So far, I haven't see a noticeable difference in flow, but I just added the polishing pad, so time will tell.