One other leak point to check is the drain valve and o-ring. It only takes a quarter turn rotation to remove it from the filter housing so don't check it when the filter is full of water.
Fluval fx5 leaking!
- Thread starter Manafel
- Start date
I have 4 fx5's for a couple years now and only had I lid screw clamp freeze up on me . In love with the fx5's. 
Just replace the clamp and be happy.
Just replace the clamp and be happy.
When you are looking at a filter that cost that much, spending $14 to keep it running doesnt seem that bad.
But I guess my hobbies are expensive so I am used to high cost to keep things running. I have over $200 in electronics in ONE of my hobby grade rc cars, that is one out of 3. Batteries alone are $40 a piece. I break parts all the time, and typically spend about $50 by the time I walk out of the hobby store each time.
Man, RB, you have just been negative lately in any thread I have seen you in. I know I got kind of PO'ed in a thread or two yesterday, but was able to cheer back up again in all of the threads I was in.
Not negative at all....sometimes the truth hurts. While many canister filter problems are operator induced, some canister filters are set from the beginning to be problems. The FX5 is one of them, IMO. Lightweight screw on clamps, too many of them, and a poor o-ring sealing surface for the size of the canister body. Add to it, a filter that shutsdown on it's own and restarts to vent air, you are asking for a problem.
That much? I am the owner of an Eheim 2260. The retail on that is almost 30% more and that is empty. I have had it 5 yrs and never needed to replace anything..
IMO "something that costs that much" shouldnt have obvious design flaws.
CWO4GUNNER
USN/USCG 1974-2004 Weps
So much fuss. I have never had anything more then an easy fix with just 1 of my FX5's and I have 6 operating some used some new with timers stopping and starting every 30 minutes. I even have one that has original missing lid bolts and just made new ones from the hardware store parts (nut,bolt, & 3/8" tubing cut for bushings) for about $3. You just need to observe the problem and and visualize the solution with that wonderful super-computer God gave us between our ears. :idea:
Could be user flaws, the OP stated that it was overtightened. I dont know exactly how they go together, but it wouldnt be that hard to figure out how many turns is the right number, and just always turn it that number of turns.
I guess I am just use to things that cost money to fix, sometimes often. Aquaclear hob filters are known to become loud at some point and you have to lube the rotor, or just totally replace it. I knew that before buying my 30 and ended up running into the problem, but a quick diy fix and the only noise I hear is the water going back into the tank. Even the most expensive things can still have design flaws. Nobody is perfect, and most products normally have one flaw, be it major or minor. Many of them people would never know about unless they opened them up.
Something such as a filter is prone to failure at some point in its life, may be something simple like a clamp breaking, or a little more troublesome of the motor stopping.
