changing FX5 foam blocks

**robroy** · 01-11-2010, 12:32 PM

Used the 30ppi for just on 24hrs and must admit has made a significant difference-still not entirely happy but will shape apiece of the foam to cover one of the baskets to see if this improves things further. Had lots of foam left even after replacing all the FX5 basket foams

Got mine from this German website http://www.aquaristikshop.com/cdshop...terplatten.htm

Hope the link works. Cost me around £15 for a sheet of 3cms thick 30ppi and it arrived within days of ordering

Hope this helps Steve

Rob

**spwd** · 01-11-2010, 12:40 PM

Cheers rob,what do you mean by shape a piece to cover the basket?
Do you mean a big round piece to sit on top of each basket?

Steve

**robroy** · 01-11-2010, 1:05 PM

Originally Posted by spwd;3777959;

Cheers rob,what do you mean by shape a piece to cover the basket?
Do you mean a big round piece to sit on top of each basket?

Steve

Yep-thats what I'm planning to do-not sure which basket to put it in yet though

**Jgray152** · 01-11-2010, 1:27 PM

Used the 30ppi for just on 24hrs and must admit has made a significant difference-still not entirely happy but will shape apiece of the foam to cover one of the baskets to see if this improves things further. Had lots of foam left even after replacing all the FX5 basket foams

Your expecting way to much from foam mechanical filtration. IF you have a "haze", the foam will not remove that. Thats talking 1-10 micron filtration. More water changes will help.

Let me know how the 30 ppi is to clean. I am thinking it might be a pita.

**Jgray152** · 01-11-2010, 1:28 PM

I found a link somewhere on here. I thought I saved it but I didn't. Maybe Jgray knows.

Its in my Sig.

I may get some of those 30ppi for mine,what are the standard foams?

Can't tell you EXACTLY but they are around 10ppi from through comparison.

Are the foams you got made for the fx5 or is it just a block of foam you have to cut to size and shape?

There is no higher PPI foam cut to fit the fx5 for sale at the moment. You need to get a sheet of it. 1" think will do fine. Any thicker and you may have a hard time cleaning the debris out of the foam.

And i think the fx5 is ok but if i ever need another big canister i would pay the extra for an eheim.

For a lower flow rate....... 2262 is the only filter that can compare with the fx5 in filtration.

**robroy** · 01-11-2010, 1:54 PM

Originally Posted by Jgray152;3778074;

Your expecting way to much from foam mechanical filtration. IF you have a "haze", the foam will not remove that. Thats talking 1-10 micron filtration. More water changes will help.

Let me know how the 30 ppi is to clean. I am thinking it might be a pita.

No haze just small particles floating around. I'll let you know how they are to clean

**JakeH** · 01-11-2010, 1:57 PM

Huge bag of filter floss at LFS- 3 bux.

**Jgray152** · 01-11-2010, 2:33 PM

^not as ideal as 20-30ppi sponges around the baskets.

**Jgray152** · 01-11-2010, 2:37 PM

No haze just small particles floating around. I'll let you know how they are to clean

IF you thinking particles are getting through the media, A long term test is take a large filter bag, place it around the output, tied around the output nozzle and see if anything gets trapped inside... Short Term, Fill up a glass or large clear container with the water coming from the fx5 and see what is floating around.

It may just be the flow pattern in the tank inhibiting some of the particles to get picked up in the intake.

**Jgray152** · 01-11-2010, 2:39 PM

btw, can you take pictures. I have an area on my website for the sponges cut to fit.

http://innovationlandscaping.com/fx5/highppifoam.html

All credit to you.