FX5 Custom plumbing: Start to finish.

[PDRed302]

Well, it was finally time to switch from the HOB filter setup that I had to a large canister setup. After debating between a few I decided I was going to go with an FX5, mostly because I am going to be running 2 on my next tank (very soon) and 2 FX5's equaled out to around the same cost as one 2262. What I have done here is a rough draft for my final setup but it was a nice learning experience so, I thought I'd share.

The entire build is based around addicted2cichlids tanganyikan tank from 2008, it looked the most like what I wanted to accomplish. So I called up one of my best buddies "Red", and he headed over for the build (mind you we were a bit hung over from the party the night before, notice the balloons on the floor in some pics).

The build consists only from readily avalible parts form Home Depot:

We used 1" i.d. vinyl hose to go from the filter connections to the barbed fitting for the input and output pipes. Securing the tubing with hose clamps and a bead of GE Silicone I (we let this part dry for 24hrs) I was uncomfortable with the tightness of the tubing to the fx5 connection, so I siliconed for a better seal:

The barbed fitting was hooked to a 1" to 3/4" reducer (threaded to smooth coupling) then that was hooked to a ball valve, so that I could shut the water off at the source pipe, instead of having to rely soley on the FX5 connection valve:

My tank sets into an inset that I cut in my divider wall bar top when I first moved the 125 in. The wall is coming down on the next build out (300 whoopie!) but not until then. So we drilled out 1.5" holes in the top and threw some trim covers on.

Rough wall pipe (output side) We used 3/4" sch 40 pvc, all of the pipe bends are done with the contractors pack 3/4" 90's. To glue it all we used the packaged PVC Glue and Primer, that they sell (the only pre-packaged set they sell at the store). Any glue or primer that they have in stock for home plumbing would do, it's what your house has in it anyways:

Intake side, rough-out on wall:

 

[PDRed302]

We used 1" o.d. electrical conduit plastic wall hangers to secure it to the wall. Anywhere we didn't hit a stud we used 50lb screw in type sheetrock anchors:

Decided to build my own 4' spray bar, put it on a 1' offset to give a foot on each side calm area gap. I centered blue painters tape to the pipe and marked it at every 2" so that I could align my holes:

A 1/8" hole every 2" and it came out halfway descent, not perfect but it gets the job done. Marked my alignments with a pencil then we cleaned up the holes and glued it together at this point:

Made the intake tube out of a sprinkler part (no idea the name) that I found on the shelf in the fittings section, you could use any type of reducer for this but this fitting had a nice extension that fit the intake strainer just fine (with a little sanding). The female connection it had was for 1/2" so on what a 3/4" to 1/2" threaded reducer to the end of my 3/4" pipe. Pretty much the same as for the vinyl tubing:

Figured I would be using 3/4" to 1" pipe from the start so I ordered some clips from amazon that were 1" to 1.35". I ened up using 3 on the spray bar and 1 on the intake tube.

Last shot of the HOB filters. The tank looks pretty dirty in this pic, but it's mostly the fact that my fiters didnt turn the water enough to clean out the tannins for more than a few days after a water change (usually starts turning about day 5) and today was cleaning day!:

 

[ruddybop]

Nice work... Who says you have to use their plumbing...

 

[PDRed302]

On the FX5 I went with; bottom level polishing pad, 100ml Purigen pack, and some seeded sponges from my HOB's. Middle level, seeded bio ring packs and another seeded 100ml Purigen pack. Top level was a fresh batch of 1500g Fluval pre-filter media.

Vinyl to PVC connection, there is no silicone here, this connection was right on from the get go; so we never added the silicone, only used a hose clamp:

FX5 Up and running:

1 hour later:

Shot of the tank now:

All and all this was a fairly easy build (about 3-4 hours) not counting the 24hr dry time of the silicone. It probably could have been done a bit quicker but we took out time so we could get a feel for it. Hoping on doing another soon!

Over all I am ecstatic with the performance of the FX5 and for $210 bucks on amazon you really can't go wrong here, not to plug them but it works well. The tank stays crystal clear now.

Hope this helps somebody out there

 

[ruddybop]

Ah nice and clear..... I run an FX5 , Fluval 305, and a sump on my 220. I like my FX5 but it's so damn heavy to move when it's cleaning time...

 

[PDRed302]

Thank you rudy for the compliment, as for the weight, I went ahead and filled the unit before placing it, it wasn't too bad, as long as I'm not doing it more than once every few months I'll be good. At least it's not once every 2 or 3 weeks like the hang ons.

 

[Lusus_Naturae]

"On the FX5 I went with; bottom level polishing pad, 100ml Purigen pack, and some seeded sponges from my HOB's. Middle level, seeded bio ring packs and another seeded 100ml Purigen pack. Top level was a fresh batch of 1500g Fluval pre-filter media."

Maybe I'm misunderstanding something here, but the way you put the filter together you have the prefilter on the top and the polishing on the bottom on the inside chamber? I thought the filter ran incoming water down the outside ring and then up the inside chamber back into the tank so it would be reverse in how you have it set up - at least that's my understanding and I could be completely off here too.

 

[ruddybop]

Maybe I'm misunderstanding something here, but the way you put the filter together you have the prefilter on the top and the polishing on the bottom on the inside chamber? I thought the filter ran incoming water down the outside ring and then up the inside chamber back into the tank so it would be reverse in how you have it set up - at least that's my understanding and I could be completely off here too.

Instructions for the FX5....

¶ Top Media Basket
Pre-Filter, Carbon, and Zeo-Carb are all options for
screening small particles from the water. Pre-Filter is
inert, acting solely to create a screen. Carbon removes
dyes, medications, and solubilized wastes that a simple
screen cannot. Zeo-Carb removes ammonia; it is often
used in beginning setups to keep initial ammonia
spikes lower than would occur naturally.

· Middle Media Basket
The middle media basket is useful for chemically
modifying water. Peat Granules, for example will
gradually lower the water’s pH level.
The middle chamber is a good place to begin the
biological reduction process as well. Many media
types provide both mechanical filtering and
biological treatment, creating an excellent
environment for beneficial bacteria to proliferate.
Even many chemical compounds will support colonies
of bacteria. With the primary mechanical purification
of the water stream occurring in the foam inserts, it
is typical to load additional biological
media into the middle media basket.
BioMax and extra Carbon or
Ammonia Remover are commonly
used. This is also the place where
more exotic media, chosen for a
specific application, can be used.

¸ Bottom Media Basket
This basket receives the purest water
stream, making it the proper place
for dedicated biological media.
Placed here, BioMax, for example,
provides optimal biological power in
a very compact ring. With a multitude
of pores perforating both the surface
and the internal matrix, it is an ideal
substrate for this position. To capture
any small particles remaining in the water before it
reaches this final stage of filtration, consider layering
a Polishing Pad, a fine mechanical filter, on top of
any biological or chemical media placed in the
bottom basket. This will prevent the clogging of the
delicate pores of the media used here, enhancing its
useful life.

 

[West1]

Nice, any before and after pics to compare water clarity?

 

[PDRed302]

Nice, any before and after pics to compare water clarity?

Sure...

Before: Notice the light blue wall behind the tank appears green in this pic.

After: Water is crystal clear now, all the colors show through and are not distorted, (This pic was taken before a water change about 5 or 6 hours after the filter install).