Still Don't Understand FX5 Mania?

[F1 VET]

You don't need nearly that much bio, all your doing is greatly reducing gph. A handful of ceramic bio or matrix is enough to support a large colony of bb, I always go more tho just incase.

When my 5 large rbp were in my 90, I had them on one single bag of ac110 biomax for 5-6 months, params were the same as having my fx5 bursting at the seams with bio media. As long as your ammonia/nitrite levels are zero and your happy with your mechanical filtration then relax and enjoy your happy fish!

Cheers.
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[arodini]

I don't know where u got those numbers.....

My fx5 brand new with tons of media (all sponges, 2x bio max/carbon and prefilter) with s&h 230$

The micro chip makes your filter run more efficiently, purges air and is a failsafe if your impeller gets clogged or motor gets to hot and many other features.

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I know what the chip is for, but it added one more item for failure to the filter, and when that occurred your filter is trash. Why don't the eheim engineers require the chip in their classic's then? It's not that necessary if the motor is good and the design is sound.

F1, all filters have their weak points some where. Fx5 is probably the best bang for the bucks, it sure possesses areas for improvement. Don't you think?

 

[F1 VET]

I know what the chip is for, but it added one more item for failure to the filter, and when that occurred your filter is trash. Why don't the eheim engineers require the chip in their classic's then? It's not that necessary if the motor is good and the design is sound.

F1, all filters have their weak points some where. Fx5 is probably the best bang for the bucks, it sure possesses areas for improvement. Don't you think?

I don't see much more improvement for that price! Personally I like the chip, but I also appreciate technology, I like how it purges air everyday as well, allowing the filter to run more efficiently! I've said it so many times, when I was in the market to buy my canister I just couldn't justify the extra cash for the 2262. Simple, if I was balling and didn't have a house to pay for I could justify it.


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[ecoli73]

Frankly for a 125 you don't need a 2262.

FX5 is rated for a 400 gallon, and eheim is rated for 500 gallon...

In the real world, in an average over crowded aquarium, Fx5 is good for 125, maybe 180; Eheim is good for 240-300...

I like to overfilter and my 30+ loaches want more, however

 

[ecoli73]

As for a microchip...I am sure if it functions properly, it is a good thing to have. However, having worked on these things for most of my life; I do not like having it control an otherwise VERY reliable machinery; and the price point of the fx5(as well as eheims) suggest any electronics used in the filters are of consumer grade and very easily damaged or fried.

I was considering fx5s until I say the micro controller stuff...that was a turn off. Also, why does fx5 need to purge air? I think that's a design flaw that the micro controller is trying to fix.

Anyway, Eheim classic line is where I will stick too...seeing that the prof III series on eheim joins the parade of "electronic" filters. It's neat but really, if I don't want to check on flow rate, temperature etc myself, I don't need to be a fish keeper.

 

[F1 VET]

Any sealed filter is going to have some air trapped in it, look at the xp series. I had to turn mine off and disconnect every couple of weeks to purge it myself, my fav thing about the fx5 is auto purging! Keeps it efficient, hardly a design flaw!

I don't understand why there is a fx5 thread and there are tons of people that comment about it that have never used one... I don't say bad things about eheim, just that I can't afford one.

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[hawkerw]

I do like the Microchip on the FX5 I think without the FX5 would have Air issues due to its design with the pump on the bottom. My C530 does have to be bleed every once in a awhile its starts to get noisy so you have to tip the filter a little in each direction to bleed the air up in the head.

And I repeat myself, but the Eheim is just a whim plan and simple just like a kid who wants his new IPhone!! I dont need it in fact if I buy one I'll have two extra canisters just sitting in a box. We for the most part up here have no Craigslist (heck half the people would think its a shopping list up here) so to sell them would not be worth the trouble. So, do I treat myself just on a whim?? Plan old stupid isn't it...have any of you ever had that with aquarium equipment? So why would someone at my age sit and contimplate something that expensive for no real good purpose? There I put it out there again always makes me feel better. I have a vendor I like who has both the 2262 and 2080 for right at about $400.00 with Eheim media.

 

[lp85253]

The issue with canisters is that, unless they're cleaned frequently, then they're just taking the poop, uneaten food and other stuff from your tank...and hiding it in the filter. A "clean tank" attached to a cylinder filled with rotting stuff might look clean, but it's not.

Higher flow rates in canister filters make them effective at mechanical filtration but just exacerbate the issue by sucking more stuff into the filter. More stuff rotting in the filter = the same stuff rotting in your tank = ammonia that needs to be converted to nitrate.

Given the choice, I'd use (easily cleaned) HOB or air driven boxes for mechanical and lower flow canisters (with pre-filters) for biological filtration.

Matt

this is why I stick to hob's and sponge filters...cans ARE nice some are even economical to run......but consider this...6 tanks aprox. 360 gallons run on NOTHING BUT ....hob's and sponge filters and at a total cost of about $360 ....and all the tanks are OVERFILTERED AND easy to maintain ... try that with canisters ...then think about the level of maintainence required to just get an fx5 to the sink (or outside )and clean (anybody for weightlifting....)no such need on an ac 70 ...but plenty of bio to support a good sized tank when coupled with a sponge filter...not ripping on canister owners but trying to give OTHER OPTIONS to those inclined not to pay for "packaging" and who want more real world performance

 

[ecoli73]

this is why I stick to hob's and sponge filters...cans ARE nice some are even economical to run......but consider this...6 tanks aprox. 360 gallons run on NOTHING BUT ....hob's and sponge filters and at a total cost of about $360 ....and all the tanks are OVERFILTERED AND easy to maintain ... try that with canisters ...then think about the level of maintainence required to just get an fx5 to the sink (or outside )and clean (anybody for weightlifting....)no such need on an ac 70 ...but plenty of bio to support a good sized tank when coupled with a sponge filter...not ripping on canister owners but trying to give OTHER OPTIONS to those inclined not to pay for "packaging" and who want more real world performance

The problem is when you combine all of these tanks into one, your HOB and sponge solutions sort of fails unless you want filters everywhere.

When I had multiple tanks(100, 135), two emperors combined with a canister(smaller than fx5) is what my usual setup looks like.

 

[lp85253]

The problem is when you combine all of these tanks into one, your HOB and sponge solutions sort of fails unless you want filters everywhere.

When I had multiple tanks(100, 135), two emperors combined with a canister(smaller than fx5) is what my usual setup looks like.

not planning on any upgrades but I KNOW that you can run a 180 on 2 ac110's and 2-3 big sponge filters...and have EVERY bit of the performance of large multiple cans ...IV'E SEEN IT DONE ...SEVERAL PLACES....... ps used ac110's=$50 SPONGE FILTERS $10.....AIR PUMP $....20.....now whats the price of one fx5 ,,,not to mention the big eheims