1 FX5 on a 125?
- Thread starter Steveo McNello
- Start date
if its moderately stocked yes. but if messy cichlids,(which i wouldnt think youd have because they love to eat plants) it wouldnt hurt to add like a 2217 for redundancy.
I would add an AC110 (just sponges) to really pull particles out of the water column much better than one FX5 can do. you'll appreciate the extra mech.
The OP doesn't want to use a HOB filter because they break the surface of the water and release the co2 he is adding into the tank. It's a planted tank.
Here are my thoughts as both a user of an FX5 on a 125, and a planted tank enthusiast that uses pressurized co2 (in a smaller tank)...
I think the FX5 has enough turnover to adequately filter 125 gallons of water. Yes, more turnover will lead to more water being filtered faster, but I said adequately.
The problem with a single FX5 on a 6 foot tank is not turnover but simply flow... There is just not enough flow to sweep up all the junk in the tank to get it swept into the filter and actually "filtered."
So, the solution is to either add another filter (always good, would obviously be another canister) or use powerheads to increase flow. I use a koralia evolution 1400gph on my 125 and it is the best powerhead I've ever used. The benefit of adding a powerhead will also extend to the use of co2... It will help evenly distribute co2 throughout the tank. Put the co2 diffusor right below a powerhead blowing across the tank.
As far as additional mech as some people have suggested, this may or may not be needed. Personally, I am not satisfied with the mech of my single FX5 with all bio media. I am probably going to add a HOT mag 250 to use purely for water polishing. I also don't care what people think about it, Seachem Purigen is a good product and boosts water clarity.
But, the other thing is my 125 wasnt really planted--heavily planted tanks seem to just be cleaner IME (I'm aware of the biological filtration roles plants take). You are completely fine running a single FX5 on a 125 (for all but extremely heavy stock) so maybe you could just run it, and evaluate after that.
Here are my thoughts as both a user of an FX5 on a 125, and a planted tank enthusiast that uses pressurized co2 (in a smaller tank)...
I think the FX5 has enough turnover to adequately filter 125 gallons of water. Yes, more turnover will lead to more water being filtered faster, but I said adequately.
The problem with a single FX5 on a 6 foot tank is not turnover but simply flow... There is just not enough flow to sweep up all the junk in the tank to get it swept into the filter and actually "filtered."
So, the solution is to either add another filter (always good, would obviously be another canister) or use powerheads to increase flow. I use a koralia evolution 1400gph on my 125 and it is the best powerhead I've ever used. The benefit of adding a powerhead will also extend to the use of co2... It will help evenly distribute co2 throughout the tank. Put the co2 diffusor right below a powerhead blowing across the tank.
As far as additional mech as some people have suggested, this may or may not be needed. Personally, I am not satisfied with the mech of my single FX5 with all bio media. I am probably going to add a HOT mag 250 to use purely for water polishing. I also don't care what people think about it, Seachem Purigen is a good product and boosts water clarity.
But, the other thing is my 125 wasnt really planted--heavily planted tanks seem to just be cleaner IME (I'm aware of the biological filtration roles plants take). You are completely fine running a single FX5 on a 125 (for all but extremely heavy stock) so maybe you could just run it, and evaluate after that.
Steveo McNello;4839078; said:
Since this will be a considerable load in the future, additional filtration should be added at some point IMO. But not needed immediately depending on the size of the fish.
Yes an FX5 would be sufficient. Since you are going for a heavily planted tank (thus the need of CO2 dosing), your plants would also act as a natural filter and remove ammonia and nitrates.
I have a 1300 gph wavemaker but will it be a little much for my plants? I would position it on the same side as the filter return? Up high and perfectly horizontal and it would move debris?
