I use a magnum 350 for that exact purpose. I put purigen inside the media cartridge and then wrap quilt batting around it for mechanical filtration that I change out regularly. I also switch out to the pleated filter for a week or two every couple of months for water polishing. It's compact, easy to disconnect, and easy to move.
adding a 3rd filter for mechanical
- Thread starter rob1984
- Start date
I've read good reviews on this canister and you can't beat the price. Just received mine a couple of days ago. This thing is going to be my main mechanical filter.
http://www.aquatraders.com/Odyssea-CFS700-Canister-Filter-with-UV-Sterilizer-p/42051.htm
http://www.aquatraders.com/Odyssea-CFS700-Canister-Filter-with-UV-Sterilizer-p/42051.htm
I have read good reviews about that filter, but be careful with some of those orange parts because I have also read that they break easily. As long as you don't break any of the pieces it does work well though.
how do well do you find your 2fx5's with the ac110 work and how do you have your fx5 packed ? and if I went with an ac110 all I would likely use is what comes with it sponge wise and some filter floss (as I have TONS here) and some carbon likely to pull anything out that left in there ... very likely I would setup a canister the exact same way as well .... and if I go with another canister im thinking like a xp4 450gph not far from an AC110 and lots more room for more sponges and floss lol
small light, and should work with my custom 1" spray bar that's the length of my tank on my one fx5
It's a great filter for mechanical, it's silent, moves a decent amount of water, it's cheap, and it uses sponges that you can just rinse and reuse. I have the one without the uv and I've been running it on my 125g for 2-3years now without any issues.
how do well do you find your 2fx5's with the ac110 work and how do you have your fx5 packed ? and if I went with an ac110 all I would likely use is what comes with it sponge wise and some filter floss (as I have TONS here) and some carbon likely to pull anything out that left in there ... very likely I would setup a canister the exact same way as well .... and if I go with another canister im thinking like a xp4 450gph not far from an AC110 and lots more room for more sponges and floss lol
I keep all my floss in the 2 fx5's. All I keep in the 110 is double sponges on that tank, reason being is it's a bb tank and I have intake for 110 all the way to bottom of tank with power head aimed at intake and bottom stays poop free. In my fx5's I just use bio media bottom 2 trays and pack floss in top, I replace floss every 5 weeks. I also have a 2217 on it and a 36 watt uv.
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Hmmmm, I'm thinking I'm gonna go with an xp4 more room for different sponge and floss and etc ..... Think the trays are 6x6x3 plenty big for a lot of different sponge haha 
Just a thought here.... I love xp series filters, but the difference between the xp3(large) and xp4(xl) is very small. 187 gph vs 194 gph with media. Per the manufacturer.
The xp4 has one extra basket but that's about it. Cool filters that are very easy to maintain but flow rates as advertised are empty filters.
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The xp4 has one extra basket but that's about it. Cool filters that are very easy to maintain but flow rates as advertised are empty filters.
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Yes exactly as the ac110 advertised as 500gph likely empty not full.... Is there another filter out there that about same outside dimensions as a xp3/xp4 ?? But have more gph ? I'd add another fx5 but damn there so heavy and bulky lol
