Adding FX5 to clear cloudy water? Advice please.

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
888fish

888fish

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jun 19, 2008
954
373
72
CA
Current Stock:
Datnoids:
- 12" IT
- 3 x IT (2"-4")
- 6" NTT
- 11" NGT

Catfish:
- 7 x Clown Loach (6.5"- 9")
- 17" Tigrinus

Misc:
6" Frontosa, 10" Ansorgii, 8" Flagtail

Tank and Filtration:
170G Glass tank
- 2x Eheim 2028 (one filled with some crushed coral to maintain pH) Each rated 275 GPH.

Maintenance & Diet:
60-70% weekly water changes, Filter cleaned in rotational basis every 3-4 months.
- Fish fed only Massivore 6 days a week, skipping meals day before water change. Fish feed until they stop eating, no food left in tank. Cloudy water not green!

WOULD A FX5 FILTER HELP CLEAR OUT MY CLOUDY WATER? It is rated as 925 GPH.

If yes, what type of media should I use in it since my parameters suggest I have sufficient biomedia with my Eheims.

Thanks.
 
It worked for me. I always had slightly cloudy water, and I never understood why, since I wasn't experiencing ammonia spikes, so I doubled the mechanical media in my sump and the next day the water was crystal clear, and has been ever since.
 
dwacudo;4879674; said:
ill work if you put a carbon tray in.WARING you may get new tank snydome if you add it
Click to expand...

Not worried about that since I intend to keep the 2 Eheims running as well. Thanks.
 
Hello!

As a basic rule of thumb, you want a filtration flow rate at 4 to 6 times the volume of your tank. You're pretty heavily stocked and you have some big waste producers in there (nice fish though!). Right now, you're right at a turnover rate of 3.

I am running almost 8 times turnover rate on my 150 with just over a dozen adult Cichlids. I am only guessing, but I believe you need to be at least 7 with that many fish. FX5 is just over 900 gph I believe. All filters combined, your turnover rate will be just over 8.

Adding the Fluval is definitely going to help you out a ton! But, you may even want to consider upgrading at least one of your Eheims to a second FX5...or at least a filter with a lot more flow.

Good luck!
 
888fish;4879646; said:
WOULD A FX5 FILTER HELP CLEAR OUT MY CLOUDY WATER? It is rated as 925 GPH.
Click to expand...

Oops, just noticed you even specifically stated 925 lol. I used 900 when I added up the total flow rates. But, it's close enough :)

Again, good luck...
 
Are you opposed to using a sump? For the price of an FX5 you could set up a DIY sump using filter socks, which will give you clearer water than all three of those canister filters combined.
 
CLDarnell;4879718; said:
Hello!

As a basic rule of thumb, you want a filtration flow rate at 4 to 6 times the volume of your tank. You're pretty heavily stocked and you have some big waste producers in there (nice fish though!). Right now, you're right at a turnover rate of 3.

I am running almost 8 times turnover rate on my 150 with just over a dozen adult Cichlids. I am only guessing, but I believe you need to be at least 7 with that many fish. FX5 is just over 900 gph I believe. All filters combined, your turnover rate will be just over 8.

Adding the Fluval is definitely going to help you out a ton! But, you may even want to consider upgrading at least one of your Eheims to a second FX5...or at least a filter with a lot more flow.

Good luck!
Click to expand...


So should I buy it and add both mech and biomedia? Exactly what should I have in the canister for my needs? Thanks a ton!
 
To answer your question, yes, you would want both mechanical and bio filtration. As jcardona suggested, you may want to look into a sump before spending the money for another canister. It will be cheaper...which is always a good thing :)
 
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