Biomax in a Fx5

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
well I think I decided to use two boxes of biomax on the bottom tray, bioballs in the middle and either prefilter in the top or carbon.. Im going to set this fx5 when it comes in on one of my 150gal tanks first.(still may also have a 405 on the other end for backup.) If I end up liking it, Ill be buying 5 more for my other tanks.. If not, then Ill stick with what the canisters I already have and wont upgrade..
 
I use a combo of pond matrix, bio-max and sub pro in all three trays.
 
I had 2 box's in each tray of the FX5, then tried stuffing the top tray of biomax into the other 2. It worked so basically 3 box's of Biomax in the bottom and 3 box's in the middle. I just have carbon now for the top tray until i buy 3 more box's :P
 
I have ran scrubbies and all sorts of media. I have 10gallons of pond matrix on order for my newest build :). I plan on taking a little bit of if for my fx5!
 
I've heard the fluval brand of prefilter media in an fx5 is pretty useless. I've used the blue pads for the FX5 in mine and it clogged within a couple days. The problem with carbon in canisters is that carbon really needs to be changed often to be efficient and ultimately it's really not necessary anyway. I just started running purigen in one of my tanks and it works very well for polishing water, and on top of that it never (well, maybe after a few YEARS) needs replacing, it just needs to be recharged with a bleach bath so it much more cost efficient as well. That would be my recommendation if you choose to run chemical media. Otherwise, all three trays bio media.
 
Bio balls are next to useless in the fx5. They don't allow enough bb populate to be able to handle normal wish waste in the fx5. Thre is only 1.5 gallons of media capacity in the fx5. It takes around 10 gallons of bio balls to be able to do what 1/4 gallon of matrix, bio max etc to house the bb. That's why it's recommended to use the most efficient bio media in the fx5 trays.
Bio balls are normally used in wet dry sumps where there is plenty of space for the bio balls to fill. Filling the same space with one of the efficient type medias as described above can be expensive.
 
aclockworkorange;4755912; said:
The problem with carbon in canisters is that carbon really needs to be changed often to be efficient and ultimately it's really not necessary anyway. I just started running purigen in one of my tanks and it works very well for polishing water, and on top of that it never
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The FX5 huge intake strainner can be open in the middle. You think placing carbon bags in the strainner would work? Life would be more easier to replace the carbon that way

And also, how is purigen like? Powdery form or pellets. And is a filter bag required? I thought of geting purigen but ain't sure.
 
also curious about the purigen? and does anyone use chemi-pure by boyd? or chemi-pure elite? MY LFS recommends them....
 
Here is my plan-

1st tray- 500 Grams Bio max and 10 oz of chemi-pure
2nd tray- 1000 grams Bio Max
3rd tray- 1000 grams Bio Max

I may also just put the two 5 oz chemi-pure in my fluval 405 that way there is no way for the water to bypass it....
 
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