Can anyone compare the FX5 to the eheim 2262?

[L A R R Y]

IMO The fx5 should only be used for Biological filtration and a little mechanical with the supplied sponges only because as soon as you go to put some filter pads or polishing pads in, it will create micro bubbles after about 1 week

I've been having my FX5 running since Feb 08 and have never experienced microbubbles. I've had the polishing pads in it off and on, even leaving them in for over 3 months at a time. This is not always the case with them

 

[Jgray152]

Call it a holistic approach People buy filters because of great flow rates. Others buy filters because of their volumes. The next person buys them because everyone on MFK says it's a great filter. I simply think these are all parts of the puzzle, and so far no one has put them together in this thread. Got another piece? I'm havin' fun

Umm ok.

Well, I suppose I have another piece. The Fx5 can be modded

 

[Leptar]

1 week away for another flow test.. I will open the filter after the test and show what is inside...

 

[selki]

The Eheim 2262 Pump and the Fx5 Pump both have marginally the same flow rates, with the Fx5 topping out more.

The Fx5 pump does not need all the extra power due to the highly efficient impeller used, where as the Eheim pump uses an impeller which is not as efficient which is one of the reasons why it needs more power to move the same amount of fluid. I have noticed that pumps with straight blade impellers, spin MUCH faster then the pump used on the Fx5 which puts out a higher flow rate.

Now the Classic 2260 series should not clog as quick as the Fx5 when using small partical filtration pads because it has nearly 96% MORE surface area for small partical filtration.
The Fx5 has nearly 60% MORE surface area for coarse mechanical filtration though.

So the Classic 2262 probably will not clog up as quick, but even if it did, the pump consuming 80 watts of power doesn't mean it will hold flow longer.

I would really like to know the actual filter flow output of the Eheim Classic 2260 Series with the 2262 pump. IF anyone has one, do a simple flow test with a 5 gallon bucket, or any bucket of known size. I HIGHLY doubt its anywhere near 900 GPH. I even doubt its above 800 GPH. My new guess after thinking for awhile is 500-700 GPH. Afterall, when does Eheim ever have a canister with a high flow rate?

So..how often do you maintain your FX5's for it not to get clogged? And how do you do it? step by step procedure

 

[Leptar]

Ok new test... I took some pictures so you can see how i did it this time around... I looked and saw what i did yesterday and how gravity gave me such a high GPH flow rate...FYI that rate was measured from about 2" above the filters output.
Today the setup put output of the hose just above the tank open end no spray bar just the hose into the jug.
I am impressed with the number. I did it 3 times and while the fish hate me for it... each time i was within .36 seconds so i will call that my error and use the highest which was 29.06 the lowest was 28.69 with the last test was 28.88.
For sake of argument i will use the 29.06. I used a chronometer that we use at work when we measure ink viscosity with the zahn cup.

For sake of argument regarding gravity i shut the filter off and turned the valves on and no water flowed into the jug. I was higher then the tank but i tested it anyway so no-one can say i should have tested it .

With the filter on and the valve shut this is how i measured...
I turned the valve on and then started the chronometer, once the 5 gallon mark was reached on the jug i shut the valve off.

619.4 GPH is the flow rate. Remember this filter is clean and also has the polishing pad. In 4 weeks i will repeat this test to see how much flow i lost.

Whoops.... tad late i guess but still.... First test was 3-24-09

I had micro bubbles in my tank this am, then i thought about the test...

now...

31.98 seconds to fill 5 gallons... Second test 5-7-09
562 GPH is the flow rate after 6+ weeks i lost 52 GPH...


ok now to open the filter and snap some pics of what it looks like inside...

 

[velanarris]

Micro bubbles are caused by an air leak. You're sucking air somewhere, check your lines and seals. This is very, very common on the FX5s and the eheim ecco series.

 

[tcarswell]

Whoops.... tad late i guess but still.... First test was 3-24-09

I had micro bubbles in my tank this am, then i thought about the test...

now...

31.98 seconds to fill 5 gallons... Second test 5-7-09
562 GPH is the flow rate after 6+ weeks i lost 52 GPH...


ok now to open the filter and snap some pics of what it looks like inside...

Sounds like the polishing pad is getting clogged slightly

 

[Jgray152]

Micro bubbles are caused by an air leak. You're sucking air somewhere, check your lines and seals. This is very, very common on the FX5s and the eheim ecco series.

Micro Bubbles can be caused by air leaks, BUT, the most common reason for the microbubbles issue for the Fx5 is due to Vapor Cavitation. This is when the filtration media in the baskets clog enough to allow the highly efficient impeller to actually create such a vacuum in the canister to where the boiling point of water is reduced.

So..how often do you maintain your FX5's for it not to get clogged? And how do you do it? step by step procedure

Well, when I had the baskets, I could go for at least a couple months before getting micro bubbles with filter fiber media. This was on a 55 gallon so if the filter is on a larger tank it probably will not last as long.

After the initial mod I performed on the Fx5, I went about 6 months I think without the filter clogging with the same media on the same tank. I could have gone longer.

Now, because I have not perfected the mod and the inside of the canister has basically fallen apart, lol, I have a good amount of bypass in the filter. I will remod it and make it more durable and permanent.

After the internal modification, the flow rate is still around 600 GPH. I have not tested it with the Vinyl tubing.

Whoops.... tad late i guess but still.... First test was 3-24-09

I had micro bubbles in my tank this am, then i thought about the test...

now...

31.98 seconds to fill 5 gallons... Second test 5-7-09
562 GPH is the flow rate after 6+ weeks i lost 52 GPH...


ok now to open the filter and snap some pics of what it looks like inside...

I was wondering when you were going to post your results

So 562 GPH is AFTER the 52 GPH loss in 6+ weeks? So the filter output is roughly 614 GPH with clean media. Sounds about right and within my flow estimate.

 

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

It's always a pleasure to read your input, but this one is a bit off:

due to Vapor Cavitation. This is when the filtration media in the baskets clog enough to allow the highly efficient impeller to actually create such a vacuum in the canister to where the boiling point of water is reduced.

Big words, wrong concept.

Vapor cavitation: "Rupture" of a liquid by overcoming tensile strength. Cavities are formed, which fill with vapor and gases. High energy is released upon collapse. Basically, you cannot reach that with an aquarium pump. Even in industrial water-hydraulic systems, this phenomenon does not easily occur below 120`F.

Reduction of Boiling point: You'd have to reach 0.03 atm to get water to boil at aquarium temp. Not gonna happen with any aquarium pump. This is even borderline for laboratory diaphragm pumps.


BUT
De-gassing/Outgassig: Is the principle you should refer to: Slight reduction in pressure causes release of dissolved gases based on vapor pressure and equilibration.


You should familiarize yourself with the science behind principles before you use such terminology. Otherwise, you make members believe you know what you're talking about ...

HarleyK

 

[12 Volt Man]

exactly. I am a wastwater treament plant operator so I am quite familiar with cavitation - it takes even large (150 HP) centrifugal pumps that are as tall as you or me quite a while to reach the point of cavitation - and the microbubble issue is NOT because of 'classical' cavitation like this.

when you reach the boiling point of water (now much lower because of the incrreased pressure) when the bubbles collapse they can do big time damage to impellers/pump housing - of course these, are huge pumps with massive impellers. you should see the damage that real cavitation can cause..

but you won't get this form of cavitation on an aquarium pump that small. no matter how long you run it against a closed valve or, clogged media.

it simply won't happen.