Different FX5 Combos. Is Mine Too Much?

[Steveo McNello]

Thanks everybody! Ok so a box or two of biomax in the 2 bottom trays, and what is the best to put in the top? Or, any other suggestions?

 

[Pharaoh]

scrubbies and bio balls are junk in a canister.

If you fill the whole thing with BioMax that would be your best bet. Biomax channels the water in different directions to allow the most contact with the media. Bio balls and scrubbies allow the water to pass straight through.

Personally, I think scrubbies are worse than bio balls in any application. Thats just me though.

In a wet/dry or trickle filter, scrubbies are just as good, if not better than bioballs. They offer more surface area. I agree that they're both garbage in a canister.

I've been running my canisters with scrubbies in them for a long while. Never had a problem.

 

[Steveo McNello]

Cool to hear some positive on the scrubbies!

 

[rhodes_96]

The blue pads are not junk and don't clog in 3 days !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The white polishing pads however will clog fairly fast.

A good way and popular way is to fill all trays with good bio media (not bio balls) and use one blue pad in the top tray on top of the bio media to fine filter the tank and protect the bio media underneath from clogging. (Hagen now endorse this method) This setup on a normal stocked tank should get you at least more than a month on this setup. I run my fx5's like this and can go many months with out maintenance.

 

[Steveo McNello]

So these guys in the top? All 3 or one at a time?

http://cgi.ebay.com/21-Fine-Filter-...104?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a5ceb0838

 

[rhodes_96]

Yes Just 1. allow approx 3/4" in the top tray for pad to sit on the media so it's flush with the top of the tray.

That's a very good price.

 

[Morledzep]

i put filter floss in my FX5 ONCE.. it'll NEVER happen again. my water is sparkly and clear, the regular foam pads do the job just fine.

 

[aclockworkorange]

Yes, the blue pads are junk. Sorry. Even fluval says they should be cleaned or replaced at least weekly (where's that link when you need it?). Opening my FX5 weekly is a chore I do not need.