Electricity Bill

[Spyder001 USA]

An FX5 consumes only 48 watts with a 925gph pump which isn't that bad. A similarly sized standalone pump like the Quiet One 4000 (1017gph) consumes 65 watts. And there really isn't a canister filter that's larger than the FX5. Me personally I prefer sumps over canister filters for efficiency but that's a different debate.

It has a pump that at 0' head is 925 GPH but only produces around 350-450 GPH after the filtration and head. And there is a TON of canisters bigger the FX5.

Again what is the advantage of having multiple fx5's over 1 larger canister. This is one thing I just dont understand. Why do people stack the FX5? I think its because of the widely accepted opinion that the FX5 is the biggest/best, when really the FX5 is the smallest of the big canisters.

 

[jcardona1]

And there is a TON of canisters bigger the FX5.

Like?

 

[Calihawk]

All my heaters run at 85-88 degrees

 

[Spyder001 USA]

Like?

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/pond-supplies/pond-filter/ps/c/5163/5186 Tetra makes alot of good ones. The FX5 is just the largest pump\canister combo. IMO its easier to have an external pump. Plus Tetras set-up is alot better w\ built in extra's like uv sterilizer.

So i think the answer to my question as to why people stack FX5's is because they just dont know any better. I think someone should make a sticky to get people to realize that the fx5 is a baby canister. This is a mistake people make often, as i dont think there is any actual benefit iwth having 3 canisters over 1 good one

I bet alot of people who stack fx5's would be reconsidering their set-up if someone show'd them a catalog of larger canisters

 

[Spyder001 USA]

All my heaters run at 85-88 degrees

do you check oxygen? if so how close are you to peek?

 

[jcardona1]

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/pond-supplies/pond-filter/ps/c/5163/5186 Tetra makes alot of good ones. The FX5 is just the largest pump\canister combo. IMO its easier to have an external pump. Plus Tetras set-up is alot better w\ built in extra's like uv sterilizer.

So i think the answer to my question as to why people stack FX5's is because they just dont know any better. I think someone should make a sticky to get people to realize that the fx5 is a baby canister. This is a mistake people make often, as i dont think there is any actual benefit iwth having 3 canisters over 1 good one

Well if I had known you were talking about pond filters, then yeah obviously! Like I said earlier, I don't like canisters filters myself. A sump is superior in every way, shape and form. And besides, I don't think you could fit enough fish in a fish tank that requires the bio filtration of 3 FX5s. If you can, then you shouldn't be running canister filters anyways.

 

[Spyder001 USA]

Well if I had known you were talking about pond filters, then yeah obviously! Like I said earlier, I don't like canisters filters myself. A sump is superior in every way, shape and form. And besides, I don't think you could fit enough fish in a fish tank that requires the bio filtration of 3 FX5s. If you can, then you shouldn't be running canister filters anyways.

A canister filter is a canister filter wether no matter what its listed in. They only say pond because general aquarium supplies are not meant for 1000 gal systems. So if you 1000 gals in a tank or pond it dont matter. Canister filter where made in likeness of those Tetra "Pond" filter. Basically fluval took a cheap pump\canister and just advertised out of the pond sector. There is absolutely no difference between a "pond" canister and a "aquarium" canister OTHER THEN the pump being included in the system

Im sump guy also, I just think the most common mistake on this site i see if people thinking the FX5 is the "beast" of canisters. When really it is a baby canister...but shhhh the admins dont want you know that

I want a convo with someone who stacks FX5 and ask them if they knew about the larger canister when they set-up their system and if now knowing about larger canisters would they still choose stacking the fx5?

 

[Pharaoh]

A canister filter is a canister filter wether no matter what its listed in. They only say pond because general aquarium supplies are not meant for 1000 gal systems. So if you 1000 gals in a tank or pond it dont matter. Canister filter where made in likeness of those Tetra "Pond" filter. Basically fluval took a cheap pump\canister and just advertised out of the pond sector. There is absolutely no difference between a "pond" canister and a "aquarium" canister OTHER THEN the pump being included in the system

Im sump guy also, I just think the most common mistake on this site i see if people thinking the FX5 is the "beast" of canisters. When really it is a baby canister...but shhhh the admins dont want you know that

I want a convo with someone who stacks FX5 and ask them if they knew about the larger canister when they set-up their system and if now knowing about larger canisters would they still choose stacking the fx5?

Admins as in who?

I stack FX5s on my two larger tanks. I have 2 FX5s on my 300 gallon tank. I paid less than $300 for the both of my filters for this tank. They do a great job while pulling 48 watts each.

With your suggestion, I would buy the cheapest pond filter at $310, then a Mag drive pump for ~$100. Total of $400 not including tax and any shipping. Danner Mag Drives are rated at 93W each.

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=5163+5186+10394&pcatid=10394
http://www.marinedepot.com/Danner_M...-Danner_Mfg.-DN1111-FIWPSBUF-DN1127-4-vi.html

I'd say you actually get a bit more biological filtration capacity for less money. The only thing you sacrifice would be about 3 watts. Seems pretty negligible when you factor in that if one of my filters quits, I still have one going. If I used a pond filter, I wouldn't have that option if the pump gave out. That is important as I work 10+ hour days and I am frequently away from the house.

 

[framcosco]

Admins as in who?

I stack FX5s on my two larger tanks. I have 2 FX5s on my 300 gallon tank. I paid less than $300 for the both of my filters for this tank. They do a great job while pulling 48 watts each.

With your suggestion, I would buy the cheapest pond filter at $310, then a Mag drive pump for ~$100. Total of $400 not including tax and any shipping. Danner Mag Drives are rated at 93W each.

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=5163+5186+10394&pcatid=10394
http://www.marinedepot.com/Danner_M...-Danner_Mfg.-DN1111-FIWPSBUF-DN1127-4-vi.html

I'd say you actually get a bit more biological filtration capacity for less money. The only thing you sacrifice would be about 3 watts. Seems pretty negligible when you factor in that if one of my filters quits, I still have one going. If I used a pond filter, I wouldn't have that option if the pump gave out. That is important as I work 10+ hour days and I am frequently away from the house.

Very good points.

 

[aldiaz33]

Lights are huge, I'm only using 40w of led to run my 500g. I also spent a little more to get a reeflo hammerhead gold that pushed 5555gph or something like that and only uses like 242w. Insulating the bottom and any painted sides helps also.

BRich- Have you plugged your Reeflo Hammerhead Gold (HHG) into a Kill-o-watt? I just did and was shocked to see that my HHG is drawing 331 watts! This despite the highest advertised watt draw (at any head) being 297 watts. I'm running mine at 9' of head and according to Reeflo's own curve chart, the pump should only be drawing 291 watts. Might not seem like a big deal, but at my electric rates, 40watts running 24/7 (28.8Kwh) = $10 per month. Not too happy about that.



Also, my Pump with the Baldor motor (pictured below) looks nothing like the HHG pictured above (which I believe is the Marathon motor). Which one do you have?