Feedback on Fluval FX5

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FishNCash

FishNCash

Goliath Tigerfish
MFK Member
Aug 1, 2009
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I'm a big fan of Eheim canister products but lately I've been considering an FX5 as a second filter due to pricing. I'm looking for feedback on FX5 from those that have used this canister.

What do you like about this FX5?

What you dislike about this FX5? This include problems you had with this filter.
 
What do you like about this FX5?

- moves a lot of water

- adequate space for media

- customizable

- easy to put together

- maintenance is pretty simple

- very good mechanical filtration

- cheap and available

- parts are easy to find

What you dislike about this FX5? This include problems you had with this filter.

- the rim hose connectors are total crap

- micro bubbles are a common problem

- flow rate is greatly reduced due to media and the type of plumbing the filter uses.
 
Likes

It's easy to service for a canister
It's quiet
Good water movement
Pretty good media space
The thing is built like a tank, you would have to TRY and break it.
Great price, as far as canisters are concerned its the best bang for the buck imo.
Should somthing break you can get replacement parts all day long
You can customize the set up any way you want.

Dislikes:

The little knobs on the T screws that hold the lid on occasionally pop off, they are a PITA to get back in.

The intake strainer has a tendancy to get a lot of crap stuck behind it, so you have to pull the intake assymbely apart to clean up the debris.

You can get micro bubbles, but odds are that just means you either have too much media stuffed in there or you need to clean the silly thing out.

Crappy mech, the foam blocks do a so/so job. I like to fill the top tray with bonded filter pad/poly fill to remedy this.
 
I have had FX5's running for 4-5yrs non stop and have never had an issue. I have recently bought 2 Eheim 2260's and still haven't saved enough money to buy the media to get them both running.
FX5's are the best bang for your buck filter around and when I bought mine they were offering 6yrs warranty.
 
yeah from the research ive done fx5 is more money smart. the larger eheim cannisters seem to be really good, but the fact that they hold so much bio, your spending almost 400 on the filter and maybe 100 more just for media.
 
i was a eheim fan boy and had many and used to stick up for them like no tomorrow,
then i bought a fx5.. after my eheim decided to make noise.. BEST purchase ever
these things are built like bunkers.. you can put a grenade inside one and nothing, yea micro bubbles can be an issue, thats why fine foam helps :D
the flow is amazing
remove all those ****ty foam blocks and put fine pads in the middle ontop of the media
i run 2 on my 180 and love them!!!
very customizable and very easy to clean
trust me you cant go wrong with an fx5
 
I have been running my constant for almost 2 yrs. I love it I dived into a sump a bit ago for a turtle tank. And to this day wish I would have just bought another fx5. Love how quite it is, able to store tons of media in there. and I have not had a problem with the micro bubbles.
 
FLUVAL FX5's

Likes
I own three of them!
Keeps my 180gallon clean cause it's way overstocked
maintenance is pretty simple
Never had any problems
love them so much I want more!

EHEIMS

LIKES
Bought a pro 3 when I first got into the hobby $$ but worth every$$
Running for yr with no maintenance awesome
Price is little high but you are paying for German Tech

Currently I own
5 Eco's Eheims
1 Pro 2
1 Pro 3

Overall I support both but Fluval and Ehiem but with over stocked tanks I just run (2) Fluval Fx5s and never worry.
 
Been running fx5's for about two years and i will not buy another canister no matter who makes it. Never had a problem with micro bubbles matter of fact i never had a problem with it period. keeps my tanks clear and moves alot of water.
 
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