Fluval Fx5 Canister Filter, comments/reviews/concerns/opinions/etc..?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Ive been using my FX5 for almost a year now, the best filter ive had the pleasure of using. maintenance is quick easy, havent had a problem. its doing a wonderful job of cleaning an 80 gallon tank with 2 oscars and a pike. i would definitely recommend it.
 
I got an FX5 as part of a used set-up that I bought. It is by far the most powerful canister filter I've ever owned.

That said, especially compared to a sump (or dump) filter, cleaning it is a massive PITA. I've had a couple of instances where it would not start after cleaning (whether PFS or something else got into the impeller, who knows...but it took dorking around with it to get the thing running again...).

I'd recommend it but with the above caveats.

Matt
 
Ive had my FX5 for about a month now. So far everything is good. It is definitely powerful and keeps the tank clean. Maintenance is not as bad as i thought it would be. I have my trays set up as this:

Top Tray - Purigen below Pre-filter and Blue Pad on top
Middle Tray - BioMax
Bottom Tray - BioMax
And foam in each tray

As for the noise, it is very quiet for such a big filter and is quieter than my AquaClear HOB filters. I recommend you get it.


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If its going in your bedroom get an eheim 2075. It's worth 30 dollars to have a silent pump. I've owned both, love both, eheim is silent, like you don't know if it's on silent. I have a 50g sump now but even if you have a herbie it will still make some water noise.


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Ok ill be the first to give a complaint.

Positives.....
Most powerful canister you can buy.
Huge canister for a large load.
Self prime
Double output head.
Cheep for the amount of filtration

Negatives.....

I have never used polishing pads, only bio max. about 8 months after owning the canister it started shooting micro bubbles. I clean it and the bubbles go away for about a month and come back.

But.....even with the micro bubbles...i just bought another one.
Issues usually arise with he filter pads and if you have sand in the tank.
 
Ok, well I have a mix of finely crushed gravel and sand.

Does that just mean I need to clean it more often, or..?
 
I've been running my Fx5 for about 10 months.

Pros:
-Extremely quite. Sometimes I question whether its running or not.
-Lots of room for media
-Excellent flow rate
-Easy maintenance
-Self priming
-Duel aim-able outputs can really cut down on tank maintenance if there aimed right.

Cons:
-Expensive imo.
-The "auto degassing" rarely works. While I'm on this topic, I don't know what media you guys are using to cause micro bubbles, ploy fiber? I use poly fiber and I got micro bubbles twice. This can be cured by shutting the filter off, jiggle or hit the casing with your hands, wait a few mins. Then turn the filter on for about 5 sec. Shut it off. Wait about 10 sec. turn it on for another 5, wait another 10 etc. Do this about 5 times and it'll get rid of the micro bubbles. I only had to do this once and I've never had micro bubbles since.

Bottom line: Excellent filter, the best I've ever owned in fact.
 
Wulfonce said:
I've been running my Fx5 for about 10 months.

Pros:
-Extremely quite. Sometimes I question whether its running or not.
-Lots of room for media
-Excellent flow rate
-Easy maintenance
-Self priming
-Duel aim-able outputs can really cut down on tank maintenance if there aimed right.

Cons:
-Expensive imo.
-The "auto degassing" rarely works. While I'm on this topic, I don't know what media you guys are using to cause micro bubbles, ploy fiber? I use poly fiber and I got micro bubbles twice. This can be cured by shutting the filter off, jiggle or hit the casing with your hands, wait a few mins. Then turn the filter on for about 5 sec. Shut it off. Wait about 10 sec. turn it on for another 5, wait another 10 etc. Do this about 5 times and it'll get rid of the micro bubbles. I only had to do this once and I've never had micro bubbles since.

Bottom line: Excellent filter, the best I've ever owned in fact.
Click to expand...

Hit the canister? Lol

If you look at the purging mechinism it does work.

Quiet, user freindly and crazy mech/bio filtration

#1 S. Vettel
 
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