Fluval FX5 issues

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
M

MrNook

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 7, 2006
128
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Vancouver Island, Canada
Anybody have any issues with their fluval fx5? Mine runs for about a week and then slowly the flow stops. When I clean it, and its not dirty because I am draining it every week, it starts up and runs great but the smart pump does not kick in. I believe it is supose to stop after 2 min of plugging it in and then it starts again. It doesnt do that. It does seem to pick up some of the sand in the bottom of the tank could a bit of sand stop this pump from working?

Help me.

thx
 
The sand doesn't go thru the impeller first on the Fluval (or most canister filters) so a little sand shouldn't hurt it. It will collect in the bottom of the canister. Unfortunately I can't tell you what the problem with it is though. Is it possibly under waranty? Have you tried contacting the vendor you purchased it from to see if they can help? If know one here at MFK has any ideas maybe you could ask Hagen the manufacturer, it might be a common problem they know about. GL
Here's a link:
http://hagen-cen.custhelp.com/cgi-b...2hfdHlwZT1hbnN3ZXJzLnNlYXJjaF9ubCZwX3BhZ2U9MQ**


edit**I have 3 Fluval FX5's btw and have never had a problem with any of them.
 
Your tank isn't real tall is it? When I had one on my 150 gal (30" tall) it hardly had any pressure at all. But they're real powerful on my 23" & 25" tall tanks. I figured it had something to do with the tubes having to run up so high into the tank.
 
Ksane;2030443; said:
Your tank isn't real tall is it? When I had one on my 150 gal (30" tall) it hardly had any pressure at all. But they're real powerful on my 23" & 25" tall tanks. I figured it had something to do with the tubes having to run up so high into the tank.
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my 250 has an fx5, which is 30" high, plus another maybe 30" of stand. still pumps out with no issue like a son of a beach

the whole smart pump not working thing would tell me theres a problem with the computer/chip most likely. one downfall to these filters having a mini-computer or whatever it is.....one more piece of electronics to go wrong that could mess up the whole filter
 
12 Volt Man;2031091; said:
I wish they made a model without the smart pump feature. to me, it seems un-necessary (no need to purge air out) and its one more thing to go wrong.
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Yup...couldn't agree more. To make matters worse, I believe that the chip also monitors pump output and makes adjustments to pump rate, etc. I have always felt the electronics of this filter were overengineered or created to compensate for some basic design flaw, such as the tendency to accumulate gas. My XP3s have no such elaborate electronics and have proven to be bulletproof.
 
brianp;2031415; said:
My XP3s have no such elaborate electronics and have proven to be bulletproof.
Click to expand...

there's always one.

back to the topic, when you clean the filter, do you only drain from the valve at the bottom or open the canister up and clean the media inside too?

both of my FX5's show no signs of trouble *knock on wood*
 
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