Fluval fx5 or ehiem 2217

[KaiserSousay]

Your trying to compare apples to oranges.
A single tray on an FX5 holds close to the same amount of media as the entire 2217.
Flow rates, well, just look at the numbers.
On your bio media needs vs. what you think you need.
You already got that answered.
Seems your mind is made up and don`t want to be confused by facts.
I get it, you want someone to tell you it`s alright to get that FX5 you are lusting after.
OK. Here it is.
Go get it.

 

[Perentie]

FX5

 

[insanity0x1]

I have both on a 125, won't go wrong getting an fx5

 

[RonnieRon1]

FX-5 no question... good luck!

R-R

 

[DaveB]

OK, if you are going for the max amount of flow and media, then FX5 is in a completely different league that the 2217. The eheim that compares to the FX5 is a 2260 or 2262. I would go FX5, but eheim classics are nice filters. You really won't dislike either one, I just think the FX5 is more bang for your buck.

The 2260-62 hold WAY more media than an FX5, unless you mod the FX5.

I'm playing with a 2250 right now and the media from all 3 center chambers of my FX5 fills the 2250 only about halfway.

There's a lot of wasted space inside an FX5.

That said, my FX5s work perfectly and the 2250 is leaking and causing me all kinds of problems. It was used though, and part of the problems are due to my setup, not the filter itself. Troubleshooting would be much easier on a more accommodating tank/room.

 

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

I have a 2217 on my 40 gal. Go with 2 and you won't be disappinted. Works well for a buddy of mine with a 75 gal.

HarleyK

 

[shua71]

Nice to know. I just don't know if the fx5 is worth the extra money but it seems it is better in the long run. I've heard ehiems last forever though. Do Fx5s last just as long?

 

[Jgray152]

Fx5 hasn't been out long enough to answer that question. Mine has been running for about 4 years now I do believe.

 

[Burto]

There's a lot of wasted space inside an FX5.

No there isn't. It's all full of media. ~12 litres of sponges and 5.9 litres of bio media is more than you will ever need unless you are using your canister filter to process sewerage.

I like the design of the 2217 but it has weak flow and an inefficient pump. FX5s are probably the best value canister filter available, but really I would consider it too big, too powerful and too expensive for a 90G tank.
I would look for something in between the 2215 and FX5, something that pumps between 1200 and 2200lph, maybe a Rena XP3.

 

[aclockworkorange]

I have my FX5 running on my 90 gallon right now and I actually think it's the perfect sized filter for the tank. The cool thing about an FX5 is that you can just adjust the flow go be lower without damaging the pump, so even if it is a bit much (some fish dont like a ton of flow) you can always adjust it.