FLUVAL FX5 PROBLEM....

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Duckman77;744516; said:
Did you fix the problem? Mine started doing this today.
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Got it fixed tonight (well we'll see over the next 2/3 days I suppose).
Firstly the jubilee clip over the hose on the intake side was not exactly loose, but I managed to get 3 full turns on it without having a forearm workout. Also the O seal on the inside of the canister was not evenly recessed all the way around. So fingers crossed....
 
if that doesn't work you could try taking out the O ring and rubbing it with vasaline. that will help it make a good seal, and prevent air from being sucked in the canister.
 
Mentzer;747559; said:
Got it fixed tonight (well we'll see over the next 2/3 days I suppose).
Firstly the jubilee clip over the hose on the intake side was not exactly loose, but I managed to get 3 full turns on it without having a forearm workout. Also the O seal on the inside of the canister was not evenly recessed all the way around. So fingers crossed....
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I shut my filter down, drained it, and removed some of the blue filter discs I had put in the middle. Some of them were already very dirty from a week's worth of use. I put the bioballs back in the middle, filled it with water, hooked it up and turned it on. No more bubble mist. Like you said, we'll see if it lasts.
 
Mentzer;747559; said:
Got it fixed tonight (well we'll see over the next 2/3 days I suppose).
Firstly the jubilee clip over the hose on the intake side was not exactly loose, but I managed to get 3 full turns on it without having a forearm workout. Also the O seal on the inside of the canister was not evenly recessed all the way around. So fingers crossed....
Click to expand...

Spoke too soon, the problem's back after all of 16 hours:irked:
This filter is really starting to piss me off now...
I keep thinking of one word (Eheim). I took the leap of faith after dumping Fluval's in 1992 in favour of Eheim, and these two FX5's were bought on the basis of pumping power, not price versus Eheim 2080's. I had one Eheim 5 years, the REAL original bucket filter the 2034, and it never missed a beat, these are 9 MONTHS old. I have my doubts these are good marketing, i.e. style over substance...
 
have you emailed the Hagen company about your problem? they are usually very helpful and i'm sure you will not be the only person to have this probem.
 
never use petrolum base products on o-rings.

Do you have sand as your substrate?
Whats the flow like when you notice the bubbles?
Is there a washing/swishing sound coming from the filter?

When my tank was bare bottom the pump was perfect for months without cleaning, once i went to sand i shortened the intake but its still sucking up small amounts of sand that i'm guessing the fish flick up. after a week i get a washing sound and a build up of air.

I'm thinking of ditching the sand i have and going for something slightly larger/heavier.
 
Aussienative;750174; said:
never use petrolum base products on o-rings.

Do you have sand as your substrate?
Whats the flow like when you notice the bubbles?
Is there a washing/swishing sound coming from the filter?

When my tank was bare bottom the pump was perfect for months without cleaning, once i went to sand i shortened the intake but its still sucking up small amounts of sand that i'm guessing the fish flick up. after a week i get a washing sound and a build up of air.

I'm thinking of ditching the sand i have and going for something slightly larger/heavier.
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Thanks for your input. Yes I do have sand as my substrate. When I install my next tank for them in the summer I shall be going bare bottom. The flow rate is still strong but yes I have heard washing/swishing sounds from within the canister. The only conundrum remaining is the fact that the other FX5 at the other end of the tank never misses a beat. I am currently waiting on Hagen UK's response.
 
Mentzer;751321; said:
Thanks for your input. Yes I do have sand as my substrate. When I install my next tank for them in the summer I shall be going bare bottom.
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Stay with sand and get a filter where the impeller is not installed at the bottom of the canister (e.g. Eheim) :thumbsup: I have a 75 gal bare bottom right now, and I spend much more time keeping it clean than I do with my 220 gal sand. The problem with bare is that you see every little piece of dirt ...

HarleyK
 
HarleyK;751526; said:
Stay with sand and get a filter where the impeller is not installed at the bottom of the canister (e.g. Eheim) :thumbsup: I have a 75 gal bare bottom right now, and I spend much more time keeping it clean than I do with my 220 gal sand. The problem with bare is that you see every little piece of dirt ...

HarleyK
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Yes, I know your a Eheim man Harley K, and I was from '92 until last year. As I've said the reason I gave Fluval a chance again with the two FX5's was because whilst Eheim had undoubtedly added more features over the years with their flagship filter, the pump outputs went progressively DOWN. The 2034 was absolutely brilliant, both in capacity (the last of the true "buckets") and pump power, the 2260was less in both areas now the 2080 less again (in pump power, can't comment about volume). Disappointingly regressive from Eheim. As far as the FX5 goes, despite Hagen's claims of how iconoclastic it is, I was surprised how many features they had lifted from Eheim's filters, I can only guess that the few differences were enough the ward off potential lawsuits regarding patents etc. And I agree with you per the pump locus, perhaps whilst ensruring there were a few dissimalarities they focused too much and unwittingly built in it's achilles heel?
 
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