I have a small 39gallon tank and looking to purchase an easier maintance filter and I'm wondering if the fluval fx5 or the fluval 405 would be overkill? or if anyone has any other recommendations that would be great
Fluval
- Thread starter torontoleafs_rock
- Start date
FX5 OVERKILL!!! Pumps over 900 gph. Thats roughly filtering your water 22x an hour. Not a bad thing but overkill.
The 405 pumps 340 gph. Roughly filtering your water 8x an hour.
I think the better choice.
Whatever you choose, make sure it at least filters your water 5x or more an hour
The 405 pumps 340 gph. Roughly filtering your water 8x an hour.
I think the better choice.
Whatever you choose, make sure it at least filters your water 5x or more an hour
torontoleafs_rock;1165421; said:
Versatility is the best objective you can plan for. What will you be keeping in your tank? If you do use a CAN filter how far below the tank will it sit? Are you able to use a HOB on your tank & have you looked into power heads for flow, a source of mech filtration & or aeration. If you can create a combination of a few different types of filtration that's always best, specially should something go wrong w/ any of your sources. An fx5, as titan said, is WAY over kill & a 405 is also still a bit to strong. You might think about a 305 CAN. ($80 at MonsterP's & look at the spray bars you can buy & attach to any 05 models), even better maybe even a couple 205's ($60 each @ MP's) if you have the space, w/ a Aqua Clear 70 or 110 HOB ($30-45 @ MP's) or a Whisper 60 HOB, which has to be the easiest HOB ever made
($30 @ MP's) & maybe a PWRHD or 2 w/ quick filters (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=4638&N=2004+22788) on them or 1 w/ a quick filter & another w/ just an air hose running. However you decide to go make sure you also factor in a good balance of both bio & mech-filtration as well as good aeration. Again be as versatile as you can w/ your "small" to achieve min 3x's (120 gph) to 5-7x's (220 gph avg.) or more if you/your fish can. In case you want/need a $$$ saving source (of course to buy more fish, LOL) for these filters & any possible media, look to Monsterpets (http://stores.ebay.com/MONSTER-PETS_Aquarium-Filters_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ3QQftidZ2QQtZkm) on EBay & BigAls (http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp19862/cl0/powerheadshagenaquaclear?viewType=Category & http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp19169/cl0/power?viewType=Category), very tough to beat Monsterpets "filter" prices right now though. $200 you could create max filtration w/ at least 3 dif. types of filtration & easily achieve 5x. These are all easy maintenance filters, might not sound like it, but with a few filters in place, you'd just have to clean 1 of them at a time while you're already doing your water changes, using tank water to just clean/rise & reassemble, 30 min.'s total maybe every 7-10 days or so (twice that or a bit longer for your CAN's), depending on bio-load. Never clean all your filters at one time. I have used all these types & brands, still do some that are 15yr.'s old & older, because they are easy to maintain, inexpensive & cost effective to run. That's my $1.72 worth. Who's next, lol. Cheers mate
Does anyone know where the cheapest place 2 get the fluval 405 in canada would be (monster pets doesn't ship outside US)? and also does anyone know know if the fluval 405 is quiet because i keep my tank in my bed room
torontoleafs_rock;1167181; said:
Hey Leafs fan, still think you could do a better set up than 2 405's, but hey more power to ya. BigAls is gonna cost ya, $199
each (http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp17290/si1378750/cl0/fluval405externalcanisterfilter), so your probly gonna want to do some more shopping, but I know they ship to CA, since that's where they are ON I think. Like I said though their 405's are a lot more expensive than anywhere here in the states, actually I don't remember ever seeing a price this high. More reason to diversify w/ prices like that. Promise couple 305 will be just fine, even a couple 205 w/ a good HOB would more than be sufficient. Call BigAls & ask to speak w/ Josh (Mon-Tues, Thur-Fri) he'll tell ya straight away what would wrk w/ what you'll have, no bull, great guy. Also noticed a couple possiblities at EBay CA. All the best, to the Leafs that is, they're gonna need it, LOL. Cheers mate. 
i installed a fluval 405 im my 50 gal aquarium.
iv notice the current is too strong.
Is that ok with my aro, gars, catfish etc?
Thanks.
iv notice the current is too strong.
Is that ok with my aro, gars, catfish etc?
Thanks.