I moved from fx5 to 3 ac110s. I found it too much of a pain to constantly cleaned the fx5. While I didn't have he clogging problem you have I found that based on the design of media baskets and pump on the bottom there were way too many places for gunk to build up. I prefer the simple design of a 2262 and that would have been my choice but the 3 ac110s give me more flow, surface agitation, and I have low enough stock.
Is it just me or shouldn't a canister filter be cleaned about every month or two anyway? Even though they are usually still running strong, I usually try to disassemble and rinse out everything in my canister at least every two months. It seems like not touching it for 6 months (or, lets face it, if that's your attitude toward cleaning it then it will probably end up being closer to nine months or a year) would allow a LOT of detritus to build up in it, thus creating a lot of nitrates.
In addition, if your eheim is able to maintain good flow after 6 months (or longer), then I would question how well it directs the water path THROUGH the media, as opposed to around it. If the FX6 is actually loosing its flow because the media/sponges are getting clogged, then it's doing a great job at making sure the water flow is definitely going through the media. If the eheim can remain running after long periods of no maintenance, then I would suspect that the flow is finding ways around the media/sponges as they get more and more clogged.
I will say that I have no first hand experience with either of these filters, but I am speaking based on experience I've had with other canisters.
My advice to you would be to put in the time to go ahead and clean the FX6 once a month or so. I think this it the best option to keep your tank at its healthiest.
With the eheim design its almost impossible to bypass because its just a bucket. It holds 18L of media via media bag and then you just throw a mechanical pad on top of the bio (bottom to top flow).
FX6 has media baskets and tried to direct the water flow from a bunch of sponges on outer walls to bio media which has a much higher likelihood of bypass. It only hold 5L of bio media.
Regardless of which filter, cannisters should be opened frequently and cleaned, but most folks just dont do that.
FX6 has media baskets and tried to direct the water flow from a bunch of sponges on outer walls to bio media which has a much higher likelihood of bypass. It only hold 5L of bio media.
Regardless of which filter, cannisters should be opened frequently and cleaned, but most folks just dont do that.
The Eheim 2262 is built to filter a 500G tank...if it's on a 150G tank there's no reason to open that thing up every month assuming weekly water changes and stable water conditions.
I also thought the same thing, that a mechanical filter doing it's job clogs faster the better and finer it filters. A 200um filter sock clogs a lot faster than a 300um one and a filter sock with a hole in it (letting water bypass) doesn't need cleaning very often at all!
I guess is one filter has twice the mechanical capacity it would clog slower (or if it didn't filter as finely) but then I guess that opens a debate on how long you want that material sitting in a filter anyway.
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I guess we will just have to agree to disagree.
As hart has also mentioned, the filter catches organic detritus/particles and traps them. Since they are then trapped inside the canister, they are very much a part of the water column. If you don't clean it out then all of that material will continue to decay and contribute to poor water quality. The size of the filter is irrelevant.
Also, the eheim is rated at 900gph (I'm sure with an empty filter that has no media) so it will probably only pump around the 6-700gph range once the filter is filled with media. My point, I think you're a bit ignorant about the filters if you think that will filter a 500 gallon tank on its own. To put it into perspective, I would not rely on the eheim 2262 (or the FX6 for that matter) as a single filter for any tank over 125 gallons. If I had a 500 gallon tank, I would want to put at least four of either filter on it (well, lets be honest, I would just use a sump instead).
So, I still recommend that you just increase your canister maintenance to once a month or so, instead of trying to get a filter that will "just stay running" for six months, or longer.
I have used FX5/6's for several years straight! 2 on each of my 200G tanks. I use the stock outer sponges and fill baskets with Bio Media - That's it. Easy to clean and I service mine every 4-6 months or so.... All that fine filter floss and fine polishing pad bs is the problem! IMO
....wouldn't rely on a 2262 to filter 125 gallons and I'm the ignorant one re: filters
