FX5 flow/current question

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
The blue pads often get clogged and greatly reduces water flow. The only pads you should be using are the white pads that go in the sides of the baskets. Do not place any in the bottoms of the baskets. Use bio balls or ceramics in the basket bottoms.
 
I find that with only the outer sponges, mechanical filtration is inadequate and lots of particles floating around in the water. A single blue pad on the top, with bio media under it and in every tray seems to reduce the particles floating in the water. I can get away without cleaning for about 3-4 months.
 
Ditch the pads in he middle the foams on the sides are good enough. If that doesn't help hen clean and inspect you impellar.
 
well i removed all the middle pads, left the ceramics and the flow is better. its still not as strong as I would like it, but thanks for the help. im just glad its not an impeller or motor problem! anyways i will read up on how people have modified their fx5's and hopefully get mine to have a stronger current without taking out more stuff.
 
those blue pads suck IMO. i had those in mine and it totally reduced the flow and micro bubbles were coming out. and when i took the trays out it still held water. id say ditch the blue pads also and that might help out alot.
 
jcardona1;4162399; said:
yeah take all those pads out of the middle, they greatly reduce your flow. i only use the outer sponges in mine and have the center baskets filled with ceramic bio media. it gives me plenty of flow, even after travelling 6ft vertically
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This!

I have a used fx5 and a new fx5 I just started up this weekend. The used one would clog daily almost. When it would shutoff to purge, the flow when it started back up would be next to nothing. I took the pads out of the middle and filled it full of bio media. I ended up using a cheap canister filter full of pads for mechanical filtration.

On the new one, I left it the way it came. All is well at the moment, but I give it a few months before it slows down. Those pads clog up pretty badly.
 
bongko;4167641; said:
yea the flow coming out is a little better now, but not exactly what i was expecting.
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Just remember the twin valves split the outflow, so it feels less powerful than if it was directed out of one. It's still the same flow rate. I have tried it with a 1 inch pipe instead and the water shoots ALOT farther, but I like having option to direct the output in 2 directions. With two fx 5's on my tank, I have tons of surface agitation.
 
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