FX5 Foam Pads

[JK47]

I used the polishing pads before they do make the water crystal clear but they clog up after 5-7 days and cause lots of fine bubbles, also its a pain taking everything out just to replace them.

I'll admit I've gone waaay too long in between cleaning the mech pads. I don't bother with the polishing pads. An FX5 is a PITA to service so if you want good polishing buy a HOT mag 250 or two with the polishing pad. Super easy to service and a 10th of the effort. Love those filters.

 

[rhodes_96]

the fine polishing pads are a waste of money and make filter maintenance twice as much work. whether you use the blue or the white, they are both unnecessary..

My experience is different, without the blue pads, those tanks on the fx5 alone have noticable particles floating in the water. The same tanks with the blue pad have minimal to none. After a few months when it'a time to service, the blue pad is filthy and clogged, while the bio media underneath in all 3 trays is nice and clean. without that extra mechanical filtration, that media would be clogged up in short space of time.

 

[Lhop1980]

My experience is different, without the blue pads, those tanks on the fx5 alone have noticable particles floating in the water. The same tanks with the blue pad have minimal to none. After a few months when it'a time to service, the blue pad is filthy and clogged, while the bio media underneath in all 3 trays is nice and clean. without that extra mechanical filtration, that media would be clogged up in short space of time.

Pads definately make a difference whether if its the blue pads or the fine polishing. Something is better than nothing

 

[smitty03281964]

Mine are several years old. I do not change them until they start getting brittle.