The smooth kind are useless "prefilters". Get the one with the rough texture and has many holes in it
FX5 media question...
- Thread starter Conner
- Start date
loaded with scrubbies here. Maintain the trays one at a time. Rinse out one tray of scrubbies per filter maintenance.
The last few times through I've just rinsed them all at once, but with the tank water as it's draining from the tank. I get good flow from drainage when I drain it into the shower at floor level.
Is that bad? I assumed since it was tank water it'd be fine. It made a huge difference in the nitrate level of the tank.
Is that bad? I assumed since it was tank water it'd be fine. It made a huge difference in the nitrate level of the tank.
When I service my canisters or hob's, you know what I do? Run everything under the faucet with warm water (about tank water temp). I just do a very quick rinse on the bio, just to get any surface dirt off.
I give the filter pads a thorough cleaning this way.
I've never had any issues with my bio crashing, and I've never seen any elevated nitrates after washing this way either.
I give the filter pads a thorough cleaning this way.
I've never had any issues with my bio crashing, and I've never seen any elevated nitrates after washing this way either.
Actually that's what I used to do. As long as it goes right back into the tank I can't see that being any different from the brief chlorine exposure it'd get from fresh tap water that may not have totally mixed through with the Prime yet.
But now that I can so easily rinse in tank water while it's draining I figured I'd just do it that way. Of course, once I set up a drip I'll probably go back to using tap water to rinse, in which case I'll certainly take the precaution of doing one bit at a time.
But now that I can so easily rinse in tank water while it's draining I figured I'd just do it that way. Of course, once I set up a drip I'll probably go back to using tap water to rinse, in which case I'll certainly take the precaution of doing one bit at a time.
I have the stock sponges on the outside. Top basket has a fine filter pad, a polishing pad and a bag of carbon. The bottom two trays are filled with polyester batting for my bio. I don't get alot of flow thru it but the 8 oz bag of fluff was really cheap so I thought I would try it once. If it doesn't work out I will be looking for some bio matrix on Ebay. Check Amazon for filter pads if you want to go that route. They can be had for about 1/2 - 1/3 the price. I saw 20 polishing pads on there for $19. That is where I will be getting mine from now on.
The top basket I filled with Eheim Promech, the bottom 2 baskets with Matrix.
I replaced the foam sheets provided (which I felt were crap) and replaced it with 30 ppi foam cut to the same size as the originals. It does a much better job at mechanical filtration I find and when I clean it out (every 4-5 months) it traps loads of muck. By cutting the foam to size I was able to make it that bit taller and thus reduced the gaps between the baskets and minimise flow bypass.
As much as some on this forum slate the FX5 I do think that with some modifications here and there it works well.
I replaced the foam sheets provided (which I felt were crap) and replaced it with 30 ppi foam cut to the same size as the originals. It does a much better job at mechanical filtration I find and when I clean it out (every 4-5 months) it traps loads of muck. By cutting the foam to size I was able to make it that bit taller and thus reduced the gaps between the baskets and minimise flow bypass.
As much as some on this forum slate the FX5 I do think that with some modifications here and there it works well.
