I'm no expert on canisters or any filters. Just the way I understand it canisters can be nitrate factories if not cleaned regularly just the way filter socks can be if not changed out regularly. If you have some information otherwise I'd be interested in reading it, because like I said I'm no expert. Unless you're just limited to insulting someone for thinking they no something.
FX5 or not
- Thread starter lowes3
- Start date
I'm no expert on canisters or any filters. Just the way I understand it canisters can be nitrate factories if not cleaned regularly just the way filter socks can be if not changed out regularly. If you have some information otherwise I'd be interested in reading it, because like I said I'm no expert. Unless you're just limited to insulting someone for thinking they no something.
WOW wildfya banned my brothers account for this post. You really need to stop thinking because your an admin that your right. You obviously know very little about filtration as in you dont know the manufactures claimed flow rate.
But sinced you BANNED my brother for posting about canisters I will allow him to reply through my name.
"Freshwater Guru's" Response:
1. "An Eheim 2262, which can handle a 400 gallon aquarium by itself, runs 80 W for a little over 900GPH. A matching flow rate from a good quality pump, danner mag drive 9.5 runs 93W for 950GPH."- Wild Fya
Ok well this statement is just wrong, READ THE MANUAL as it states only 600 around gph flow with new media. The Eheim 2262 has a PUMP THAT RUNS AT 900 GPH AT 0' HEAD IT DOES NOT PRODUCE A FLOW OF 900 GPH. That canister filled with media w\ a standard 4ft. head only runs about 400-600 GPH depending on how clogged the media is (our store run tests all filters we sell with a flow rate monitor). If you have a "monster" aquarium more likely your goin to have a 5' or 6' head giving you around 400 GPH. We let the Ehiem 2262 run on a 250 gal planted aquarium and after 2 weeks at 5' head it was only flowing 318 GPH. Since a sump uses gravity to push the water through the filter media, the pump is relieved of the strain giving it more flow. The fact that canisters have to push or pull the water through the media is what gives it less flow to energy usage rate. Especially if you have a built in wet dry, I just built a 100 gallon with a wet\dry using 2 hydor mini pumps that deliver a combined 500 gph and run under 15 watts. If I put an ehiem 2262 it would of not only had less flow but 8x then energy usage, thats alot of $$$$ over time. The ehiem 2262 might say suitable for 400 gallon but its really not. With the debris from a 400 gallon saltwater or planted aquarium it will clog quick and lose flow even quicker. At most in a 400 gallon tank your flow rate would be 1.5x your volume(600 GPH), that simply isnt suffcient for saltwater or monster river fish. "Efficiency with energy argument debunked."
2. My response to high nitrates
With a sump you remove waste, with a canister you seperate the waste. There is some things you dont want to leave to you bio filter, like plant debris or a plecos giant crap. A sump socks can remove these easily, leaving less for bio filter. Less bacteria and decomposing waste means more oxygen. Having your bacteria consuming less and not being in an enclosed canister will improve oxygen by 20% or more. If you treating ick with high heat in an overcrowded aquarium that 20% can be the difference between life and death.
3. As to your ehiem costing nothing over 6 years
I just dont believe that. You never had to replace sponges in over 6 years.
I built a 125 gallon sump for cheaper (250$). I never have nitrates due to my algea\plant section and my wet\dry has access to a source of oxygen other then the tank water which gives me peaked oxygen levels. It also delivers 4x the flow with about the same energy effeciency. I also grow out plants which has made me more mooney then the sump cost.
I stopped using canisters after i found out the flow rate is only half of the GPH listed on the front.
I strictly keep Large Amazonian River Fish, 1.5x flow rate just wont cut it. I try and go at least 5-7x and my arrowanas LOVE ME because of it. While a canister might work I strive for more. I re-create aquatic environments not just keep fish in the tank. So a low flow rate wont be found in 1 of my tanks.
I couldnt imagine my 16" adonis plecos GIANT DUMPS not clogging it up.
because its much easier to remove big debris with a sock then cleaning out a canister. I use plants\algea in every sump.
I know I have like 8 posts but let me finish with why stacking canister filters doesnt make sense.
Most people think canisters dont go beyond the fluval FX5 and ehiem, but they do just not in canister pump combos. So if you want more but like the canister idea you can just buy the canister and the pump seperate. http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=5163+5186+10394&pcatid=10394. Now those are some serious canisters. So stacking will leave you with more maintence, higher costs, and unnatural currents then single larger canister. Plus when the pump goes you dont need to throw it out, simply replace the pump. For the same price as 3 fx5's i can get a system with 8x the flow and 2x the filtration space.
Thats why i said proffesionals dont like the FX5 or Ehiem's on large custom systems. Every filter must be specific to the system so why they might work they are not good for more demanding jobs.
Most people think canisters dont go beyond the fluval FX5 and ehiem, but they do just not in canister pump combos. So if you want more but like the canister idea you can just buy the canister and the pump seperate. http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=5163+5186+10394&pcatid=10394. Now those are some serious canisters. So stacking will leave you with more maintence, higher costs, and unnatural currents then single larger canister. Plus when the pump goes you dont need to throw it out, simply replace the pump. For the same price as 3 fx5's i can get a system with 8x the flow and 2x the filtration space.
Thats why i said proffesionals dont like the FX5 or Ehiem's on large custom systems. Every filter must be specific to the system so why they might work they are not good for more demanding jobs.
On my 75 gallon heavy stocked and generously fed, I use just one Marineland Canister filter C-530 GPH and it's not a nitrate factory, not sure what the big fuss is. Obviously, they do need to be maintained and cleaned, just like a sump and PWC weekly should be standard. Sumps from what I can tell is for rocket scientists who like to make it more difficult then it really needs to be. I'm planning on adding a couple of sponge filters too. The nitrate factory argument is dated and debunked.
the op got what he wanted and chose the fx5 stop your chitter chatters and stop bringing up old useless threads......
