FX5 Users

[Andrewtfw]

At my lfs, we run 1-FX5 on a 210 with 6-10 large cichlids. Of course the tank gets a 75% change weekly and the filter gets cleaned every couple of weeks.

I personally run 2-fx5s on a 125. The tank is not overcrowded but the additional filtration and water movement shows in terms of growth and overall health of the fish.

 

[Bderick67]

You can hook up your FX5 to the bottom holes within your tank. Just need the proper bulkheads, hoses and fittings. I would use the stock foam pads in the outer ring. A quality bio media in the bottom two baskets, better to use rings or larger seachem's pond matrix so the media doesn't fall through or get stuck in the bottom of the baskets. In the top tray I would use a finer foam pad or filter floss.

I do not have overflows in this tank. It's just drilled in the bottom.

Two fx5??? That's interesting. I didn't think the bio load would be as much with 30 small cichlids compared to some of the other fish keepers here with much larger fish.

A FX5 will have more then enough bio to adequately filter the stock you have. The benefits of having two would be better mechanical filtration and the insurance of having redundant filters.

I guess you'd probably have to have the 180 above the water level or the water pressure would probably just the water through the line. It should remove some pressure and make it less likely your canister would leak though.

This makes absolutely no sense.

 

[aaronb]

I wasn't sure. I guess it makes as much sense as saying it makes absolutely no sense but not explaining why. Unless you're just trying to be a jerk. I'm here to learn. I just thought it'd work like a syphon because the filter would have to pull the water up like it does with the regular intake. I guess maybe it doesn't make sense to you but you don't know why. If you have insight please share. That way people can learn. Thanks.

 

[smitty03281964]

Before I purchase 2 FX5 I would purchase 2 Eheim 2262 or 2260's if money is not an issue.

 

[rhodes_96]

Before I purchase 2 FX5 I would purchase 2 Eheim 2262 or 2260's if money is not an issue.

This thread is about plumbing an fx5 not a sales pitch for eheim !!!



Bderick67 has the right idea.

Fx5 is a closed system canister so using bulkheads on the bottom of the tank for the inlet or outlet should be just fine. Good idea would be to have a ball valve or similar before the aquastop valve on the fx5 just in case you encounter an issue with the fx5 so there will be no need to empty the tank.

 

[dead wait]

First I want to say, thank you all for your input and help. I too am at a complete loss on these filters. This will be my first attempt at a large tank. I'm not sure plumbing the fx5 on the bottom of the tank is the way to go. I think i'll just plug the holes. The back of my tank is painted black so, at least you won't see the cords and hoses running up the back.

 

[Bderick67]

I wasn't sure. I guess it makes as much sense as saying it makes absolutely no sense but not explaining why. Unless you're just trying to be a jerk. I'm here to learn. I just thought it'd work like a syphon because the filter would have to pull the water up like it does with the regular intake. I guess maybe it doesn't make sense to you but you don't know why. If you have insight please share. That way people can learn. Thanks.

Sorry I am not familiar of how "the water pressure would probably just the water through the line" will keep the filter from leaking. What is "just the water"? Sorry if you feel insulted but your post makes no sense. Did you by chance read what you wrote?

 

[dead wait]

I also forgot to mention. 2 FX5's, really??? Seems like alot of overkill. I could see adding an AC110 or something like that but, 2 fx5's, no way.

 

[Ajno]

2 fx5 would be perfect. I had a 150 gallon that was drilled on the bottom and I hooked up 3 rena filstar xp3's and it worked like a charm. I put a ball valve between the bulkhead and filter so if I needed to service the filter. I really like it this way, less hoses to deal with plus I thought it had slightly better flow rate since the water coming into the filter had to go straight down instead of up and over.

 

[rhodes_96]

1 x fx5 is sufficient for the stocking levels described.
2 x fx5's is much better for future proofing any increase to stocking levels, longer service intervals between maintenance, you now have a safety margin if one filter is down. NEVER RELY ON ONE FILTER TO SERVICE A SINGLE TANK. Always split the load between muliple fitration.