Modding FX5

[Spiritofthesoul]

Ok so I came across this website which would increase the FX5 biological filtration capacity as well as reduce flowrate for more contact time for efficient breakdown of toxic waste.

http://www.innovationlandscaping.com/fx5/internalmod.html

I would very much like to mod my FX5 but due to the lack of information, I am currently unsure as I do not want to screw up a $350 piece of equipment.

So here are my questions:

1 - What addhesive should I use to keep the eggcrate holders in place? The site says silicone would fail in about a month and I don't really have the time to reglue them every month and let it cure.

2 - How is the intake pocket installed into the canister filter?

3 - Does the intake tube has to be fully submerged in the intake pocket? And also can I just saw off the current intake tube to make it shorter to fit into the intake pocket?

4- Is there a minimum depth for the bottom egg crate to be from the pump?

5 - I'll need more details on exactly how to mod the top to allow 100% purging of the canister.


Would pretty much like a complete and detailed instruction on how to do this mod successfully. If there is already such a thread, please direct it to me as i searched FX5 and a ton of threads is giving me a headache.

- Thanks

 

[yodaLBC]

looks interesting,,but im too scared to mess with mines lol!

 

[Hot Slime]

If you need more bio get another filter instead, why would you want to mess with the fx's flowrate? That's like one of the reasons why ppl get this filter in the first place. IMO I wouldn't do it.

 

[KaiserSousay]

Leave it alone.
What in the world would make a guy bring down the flow rate on this “big boy”?
Contact time is offset by the number of times the water flows through the filter.
Are you having ammonia issues?
If not, you don`t need any more bio media.
If you are, look at feeding and cleaning, before hacking a perfectly good filter.
Looks like a project without a real purpose, other than the doing of it.

 

[impala]

Agree with "leave it alone" or "get another filter". Total waste of time imo. No need for a head ache !

Who ever thought this up may have bought the wrong filter for their needs in the first place.

A lot of reaserch and engineering went into the FX5, why mess with it ????

 

[Jgray152]

Contact time is offset by the number of times the water flows through the filter.

Now if you were doing this to only increase the bio media capacity, then you should have a HUGE or over stocked tank. Otherwise, if you hate the issues I listed below, then its great. If it doesn't bother you, then you don't need to do it. You will not notice any difference in nitrification if the filter can keep up already.

Who ever thought this up may have bought the wrong filter for their needs in the first place.

The filter was big for my 55 gallon tank, I just noticed the advantages to the Fx5s design. I hated the micro bubbles and needing to break down the filter ever week to clean or replace a fine filter pad or notice the sponges in the basket over time were not touching the basket above creating bypass....or even the fact I needed to remove "all the baskets" to clean the sponges. Now, I pop the top off, remove the sponges, clean them, put them back in and good to go. reminds me of wet drys and how easy they are to clean.

as well as reduce flowrate

If you need more bio get another filter instead, why would you want to mess with the fx's flowrate? That's like one of the reasons why ppl get this filter in the first place. IMO I wouldn't do it.

The flow rate of the filter STAYS THE SAME. Its the flow VELOCITY through the media that slows down.

Fx5's Filter Flow Rate is 600 GPH and it stays at 600 GPH.

A lot of reaserch and engineering went into the FX5, why mess with it ????

Ever read the issues related to this engineering? Micro-bubbles, bypass, longer cycle times, clogging media. This mod gets rid of all that.

1 - What addhesive should I use to keep the eggcrate holders in place? The site says silicone would fail in about a month and I don't really have the time to reglue them every month and let it cure.

I haven't played around much further with the design but any strong adhesive that bonds plastic to plastic and non-toxic will work. Silicone was used as a temp adhesive in case I won't to revert back to the original design

2 - How is the intake pocket installed into the canister filter?

The pocket was tricky, Its was cut on my band saw with a slight curve to it to match the canisters curve. I used silicone as well. PVC/Plastic Non-Toxic Glue should work.

3 - Does the intake tube has to be fully submerged in the intake pocket?

Yes it does

And also can I just saw off the current intake tube to make it shorter to fit into the intake pocket?

Yes, I did this.

4- Is there a minimum depth for the bottom egg crate to be from the pump?

you talking about the bottom egg crate? No, I just rested the crate on the bottom of the canister. Not glued in place.

5 - I'll need more details on exactly how to mod the top to allow 100% purging of the canister.

This is tricky too. I used acrylic thinking it would be easier but it was not. You need to fill in the cover and create a decent cone toward the center. If I were to do this again I would probably use poly or silicone or something I can "shape" into a cone.

Would pretty much like a complete and detailed instruction on how to do this mod successfully. If there is already such a thread, please direct it to me as i searched FX5 and a ton of threads is giving me a headache.

You won't find a detailed thread. This thread might be the detailed one in progress. Let me know any questions you may have.

I'll update the website with the questions and answers from this thread.

 

[Jgray152]

For better durability, it may be better to find some 3/4" pvc pipe and use them as "stands" to hold the top egg crate along the sides. Maybe have elbows on the tops of these pipes so you can have some pipe go across the center of the canister to hold the top crate as well.

This modification has "NOT" been perfected. The "better" design is still up in the air.

 

[impala]

I respect the time, thought and expertise it took to improve on the original design.

Addmittedly I lack the know how, and do not mean to be a smart ass with this next question, but if it needs modding why choose it in the first place ?

Can't help but think there's something straight off the self to meet all of your requirements.

 

[Jgray152]

Addmittedly I lack the know how, and do not mean to be a smart ass with this next question, but if it needs modding why choose it in the first place ?

Can't help but think there's something straight off the self to meet all of your requirements.

Very Honest Question, well here is "my" answer;

PRICE. For $200-300 you can get a filter with a flow rate higher than most, holds more media than most, more versatile filtration (You customize it) then most. (after the mod)

The Fx5 already is a great filter. 5 liters of bio media is more than enough for most tanks. The sponges around the outside of the baskets would almost never clog and it has a high flow right, what more could someone ask for?

That's until they start making the fx5 filter better by adding fine particle filtration pads, stuffing it with high density bio media and it starts to clog up prematurely or starts creating micro-bubbles.

Maybe they do have a large heavily stocked tank and want to make sure the fx5 can keep up with bio demands.

I don't believe there is a filter that fits perfectly for any tank right off the shelf. I think the answer to your questions would also be different for every person that has a Fx5 and thinks it could be better.

The only other filter that could exceed the fx5 after mods is the Ehiem 2262 which cost between $400-$500. With its 4.8 gallons of filter volume, 900 gph pump. I remember a thread a while back I think that tested the 2262 filter flow. I do believe it was much less than the 900 GPH pump flow but I think it was still higher than the Fx5.

 

[bcfd144]

instead of doing it with the fx5.. why not make one yourself with a 5 gallon bucket, pump , fluval hose off of ebay , etc... would have been alot cheaper than hacking into a 300 filter and changing the design. Just a thought. I could be wrong and there was some real needed item on the fx5 you had to have to make it work. But I would think there could of been a cheaper way to do this...