New Fluval canister filters.

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
For the price you would pay to try those new ones I would just get an fx5 cuz you can't go wrong with one...

I have a Fluval FX5 for my 150 already.
For the money value, I can see your point, however I would prefer a smaller filter for the applications I'm planning due to space. If I found a Fluval FX5 for a good bargain, I might get another one.
To explain my plans, I'm aiming for three different medium sized canister filters right now.

One for my goldfish who are in a 55 gal, I think a Fluval FX5 might be too much current for them in this size tank. If I buy a huge canister filter, I won't be able to afford a larger tank for the goldfish until who knows later when I get a new job. If the water flow from a Fluval FX5 could be reduced enough and could fit on the stand so I could still walk by the tank and access a clothing closet, this is a possibility. Since the Fluval FX5 is rounded, I'm afraid it would stick out on the 55 gal stand and get in the way. I was trying to get a used Eheim 2260 for this tank, but I gave up on that and decided a medium sized canister would work fine for them until the upgrade happens. Maybe later when I get that planned 75 gal for them and move them into the living room.

Another one is planned for a 55 pleco community tank which is behind a bed, a more powerful filter would work out in this tank if I could use a spray bar, except wedging a large filter in there that would be difficult to remove for cleaning doesn't seem like a good idea. My other 55 pleco tank does fine with a Eheim 2217 so that's what I want for this tank.

Third plans I'm making due to my Fluval FX5 being unexpectedly dirty during my last cleaning is adding a second canister to my 150 gal. The first Fluval FX5 is next to the 150 gal on the floor, not sure where I'd put a second one since there's a 55 pleco tank on the other side.

To put a long story short, I am in a rental house that is run down and has a lot going on. I was working towards finally moving my largest tank in with me, but then a outlet stopped working in the rental house and killed a tank of killifish and pleco.
Had I moved these two tanks in the rental house, there would be plenty of space for a second Fluval FX5 in the basement. One of the issues I'm facing there is the basement sink is broken so it means hauling buckets up and down stairs and I cannot see myself doing this for a 150 gal tank so I avoid keeping fish down there despite that I have a fish room for the first time in my life.

So as you can see, I'm thinking medium sized canister filters would be the best choices for my current situation. I had set aside about $200 for when I was trying to get a used Eheim 2260 for the goldfish tank so I could buy two medium sized canister filters right now with what I have saved up so I've been shopping around for good deals and sales.
 
Ewe.... pass. The 306/406 might be the next best thing but with white intake and output it looks horrible. I've put in a lot of extra effort to make everything on my back black to blend with the painted back so this would just look awful in my tank. Maybe you don't care about that but it's a big deal for me. My current one works fine so I'm not sure what the new one offers but I'm not even going to look into it based on that alone. Yikes!
 
Ive got the Fx5 on my 90. Their are great deals to be had on 404's. Parts are really cheap for these at your LFS. I got one 404 for free and the other came with my 90. The free one just needed the impeller and shaft which were about $20 new to replace. Runs good now. Is there something else you could drain into downstairs with a long enough hose? The bucket brigade thing sucks! Good luck!!
 
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