New FX5 took a crap

[calisucks]

I have 2 baskets with ceramic rings and 1 with carbon. I used a pad under the carbon and all the baskets have the outside sponges. I will take a look and see if I can remove the filter pads. Thanks for the info.

I'm running the same set up you have. I have ceramic rings in two of the baskets and 1 with carbon. Mine was only 2 weeks old and it took a crap on me. My hoses are short too, so I'm not sure whats wrong with mine. I took it apart and put it back together it ran fine for a good day, then it stopped working again. I'm trying to get hagen to replace mine with a new one... They were closed when I called today, so I have to call them back tomorrow. I'll let you know how that goes.

 

[dirtyblacksocks]

I think both of you have clogged up polishing pads in the filters and have either let them run so long that it's permanently affected the motor's performance or just simply haven't tried removing the pads to see if it improves anything.

I actually had one of the white filter pads underneath some lava rocks in the middle basket of mine and it took me a good two weeks of cleaning that stupid thing out every day by hand before I realized it was under there - I just assumed the filters were garbage.

They're good filters for biological, but for chemical I would recommend getting a HOB filter like an AquaClear or somthing - or just plopping a filter bag tied up in front of the output if you don't mind the way it looks with the media in it.

 

[calisucks]

I think both of you have clogged up polishing pads in the filters and have either let them run so long that it's permanently affected the motor's performance or just simply haven't tried removing the pads to see if it improves anything.

I'm not using any of the polishing pads. I still have them new in the box. The only thing in the basket is the ceramic rings, and carbon. I have two fx5 set up the same way and the other one is running fine..

 

[clgkag]

I think the manual says no more than five feet height diff. between top of fx5 and top of tank. It also says don't have hoses longer than like 13.4ft which is how much they sent you. I would check those measurements first, and pull the motor to make sure nothing is stuck in there.

 

[Pwn]

I can hear the motor trying to run...kind of a start stop thing. I cut the hose in half and put the intake right next to the return inside the tank....still not working properly. I did not use the recommended polishing pads, I cut off pieces from a larger polishing pad made by LEE's used for replacement pads. I've run into another problem....the fx5 will not fit through the stand doors. I have to work on it under the stand which is a pain in the ass. I put the damn thing in through the back which is open, and then moved it up against a wall- what an idiot I will have to wait until my day off on Sunday to get it done.

 

[Pwn]

It's less than 5' from top of filter to top of tank and I just shortened the hose. Gonna try and remove the pads on Sunday....I'll update when I get the pads removed. I added an xp3 I had on a 55g and threw an HOB onto that tank. Should be good for 2 more days hopefully.

 

[tchizzle]

I personally wouldn't use the pads because they get clogged easily. I'd go all bio.

 

[ewurm]

Whenever I have a filter fail, I take it completely apart, clean it, and put it back together. Usually does the trick.

 

[Pwn]

I removed the one and only pad liner in the filter and it seems to be working. It doesn't have the kick it used to on the return, but that is probably because the pump has been burning itself out with the clog. At least it is working now. Thanks for the suggestion on that

 

[Pwn]

I removed the polishing pads from all my canister filters and they are all running a lot better now. I can't see a difference in water clarity at all. Polishing pads are the devil.