REVIEW:Fluval FX5 vs Eheim Pro3 compared

[brianp]

Bah, I'll try again:

Now this is a good idea. I would modify a few things, but I like this approach. I would use perforated plastic on the very bottom to support the biomedia, rather than foam. Perforated plastic will not clog over time and hence, will not have to be removed routinely for cleaning. I would also plug the end of the little plastic pipe located on the underside of the lid. Otherwise, you may suck unfiltered water out with the filtered. I would also omit the short elbow on the underside of the lid and just leave the hole as is. My choice for media would be different....but that's a personal matter. This makes we want to go out and buy a couple of extra FX5s just to screw around with. Thanks for the opportunity have some fun.

 

[T1KARMANN]

one thing i cant understand hear is fluwho must have spent thousands of $$$$ researching the FX5 yet people hear think they can do a better job with a few bits of pipe and packing the media better maybe you should all work for fluwho

if it was that easy dont you thing they would have done this mod themself before putting the FX5 on the market

 

[Jgray152]

Now this is a good idea. I would modify a few things, but I like this approach. I would use perforated plastic on the very bottom to support the biomedia, rather than foam. Perforated plastic will not clog over time and hence, will not have to be removed routinely for cleaning. I would also plug the end of the little plastic pipe located on the underside of the lid. Otherwise, you may suck unfiltered water out with the filtered. I would also omit the short elbow on the underside of the lid and just leave the hole as is. My choice for media would be different....but that's a personal matter. This makes we want to go out and buy a couple of extra FX5s just to screw around with. Thanks for the opportunity have some fun.

The little plastic tube has pressurized filtered water behind it from the output tube. When the filter runs, you will never get unfiltered water flowing into it. Only after the pump shuts off which the amount the does flow out, is it really something to talk about?

I'm seriously considering saving to an Eheim Pro 3 mainly because of its superior biofiltration

Modifing the Fx5 will allow about 13L of bio media. Thats really good. I think that members think more is better when thinking of bio media but the real question is, do you REALLY need that much more? 14L EHiem vs. 13L with the Fx5? You create more circulation with an Fx5 compaired to the EHiem.

If your Fx5 is working fine and your water stats are doing fine, why go with Ehiem just because its better a bio filtration? Think of it this way, how can it be better than what you have if you don't have a problem?

And T1, Fluval has done a lot more research and scientific study than us. Although I think they could have done better.

Incase some have not seen it. Fluval Fx5 Modification.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=146707

 

[brianp]

"The little plastic tube has pressurized filtered water behind it from the output tube. When the filter runs, you will never get unfiltered water flowing into it. Only after the pump shuts off which the amount the does flow out, is it really something to talk about"?


Don't think so. This looks more like a "Venturi" tube, which is designed to pull something out of the filter as the water runs through the output tube. This little tube is designed to "suck", rather than push. Is it "really something to talk about".....kind of depends on your perspective.

 

[brianp]

one thing i cant understand hear is fluwho must have spent thousands of $$$$ researching the FX5 yet people hear think they can do a better job with a few bits of pipe and packing the media better maybe you should all work for fluwho

No one is claiming that the FX5 won't filter water. However, it is the opinion of many (and I'm one of them), that there is a significant imbalance between mechanical and biological media volumes within this filter. Because of this, the FX5 provides an opportunity for creative individuals to carry out modifications in a self-satisfying attempt to redesign and improve. In other words, some people find this enjoyable. Others, will, I suppose, simply buy the filter and never ask any questions.

if it was that easy dont you thing they would have done this mod themself before putting the FX5 on the market

You're extending Hagen a great deal of benefit of the doubt.

 

[Jgray152]

Don't think so. This looks more like a "Venturi" tube, which is designed to pull something out of the filter as the water runs through the output tube. This little tube is designed to "suck", rather than push. Is it "really something to talk about".....kind of depends on your perspective.

Not at all. There is no venturi effect at all with this tube. I have studied this filter and have done lots of testing andwhen I remove the cover you can clearly see how water from the tube has forced lots of crud into the very center of the filter foam (in my modded fx5).

If this where a venturi, than they wouldn't label the filter bypass free and they wouldn't have designed the filter to only purge when the pump shuts off.

A venturi is created when a slow moving liquid is forced to speed up VERY quickly by moving through an area that declines in radius which creates a low pressure area. This low pressure is where the venturi takes place.

There is no such area built into the cover.

 

[brianp]

Not at all. There is no venturi effect at all with this tube. I have studied this filter and have done lots of testing andwhen I remove the cover you can clearly see how water from the tube has forced lots of crud into the very center of the filter foam (in my modded fx5).

I suspect that the presence of debris in this particular position is simply an artifact and does not indicate the manner in which this tube functions.

If this where a venturi, than they wouldn't label the filter bypass free and they wouldn't have designed the filter to only purge when the pump shuts off.
The use of a Venturi or other device to suck, say gas from within the canister is unrelated to the concept of "bypass". The reason for this is that this tube is above the water line. It would serve no useful purpose to install a positive pressure tube in this position (or anywhere else within this filter). Clearly, this tube is designed to expel something from within the canister into the effluent water stream. regarding the purge, it is true that the pump shuts down as part of the purge "process"...but this does not mean necessarily that the actual purge or expulsion of trapped gas occurs when the pump is shut down. Rather, I would suggest that this 2 minute shut-off allows trapped gas to rise to the top of the canister and then the pump kicks in and expels the gas.

A venturi is created when a slow moving liquid is forced to speed up VERY quickly by moving through an area that declines in radius which creates a low pressure area. This low pressure is where the venturi takes place.
Yes, in essence.

There is no such area built into the cover.

This would not be built into the cover, per se, it would be built into the white plastic ring (or in proximity) surrounding the effluent stream into which the distal end of the small plastic tube is inserted. Maybe you would include that in the "cover".

What do you think?

 

[T1KARMANN]

i just don't understand

if the FX5 is such a great filter why do you need to mod it

this thread is about how the pro3 has kicked the FX5s butt not how to mod the FX5 to make it as good as the pro3

the FX5 is not as good as the pro3 learn to live with it

the FX5 is cheaper than the pro3 thats all their is to it at the end of the day

the only people trying to convince them selfs that the FX5 is better are FX5 owners or FX5 sellers

 

[Jgray152]

This would not be built into the cover, per se, it would be built into the white plastic ring (or in proximity) surrounding the effluent stream into which the distal end of the small plastic tube is inserted. Maybe you would include that in the "cover".

What do you think?

The small plastic ring is there for extra support for when the output tube slides into the top cover and for the small plastic purge tube to connect to. The output tube from the pump passes over the purge tube hole when the cover is installed onto the filter. There is no venturi designed into the cover or the plastic ring.

Also, if you look at the top cover where the plastic tube ends, Hagen actually deverts the water from the purge tube down into the center of the baskets so it does not effect the flow from outside of the baskets.

T1, did you purposly come on this forum from Fishforums.net just to aggravate people? That is all you do and you repeat your self over and over again. STFU and GET OUT! No one ever said the Fx5 is better than the Pro3.

The Fx5 is a nice filter but its not as good as it could be. With mods you can make it hold just as much bio media as the Pro3 and you will have almost 200GPH more flow than the pro3, more mechanical surface area than the pro3. No need for power heads because the flow from the Fx5 can be divided into 2 250-300 GPH nozzels. So the flow is better than the Ehiem Pro3 which in long tanks with the pro3 you may need a power head to help with circulation.

Only when modded the fx5 is better than the pro3

 

[T1KARMANN]

The small plastic ring is there for extra support for when the output tube slides into the top cover and for the small plastic purge tube to connect to. The output tube from the pump passes over the purge tube hole when the cover is installed onto the filter. There is no venturi designed into the cover or the plastic ring.

Also, if you look at the top cover where the plastic tube ends, Hagen actually deverts the water from the purge tube down into the center of the baskets so it does not effect the flow from outside of the baskets.

T1, did you purposly come on this forum from Fishforums.net just to aggravate people? That is all you do and you repeat your self over and over again. STFU and GET OUT! No one ever said the Fx5 is better than the Pro3.

The Fx5 is a nice filter but its not as good as it could be. With mods you can make it hold just as much bio media as the Pro3 and you will have almost 200GPH more flow than the pro3, more mechanical surface area than the pro3. No need for power heads because the flow from the Fx5 can be divided into 2 250-300 GPH nozzels. So the flow is better than the Ehiem Pro3 which in long tanks with the pro3 you may need a power head to help with circulation.

Only when modded the fx5 is better than the pro3

i have been on this forum longer than you if you came from fishforums what are you doing hear anyway i thought all the members their hated MFK

this is still NOT a thread about moding the FX5 why not start one if theirs not already one going