Set up for Fluval fx5

[DannyLee94]

Hi,
Ive just got myself a new Fluval fx5 and some Bio materials. Ive got Bio-Balls, Ceramic Plus Bio-Rings and Glafoam (Glass made into porous rock material), could anybody tell me is this enough?
and could anybody advise me as to what order to put them in?
This information will be greatly appreciated as i'd like to know the best way, i presume the bio balls go in the bottom.

By the way, could you please use the expressions top, middle and bottom instead of 1st, 2nd and 3rd as it depends on whether you're putting them in or taking them out.

Thanks, Danny

 

[bgcoop8784]

the fx5 flows from top to bottom, i have mine set-up with bio-fiber in the top to catch most of the big stuff and sera siporax media in the bottom two, so personally i'd put the smallest media in the top and bigger in the bottom, if that is the only filter you are planning to run on your set-up i would think about some type of bio-fiber/filter floss/pad for the top for some mechanical filtration to catch the bigger stuff depending on how messy your fish are, especially if that oscar from your avitar is going in there.

 

[sick_lid]

You can put them in any order, the water is going to pass through them all evenly. Their purpose is to hold BB in their porus surfaces. At the top of the top compartment, I use a layer of foam I cut out to catch larger debris (replace every couple weeks) and have just ceramic rings in the other 2, with the foam pads all around it. Has worked for me for a while now.

 

[DannyLee94]

the fx5 flows from top to bottom, i have mine set-up with bio-fiber in the top to catch most of the big stuff and sera siporax media in the bottom two, so personally i'd put the smallest media in the top and bigger in the bottom, if that is the only filter you are planning to run on your set-up i would think about some type of bio-fiber/filter floss/pad for the top for some mechanical filtration to catch the bigger stuff depending on how messy your fish are, especially if that oscar from your avitar is going in there.

Ive got myself some foam and ive put course foam in the bottom tray on top of the Glafoam Glass media and ceramic tubes, medium foam on top of the Glafoam Glass media in middle tray, then top tray, medium foam, fine foam and floss.
Ive also got ammonia remover bags but havent used them as this tank is only just getting started and has just 2 small fish in it.

How does that sound lads?

 

[Jgray152]

Ive got myself some foam and ive put course foam in the bottom tray on top of the Glafoam Glass media and ceramic tubes, medium foam on top of the Glafoam Glass media in middle tray, then top tray, medium foam, fine foam and floss.
Ive also got ammonia remover bags but havent used them as this tank is only just getting started and has just 2 small fish in it.

How does that sound lads?

You have it reversed. You don't need coarse foam in the center trays because you have coarse foam around the sides.

Any type of bio media in the middle will work. You don't need to have three different types.

The best thing to do is get some 20 PPI foam in a sheet and cut strips to fit the outside baskets for finer filtration

 

[bgcoop8784]

yeah sorry for the mis-understanding, i was refering to how i'd use the media that you described that you already owned, the top tray is going to be the first to catch out of the three trays, if you have the fine in there it is going to clog very quickly, the foam on the sides of the baskets catches the most of the waste before it even gets to the baskets, i just use the bio-fiber in the top basket for a little extra and with my sa/ca cichlids and oscar in the tank it does catch a lot that gets past the foam pads, but in your bottom two trays all you need is the glass media and ceramic rings. if you really want to polish your water then you can put fine filter pad in the bottom chamber, personally i would wait till after your first cleaning and see how clogged everything is before going really fine.

 

[DannyLee94]

yeah sorry for the mis-understanding, i was refering to how i'd use the media that you described that you already owned, the top tray is going to be the first to catch out of the three trays, if you have the fine in there it is going to clog very quickly, the foam on the sides of the baskets catches the most of the waste before it even gets to the baskets, i just use the bio-fiber in the top basket for a little extra and with my sa/ca cichlids and oscar in the tank it does catch a lot that gets past the foam pads, but in your bottom two trays all you need is the glass media and ceramic rings. if you really want to polish your water then you can put fine filter pad in the bottom chamber, personally i would wait till after your first cleaning and see how clogged everything is before going really fine.

Thanks lads you've been a great help, i'le just go with the bio media all the way up. cheers.

 

[bgcoop8784]

just wondering, do you have a tank and filter already set up and upgrading to the fx5 or are you starting a whole new set-up

 

[DannyLee94]

just wondering, do you have a tank and filter already set up and upgrading to the fx5 or are you starting a whole new set-up

No mate, its a brand new set up.