Still Don't Understand FX5 Mania?

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There is nothing special about sumps that will out perform the canisters except for the larger volume you can put media in...and easier to service due to the open nature of the system.

Currently I have about 10 gallons of biofilter material in all my canisters in my system. I suspect the performance of a sump with 10 gallons of the same materials are going to be the same as the canisters.


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A sump with a dry portion will hold more BB than submerged media, so it should actually handle even more of a bio load. This is because it receives more oxygen. If all media is submerged, then yes, it would equal a canister.
 
+1

And sumps are a lot more flexible.

Ever keep a heater in your canister? Or let a fish heal up in one?

Sumps also hold more volume, are easy (and cheap) to DIY and are easier to maintain.

So in what ways are canisters equivalent or better?

Matt

A sump with a dry portion will hold more BB than submerged media, so it should actually handle even more of a bio load. This is because it receives more oxygen. If all media is submerged, then yes, it would equal a canister.
 
+1

And sumps are a lot more flexible.

Ever keep a heater in your canister? Or let a fish heal up in one?

Sumps also hold more volume, are easy (and cheap) to DIY and are easier to maintain.

So in what ways are canisters equivalent or better?

Matt

That makes me want a sump now.... Maybe to grow out some tiny fish??? Lol

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+1

And sumps are a lot more flexible.

Ever keep a heater in your canister? Or let a fish heal up in one?

Sumps also hold more volume, are easy (and cheap) to DIY and are easier to maintain.

So in what ways are canisters equivalent or better?

Matt

There are canisters with heaters and inline heaters but thats besides the point. Canisters serves well for people who don't want a drilled tank, has a stand that don't have proper spacing, etc.

I don't particularly like wet dry filters mainly because they tend to be a bit loud. If I were to have a sump, it would be of submerged design.


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I didn't close this thread as it has righted itself and has become civilized once again. I will be watching this.
 
Formy input, the FX5 is hands down, ther best bang for your buck. It has more than enough bio filtation to support just about any standard tank setup and offers plenty of flow to keep debris off of the substrate. I ad two FX5s on my 265 and it was almost too much flow. I cleaned my FX5s about once every 6 months. I alternated cleanings so the entire tank basically ran off of one filters bio and never had any spikes as I completely cleaned the filter. Pretty solid overall. My only complaint is the hoses and the rubber boot connections, I don't like them nor trust them.

Eheims are great, but not for the kind of money that they ask for them.
 
OK one more question for tonight and I'm done the dogs giving me that past bedtime look:). You know I guess the bottom line is that I am disabled so I do have a few physical limits. So I'm look for what is easiest to upkeep and though I'd love to Build a sump I'm not sure about that. So my question is will the sump be the way to go for someone in my case? And what will one that will do 250 to 300 gallons run prebuilt? Also will it fit under Aquarion 125 Standard stand?:grinno:

Here is a pic of my diy filter under my 125gallon stand, I also used the diy pvc overflow from sticky here on mfk. I have a 1k gph pump on there the filter drawers hold 5 gallons of bio ball could squeeze more in there I also added 12 liters of ceramic rings underneath a 300w heater and a small uv sterilizer.

175F2E2E-B127-4939-9098-5FAD50EF38BC-4803-000011F0065C1304.jpg

B0E6A9C3-2DAE-47A8-BC20-91DE59CD4590-4803-000011EFFEB53AF4.jpg

3183567B-B0DE-4EC0-9315-8A824CC8AFE8-4803-000011F002B4AAAB.jpg


Here is another one I made for my 40gallon growout tank not a wet/dry but fully submerged media out of a 10gallon tank, it has 6 liters of ceramic rings and some pot scrubbies on the bottom a heater and a 400gph pump.

th_51CEEA43-7FDE-4D35-8C56-3EABB210836E-4803-000011EF8C71ABE4.jpg


Here is a pic of the diy overflow on the 40 gallon (right side)

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You know at this point I'm going to stick with canister's I think on the 125 as I do have a good amount invested so far? I at one point was trying to decide on what to do with my filters and I find as time goes on something else you would like for the aquarium thus this thread. I am going with the sump on my next tank for sure (spring) With Oscars how often would you say you need to clean a canister? I moved the filters around today to see if that helps with the sluge on the bottom of the tank. I read everywhere not to let oscars eat to a point where it's coming out there gills. My issue is how can you not? They stuff there mouths till they look like my Africans carring eggs then swim around and spit out the food as they chew. So im going to build or order a good vacuum this week. My last issue is when even though I don't need it shell out for the Eheim I want:screwy:?

The system above looks awsome? What is the maximum this filter can handle? I don't know if I'd build it but I'm sure I can find some help?

As I cleaned the FX5 today it's true it still in my mind is just as when I started this thread. I only have the C530 here to compare it to. The FX is a smaller filter. I'm sure the EHEIM 2262,2080, Rena XP4, The Marineland C-530 and its knock off's all are larger and again I'm no scientist but there are a Ton of studies out there that claim surface area, volume, to be as important. Another thing I noticed is the way the trays are made if you use no premedia to increase flow then all you have is just Bio clear to the bottom and back into the tank. Now I've seen a few ways to modify the trays and get rid of some of those side sponges that to me do next to nothing(I have the same issue with the 406 side sponges, when I clean they hardly need to be touched. So im cleaning to much or there doing nothing). Someone chimed in last night and mentioned a way to reload the trays with some modified material? I just do not want to alter the filter itself at this point. I swear I don't kow why I do this to myself!!! I open it up as above and expect you all to be nice and friendly.....I understand many are into this filter and can get upset when someone puts it down. So if I'm going to get my ??? chewed all I ask is at least try to give me ways to reconfigure this filter from stock to change my mind?:banhim:
 
Formy input, the FX5 is hands down, ther best bang for your buck. It has more than enough bio filtation to support just about any standard tank setup and offers plenty of flow to keep debris off of the substrate. I ad two FX5s on my 265 and it was almost too much flow. I cleaned my FX5s about once every 6 months. I alternated cleanings so the entire tank basically ran off of one filters bio and never had any spikes as I completely cleaned the filter. Pretty solid overall. My only complaint is the hoses and the rubber boot connections, I don't like them nor trust them.

Eheims are great, but not for the kind of money that they ask for them.

+1

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