Sump for Mech - FX5 for Bio

[Rockydog]

Hey everyone. Just joined and would like to say hello and ask for your advice.

I have a 180 African hap, peacock tank setup. I have a 65 gal wet/dry sump and added an FX5 to be used as a mech/chem filter. But I'm thoroughly annoyed at having micro bubbles clouding my water.

What I'm thinking of doing is using the FX5 as a bio filter only and converting the area of the bio tower into a multi stage mechanical filter. The media would be very easy to change out. The sump is fed by dual AGA Mega flow overflows and the return pump is a Mag 18.

In the FX5 could I just put bio balls in all three baskets with a finer sponge on top of the top basket or would I have to use a different bio media or should I do the mod to have only the one chamber?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Jgray152]

If you hate the micro bubbles, adding mechanical filter pads to the inside of the baskets will make it a lot worse.

The micro bubbles are due to vaport cavitation. Vapor cavitation is caused when the filter clogs up enough for the Closed Type Impeller to lower the pressure after the clog and before the impeller which reduces the boiling point of the water. So the water basically.......boils under this incredible neg pressure.

You would need some sort of mechanical filtration before the bio media, no matter if its before the Fx5 its self or just before the bio inside the canister.

Take a look at this
http://www.innovationlandscaping.com/fx5/internalmod.html

 

[Rockydog]

Thanks for the reply Jgray. Was checking out your site for the mod to make it a single chamber.

That is why I was going to go bio only, the only mech would be the sponges around the baskets and one sponge on the top of the top basket sitting on bio media.

 

[BushFishRox]

filter pads clog really fast in the FX5 which is why I just run biomax in all three trays and use just the stock foam.

I would recommend sticking with sump for bio and fx5 for mech., that is my current setup and my water is always crystal clear.

 

[Rockydog]

filter pads clog really fast in the FX5 which is why I just run biomax in all three trays and use just the stock foam.

I would recommend sticking with sump for bio and fx5 for mech., that is my current setup and my water is always crystal clear.

Is biomax a mechanical filter media?

 

[BushFishRox]

Is biomax a mechanical filter media?

sorry but

the answer that you seek is in the name it self.... basicly the name Bio Max means biological so no it is not specifically a mechanical media, though with its designs it acts as one too but is mainly a bio media.

 

[Rockydog]

This explains the biomax a little better to me. When used in the middle filter module, fluval biomax is the ideal host material for large populations of beneficial bacteria. The ring size and shape provide an excellent strainer for large particulate wastes when used in the first (lowest) media module. There is still powerful biological activity when employed in the lower chamber.

If I use the biomax in all 3 baskets could I use the blue fine filter in the bottom of the bottom basket without creating micro bubbles?

 

[BushFishRox]

This explains the biomax a little better to me. When used in the middle filter module, fluval biomax is the ideal host material for large populations of beneficial bacteria. The ring size and shape provide an excellent strainer for large particulate wastes when used in the first (lowest) media module. There is still powerful biological activity when employed in the lower chamber.

If I use the biomax in all 3 baskets could I use the blue fine filter in the bottom of the bottom basket without creating micro bubbles?

I dont recommend the filter pads in the FX5 because they clog very fast. they will probly need to be changed\cleaned once a week if not less. the foam surrounding the baskets is more then enough to keep your tank clean.

 

[Rockydog]

Any way to edit?

This explains the biomax a little better to me. When used in the middle filter module, fluval biomax is the ideal host material for large populations of beneficial bacteria. The ring size and shape provide an excellent strainer for large particulate wastes when used in the first (lowest) media module. There is still powerful biological activity when employed in the lower chamber.

This description is for a filter with the pump on the top so reverse for the FX5.

 

[Rockydog]

I dont recommend the filter pads in the FX5 because they clog very fast. they will probly need to be changed\cleaned once a week if not less. the foam surrounding the baskets is more then enough to keep your tank clean.

Yes, that is exactly what I want to get away from, thank you.