The new FX5 First time install..... media questions

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
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camaro_boy

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 27, 2010
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Saginaw Michigan
Hey everyone, first post here.

I bought the FX5 as im going nuts hearing all the water coming out of the filters. I went to pets mart today and picked up the media for the filter. I am wondering in which tray each is best. I read in a post that the FX5 is backwards and then i read in another post that biomax should be at the top of the system. Could someone explain what has given the best results. I currently have 2 big oscars and a ray in my 55 gallon tank. I do have gravel on the bottom with a under gravel system. Im thinking of removing the gravel and leave the bottom bare as i feel that i will look better and give more room.
any ideas?

Also, im considering getting rid of the 2 big oscars and switching to a community tank with some smaller fish. Im wondering first off, what the sting ray likes for the bottom of the tank? Also, what fish can live well with a 4" diameter ray.

any and all information is welcome. I did search for media however have come up short. I look forward to your answers!

Regards
Douglas
 
I would get rid of the two oscars for sure because 2 need a 125 gallon minumium and as far as I know there is no ray species that are small enough for a 55 gallon but I may be wrong but I'm sure someone else will chime in on it.

As far as media placement goes right now I have prefilter media in the top biomax in the middle and blue pads in the bottom. On the back of the box and in the manual gives you other options. In the top though you want something to catch the big debris so prefilter or sponges work best.
 
Someone said they need about 40 gallons per fish so yeah im definitely going to get rid of them, however not sure how im going to get rid of them.

But tell me, how do they come up with the rating? does it come down to the bioload of the fish? cause if i have a FX5 the filter should be able to handle this tank and will cycle the 55 gallons through the better part of 11 times a hour correct?

Im not assuming anything, im new to the whole thing, however i would like to know factual information so i know for next time!

cheers
Douglas
 
The ratings on a filter given by the manufacturers are usually with out the media inside the filter itself. With media I would say the FX5 would give around 400GPH-600GPH from its 975GPH? This depends on media as well too.

The 40 gallon per fish is definitely not true in most cases and many members can prove that!:ROFL:

Media is all on preference and what has worked for each individual in the past. I myself like Bio-Max Ceremic rings. On my 180 gallon all 3 trays on both my FX5 are filled with it, along with my emperor 400. Amazing how much ceramic rings the Emperor 400 can fill too. Tank mates for the ray can be almost anything besides plecos in most cases. What did you have in mind as far as tank mates? Rays like a sandy bottom but most members go bare bottom due to possible irritation from the sand to the ray's sensitive skin/disc. When I had my stingrays, 3 Motoros ranging from 5"-12" in my 180 gallon I had sand and they loved it and I never experienced any problems with it at all. But like I said before, others can disagree with me on this but it's all on preference.
 
Your filter is overkill on a 55 correct its plenty for a 55. The tank recommended size takes a lot of things into consideration like the size of the fish how aggressive or territorial it is etc. When ever you think about getting a fish you always want to do research on it first. An oscar for example is one of the fastest growing fish in the hobby on average they grow 1 inch a month until they reach 9 to 10 inch's then they slow down. An ocar can get 12 to 14 inchs. So even a 55 gallon for just one oscar by itself is to small. The reason being if your oscar does grow 12 to 14 inch's and your tank is only 12 inch's wide its gonna have a heck of a time turning around thats why a 75 gallon is the recommended size tank for one oscar by himself. An oscar is also aggressive and territoral thats why only one can go in a 75 by itself. What I would do if I was you would be to get rid of the 2 oscars and the ray and do some research on the kind of fish you want make up a list and post it on here and we can help you out letting you know if it will work or not and help you tweak it a bit.
 
camaro_boy;3850818; said:
Hey everyone, first post here.

I bought the FX5 as im going nuts hearing all the water coming out of the filters. I went to pets mart today and picked up the media for the filter. I am wondering in which tray each is best. I read in a post that the FX5 is backwards and then i read in another post that biomax should be at the top of the system. Could someone explain what has given the best results. I currently have 2 big oscars and a ray in my 55 gallon tank. I do have gravel on the bottom with a under gravel system. Im thinking of removing the gravel and leave the bottom bare as i feel that i will look better and give more room.
any ideas?
Click to expand...


http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3850921&postcount=3
 
The FX5 was purchased on the assumption that i would upgrade my tank at some point in the vary near future. My goal is to get community more colorful fish.

I would also like to get fish that grow at a slower rate that would make it so i could have a larger number of fish in the tank.
 
Define your community type fish? Like what kind? Community is too broad in MFK...:D
 
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