Thinking of getting Fluval FX5, have ?

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Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jul 18, 2005
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I'm thinking about splurging on a Fluval FX5 when we get our tax rebate.

A couple of questions for those of you who have one: Can the intake be split, so I can have two intakes, one on each end of my 180? How hard is maintence? Does it have shut offs on the intake/outtake tubes? It looks a lot more complicated than my XP3's.

Also, what should I put in the media baskets; just bio-media or what?
 
Ok here we go: As far as the intakes i'm not sure, I just have 2 FX5's so i have both ends covered.. As far as maintence for me it seems easy, not hard at all, and yes it has input and output's have on/off valves. As far as bio i have the bottom tray with Fluval Prefilter and teh other 2 filled with Fluval Biomax..
 
IDK about splitting the intake but I do know that there is a certain distance the intake and outlet tubes are not supposed to exceed. And with two intakes and one outlet I'm pretty sure the length will be over what fulval recamends and will more then lily void your warrnty. I don't use the prefilter in any of mine but I do use three boxes of biomax in between the bottom and middle basket. and ammonia remover on top.
 
yeah you can split the intake, how big is your tank? if split, 200gph on both side. with the stacks, you should put large gap black sponge with a micro sponge on top, then a micor sponge with bio balls, then a micro sponge with ceramic "O" then your micro sponge and the carbon.
 
haynchinook334;1767249; said:
yeah you can split the intake, how big is your tank? if split, 200gph on both side. with the stacks, you should put large gap black sponge with a micro sponge on top, then a micor sponge with bio balls, then a micro sponge with ceramic "O" then your micro sponge and the carbon.
Click to expand...


If the micro sponge you are talking about is the polish or buffer pads. those things are junk. they get clogged WAY to fast and require you to tear down the filter WAY more often then nessisary.
 
Don't use bioballs either. They work much better in a wet/dry filter.
 
haynchinook334;1767249; said:
yeah you can split the intake, how big is your tank? if split, 200gph on both side. with the stacks, you should put large gap black sponge with a micro sponge on top, then a micor sponge with bio balls, then a micro sponge with ceramic "O" then your micro sponge and the carbon.
Click to expand...

The tank it's going on is a standard 180 gallon, 6'x2'x2'. I wanted to put one intake in each corner and the outlet in the center top of the tank.
 
You can split the intakes but you will need a 1" OD Y-adapter and you'll have to do a little bit of engineering. You would run the FX5 corrugated tubing from each intake to branches of the Y-adapter. The rubber end of each piece of the tubing would attach to the Y-adaper (reinforce with band clamps). On the branch of the Y-adpater going to the filter, you will not be able to use the corrugated tubing because this would require a rubber fitting on both ends. So, you'll have to purchase some 1" ID tubing somewhere. Again, reinforce tha attachments with clamps. As far as what media to put in the filter, I would recommend ONLY biomedia. There's not exactly an excessive volume available for media in the media baskets and for a 180, you'll need every cubic inch. Finally, I would recommend that you get some thin polyester pads and cut six to fit in back of the white foam pads. This will keep finer debris out of the biomedia.
 
I've kind of been wanting an FX5, and I'll have the money for one soon but my question is.
Would it be too much for a 75?
 
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