Thinking of getting Fluval FX5, have ?

[Wolf3101]

I recomend running the FX5 with all ceramic rings and no additional media. The stock foam is adiquate provided your not opening the cannister every other week. finer particles will eventually become trapped in the foam blocks as they season.
As far as splitting the intake goes...your better off with the intake on one side of the tank and the return on the other. This configuation gives you the best possible water flow.

Yes the FX5 has shut off valves and is also equipped with an extra valve assembly. Additionally there is a smaller valve at the bottom to drain the tank for maintenace.
Polishing pads...prefilter media.... and additional mechanical foam just take up room better used for bio media and drasticly reduce flow.

One last note... The bio capacity of the FX5 is VERY underrated. Most of this stems from a test conducted between the FX5 and a large Eheim cannister. The test showed the Eheim to have slightly better bio filtration than the FX5 but this is with stock Fluval media and NOT running the way I recomend. The lower bio capacity listed in the study somehow got twisted into the myth that the FX5 has a very LOW bio-capacity. Thats simply not true. Unless your 180 is seriously overstocked an FX5 is EASILLY able to handle all of your filteration needs.

 

[Newt]

Well, after some thinking and reading some of the posts I don't think I'm going to split the intake.

My 180 has 6 severums, a retric, a fire eel, a black ghost knife, and a flounder. I don't think that's a lot of stock, so the FX5 should be OK.

 

[haynchinook334]

yeap a fx5 will do. and put a powerhead in the tank, you dont want dead spots in your tank.

 

[addicted2cichlids]

you can split the intake but i wouldnt do it too far apart. i have 2 outs and 1 in on my 210...

 

[seamus]

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..

Doesn't the water flow from the top down?

 

[BushFishRox]

use factory sponges and prefilter media (1 box) on top and bio max on 2 and 3 ( 3 boxes total)

stay away from fine filter pads they clog quickly and cut off the flow

that is how I have mine setup and it is awesome...

 

[DISCIPLE]

I recomend running the FX5 with all ceramic rings and no additional media. The stock foam is adiquate provided your not opening the cannister every other week. finer particles will eventually become trapped in the foam blocks as they season.
As far as splitting the intake goes...your better off with the intake on one side of the tank and the return on the other. This configuation gives you the best possible water flow.

Yes the FX5 has shut off valves and is also equipped with an extra valve assembly. Additionally there is a smaller valve at the bottom to drain the tank for maintenace.
Polishing pads...prefilter media.... and additional mechanical foam just take up room better used for bio media and drasticly reduce flow.

One last note... The bio capacity of the FX5 is VERY underrated. Most of this stems from a test conducted between the FX5 and a large Eheim cannister. The test showed the Eheim to have slightly better bio filtration than the FX5 but this is with stock Fluval media and NOT running the way I recomend. The lower bio capacity listed in the study somehow got twisted into the myth that the FX5 has a very LOW bio-capacity. Thats simply not true. Unless your 180 is seriously overstocked an FX5 is EASILLY able to handle all of your filteration needs.

that is how i do it too so of course i strongly agree lol

 

[gangster]

Im seriously looking into buying an fx5 but I dont know how I'll set it up. I dont have any holes in the back of my tank. I only have the two on the top for my other filters(hang on back of tank). Can I still run this filter? I have a 120gallon tank w/ everything that's in my sig. in there.