After responding to this last post this has made me think of another question? I have a 125 with Oscars running 1 FX5 (560GPH with media or close to), 2 Fluval 406's (rated at 383GPH before media I believe so lets say 300 GPH with media if I'm lucky), 1 Fluval C4 HOB (with just extra Bio, rated at 264 GPH so lets say 200 GPH with media). If my math is right this gives me a little over 10X per hour. Is that to much for Oscars? I made a post where I was told that was to much filtration?
What do you Think??
- Thread starter hawkerw
- Start date
How did you determine what the flow rate of the FX5 is? 10X per hour is what everything should have, in my opinion.
Well I know they say the FX5 does 900GPH empty filter. From many posts I've seen numbers anywhere from 550 to 600 GPH with media. I by no means am using any science with this number it's just a number I'm using based on other post being conservative.
OK, cause I have been trying to find out what the output is at higher head. Can't find it published, or any one who as actually done a flow test. I want to feed a fluidized bed filter off of mine, with 5 ft head.
I'm sure there are some people on here that can answer your question better than myself. I know I have read some post (wish I could remember where) where some people have done allot of work with the FX5 follow this link its for a study comparing the FX5 with the Eheim 2080 if you can contact them I'll bet they have some good numbers as this was a pretty controlled study.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...-Eheim-Pro3-compared&highlight=Eheim+pro3+fx5
Its a great read and should be a sticky I think these folks did some nice work (I have it bookmarked and use it allot). I had some issues with my FX5 at first but you need to learn its in and outs as it is different from other filters on the market. I love mine though I'm not sure I'd use it by itself on a 400 gallon? I wish I had bought another one instead of the 2 406's. If I had to fault it, I'd say it would have to be limited room for Bio vs. Mechnical as compared to say the Eheim 2080 or Rena. Hope this helps
Thanks, I was looking for that thread the other day. I am going to book it too. I have never had any problems with mine. I run a sump and the FX on a 240. Might get rid of the sump if I can run the FBF on the FX5. I am afraid of leaks with the sump. (never had any, just a chicken)
If your tank stays cycled and you are happy with mechanical filtration then its fine. Your talking about your turnover rate which is all relative to bio load so the bio filter can efficiently process the ammonia. Unless your fish are blasted around the tank all day and can't sit still then its never too much filtration IME.
Imo your wasting energy and are better of getting another fx5 and ditching everything else so you have 2. I have a 125 with fx5 and 1200gph circulator with a big sponge filter, the fan blows everything toward the fx5 intake and my mechanical is perfect, bio has never been a problem. The fish exercise all day and night in the currents and I'm not wasting a lot of power.
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Imo your wasting energy and are better of getting another fx5 and ditching everything else so you have 2. I have a 125 with fx5 and 1200gph circulator with a big sponge filter, the fan blows everything toward the fx5 intake and my mechanical is perfect, bio has never been a problem. The fish exercise all day and night in the currents and I'm not wasting a lot of power.
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http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?504763-Cheap-plants-less-nitrate!-POTHOS
*Go S. Vettel #1 rb8--2 MORE RACES LEFT! SEE YOU IN TEXAS BOYS! LET'S MAKE IT 3 BACK TO BACK WDC!*
See this is where I get confused I keep reading try to get at least 8X turnover and maybe higher according to the bio load. So, say I run just my FX5 and get on the high end 600GPH full of media that would be a turnover of only 4.8X. I know this is not a science nor is that 8X written in any rulebook. Many people have different opinions on this and if it works for them thats great. I am asking this to try and give my fish the best care I can. So is a aquarium better to be overfiltered if given the choice? Allow me to add this from a GPH standpoint?
I dont think there really is such a thing as too much filtration, but as stated above, the fish needs to be able to swim normally in there. I have about 10X turnover in my mbuna setup, but there are around 40 fish in the tank and they are crap machines. I'd let your nitrates tell you how you're doing. You can have 10x turnover but not have enough bio to keep ammonia in check in an inefficient setup. With the right bio setup and water change regiment you could get by with 5-6 turns and be fine, but I always opt for overfiltering with big messy fish and Oscars most definitely qualify