Which would be better for a 125 gallon

[Iffrat]

i agree with the quote they are not equal, first i have to say i had both and i was very unhappy with the fx5 lack of media eheim 2028 hold more media then the fx5 also you can't put any polishing pad on the fluval because it trap air something already discuss before and if you are looking at the reading turn over it's not everything, amaount of bioload i had also ocean clears and nu-clear canister which you can use any pump from 800 to 1600 gph but for what, finally i have to say fx5 not a bad filter but onestly eheim 2217 they are better filters go with the 2 eheim 2217 you won't regreat it

do you have proof that the extra media is better for keeping a tank clean then the extra mech that the Fx5 gives?

i have 2 large oscars 2 large red hooks and a 18" royal knife in my 120 with 1Fx5 and i dont a 30 gal water change 1-2 times a month and never have poor water parameters .. i just do the w/c so they get some fresh water in there once in a while ...

fyi the only thing i have in my Fx5 is 3 baskets of ceramic rings .. no pads .. no charcoal .. rings and stock pads ..

on my 150 gal with 2 motoros 4 dats and some giant dainios that have not picked off yet i have a Fx5 same set up and a rena 3 with the stock set up with the charcoal taken out ... i do 20-30% w/c 2 times a week . just to keep everything happy . but i would feel safe going 2 weeks with out a w/c in that tank and still not have bad water ..

i dont even think that i need to have that much filtration on my tanks .. people who say they have to do 50% w/c 4 times a week to keep there water clean make my head spin since i have a overstocked 120 gal and never have to worrie about it with 1 Fx5 with only rings ..

 

[rudy1964]

I don't want to be so technical about mech and bio media but you need a good amount of bio media to support specially a heavy stock tanks if tou want to have crystal clear water with good paremeters mechanical won't give you that at least you have a heavy planted tank or live rocks on a reef tank, but for a tank with gravel and fish you need that extra biomedia and the fx5 don't have , this is not personal but i had fluval fx5 and i wasn't happy with it i have eheim 2262,2260,2250,2217,2128 thermo and i love every one of them they are superior filters period. i just want to say i've been keeping fish for about 15 years with big and small tanks 10 years keeping discus in large tanks

 

[Iffrat]

so what did you do before the eheim 2262 and so on ... when you started you fish lived is a pool of nasty dirty water and would not stay alive .?? because i know people who have also been keeping fish for a long long long time ... and i have been keeping fish for about 10 years .. i didnt used to have Fx5's .. under gravel filters and water changes did fine .. the same tank today .. to your standars .. would need $45,000 worth of filters or your not taking care of your fish .. its amazing how much money is wasted on filtering water that is plenty clean ...

i just hate to see people have SOOOO much over kill .. and anyone who says you need 2 eheim 2262's on a 120gal tank has more money then brains ...

 

[rudy1964]

Eheim been in the market for a very long time i never said you need two eheim 2262 for a 125 gallon, i repeat please and listen 2 eheim 2217 it's bettar then fx5 and thats my opinion based on the experience having both filters. The 2262 it's a completly different game i know what i'm talking

 

[Iffrat]

Eheim been in the market for a very long time i never said you need two eheim 2262 for a 125 gallon, i repeat please and listen 2 eheim 2217 it's bettar then fx5 and thats my opinion based on the experience having both filters. The 2262 it's a completly different game i know what i'm talking

so you think that having 1 Fx5 on a 300 gal tank would not keep the tank filtered with a stock of say ... 2 motoros of good size 4 dats and 4 Pbass? if you did 2 weekly w/c of 20%?

 

[glenngreen]

There are those who seem to think only bio media can perform bio filtration. Bacteria will grow anywhere it can. On the tank walls, in the substrate, decorations, etc. It will grow and multiply to meet the food supply. The only people who absolutely NEED bio media is probably the bare bottom, scarce deco folks. Even the mech filter pads in the FX5 are doing a fair bit of growning bacteria. For visibly clean water, I think mechanical is the most important. That, and good water turnover. I like 10X the tank volume, but many get by fine with 5X.

 

[Iffrat]

There are those who seem to think only bio media can perform bio filtration. Bacteria will grow anywhere it can. On the tank walls, in the substrate, decorations, etc. It will grow and multiply to meet the food supply. The only people who absolutely NEED bio media is probably the bare bottom, scarce deco folks. Even the mech filter pads in the FX5 are doing a fair bit of growning bacteria. For visibly clean water, I think mechanical is the most important. That, and good water turnover. I like 10X the tank volume, but many get by fine with 5X.

thats what i am thinking .. so to me ... spending $600 on filters for a 150 gal tank seems silly .. but ... if i am wrong i would like to know

 

[shelbyzman]

I ran a fluval 404 (rated for up to 100 gal) on my 125 and it did fine. I had 5 tinfoil barbs, 2 green severums, 4 female convicts and a couple others had no losses. I have now added a rena xp2 full of bio filtration and it keeps my tank crystal clear and I don't have to do as many water changes now. I agree sometimes people overfilter their tanks. If you have tons of money that's one thing, but for me....my budget is tight so I go the most economical route that I can and keep my fish alive/happy. Using the correct media is very, very important!

 

[Deaths Sting]

wheres the option for FX5 and Eheim 2217?????

also, to the OP about the the media... the FX5 FINE polishing pads are crap and the prefilter media is useless.... i have lots of experience with both ... unfortunately...

on my 120 gallon i got a FX5 and Eheim 2028 pro 2.. i love it and would recommend this combo to anyone.. if ur on a budget that's a different story..

 

[phillydog1958]

I completely disagree that the Eheim 2217 and the FX5 are equal filters...

I think a lot of people post without reading or thinking their response out...

I really appreciate your passion for this topic, but do you really need to go there? It's just a conversation about filters. We're not discussing religion, politics or even the meaning of life. We're talking FISH . . . Try to consider utilization of a little diplomacy and take your own advice and try thinking your responses out.