Will this hob fit on my 180

[Beetlebug515]

fx6's in all honesty are only good for bio...mech filtration they are complete garbage.

I didn't know that. Thanks.

 

[predatorkeeper87]

I used them. The problem is that in their "out of the box" state, they can not biologically support a tank unless that tank has a very very light bioload. The big ones do have plenty of room for bio media, but they don't come with any and none of the literature suggests adding any. In your case, you are supplementing with the FX6 which I can guarantee is supporting the bulk of the tanks filtration. Because of the design and flow pattern the these filters, I couldn't recommend that a tank be run solely on them.

Read my response to yuki, I ran that tank, medium to heavy load, for months with just two of those filters, my nitrates never climbed above 15.

why do you need literature to tell you to add bio filtration? lol I use lava rock, its cheap and works just as well as the fancy ceramic crap lol. My fx6 is filled with it because they are junk as mech filters.

I wouldn't suggest only those filters either...but two of them on his 180 to get it cycling is more than enough, supplemented with a cheap canister down the line and he'll be fine...hell even a 3rd one of these filters I'd say with a normal bioload would be quite alright....

 

[predatorkeeper87]

I used them. The problem is that in their "out of the box" state, they can not biologically support a tank unless that tank has a very very light bioload. The big ones do have plenty of room for bio media, but they don't come with any and none of the literature suggests adding any. In your case, you are supplementing with the FX6 which I can guarantee is supporting the bulk of the tanks filtration. Because of the design and flow pattern the these filters, I couldn't recommend that a tank be run solely on them.

don't get me wrong I get were you are coming from with regards to what the filter comes with out of the box and might not be as cost effective as buying a filter that comes with the media, but if the OP can get some quilt batting and lava rock at wal mart lol then he'd be well on his way to being able to use these filters cost effectively haha.

 

[Beetlebug515]

why do you need literature to tell you to add bio filtration?

We can be honest with ourselves and say that "most" people, especially those new to the hobby, will not think to add more bio media.

I use lava rock, its cheap and works just as well as the fancy ceramic crap lol

Lava rock is my jam. $4 for 30 pounds at Lowes.

supplemented with a cheap canister down the line

I, personally, have a morbid fear of the "down the line" mentality. When I first started, I wasted a ton of money going for cheap equipment and then ended up buying better stuff later on. I'll never treat my poor wallet like that again.

 

[Yohanon]

For a tank that size, I would only consider a HOB as a supplement to a sump.

 

[freak78]

I'm in the process of setting up a 220. Filtration will be an FX-5, ehiem 2262 and three aquaclear 110s.

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

fx6's in all honesty are only good for bio...mech filtration they are complete garbage.

I ran that tank with only those two filters for months, one mech, the other bio, and a scaped tank so technically more bio area in the main tank as well. My params were good that whole time, I got the fx6 for cheeeeap lol so I threw that bad boy on there too lol.

For the money, the filters turn over some water. that's all I'm saying lol. he needs more than that for a 180 but they are a great start.

Thanks for the information, I didn't know FX6 bad in term of biological hahaha I got them in saltwater tank just for mechanical filtration too
I'm thinking to buy 2x FX6 for my other fresh water tank, your info make me consider about buying them

 

[Fishguy679]

Thanks for the reply guys. and btw I'm not new to the hobby, i used to have a bunch of aquariums and my bigest was 120 gallons but I got out of the hobby and sold them all and now I'm getting back into it and I'm a bit rusty right now. I think I'm going to go for a large hob to get the tank my started and get a larger canister down the road(I'm on a tight budget so probs not the fx6 maybe one of those sun suns know amazon, the biggest one that's over 500 gallon per hour is only 75 dollars)

 

[johnnytaboo]

If you shop around on craigslist you can pick up fx5/fx6 for rather cheap. Your going to spend at least $135+ for something used. You might get lucky and find one for $100 but you have to jump on them fast because they dont last long. As far as HOB filters... Ac110 are hard to beat, i even have a old Ac500 around here somewhere before they became the 110.

+1 on the AC110's. As much as I love FX5's, I was always able to find a pretty sweet deal on AC110's on craigslist. They move a good amount of water, and are easy to maintain. I have 1 running on my 40br, and 3 backups.

 

[pops]

+1 on the AC110, Best HoB out there IMHO. I run 2 on my 180, 2 on the 145. and one on the 90, they all also run canisters and the such, for the water volume they push, media space, easy of cleaning they are great mech filters and good bio filters for what they are, HoB filters.