adding/changing filters

[stevenallenbarnard]

on my 120 I'm currently running 2x marineland 350's and 2x marineland 200's. I was finally able to talk the wife into letting me get an FX5 when income tax comes in a couple of weeks. my question is, how should I go about introducing the new filter w/o completely shocking the tank. the only selling point I could use was that a canister filter would be much quieter that the 4 HOB's were running right now.

[cichlid1409]

just put the new one on with the existing filttration, give it 2-3 weeks remove filters you dont want.

[stevenallenbarnard]

sweet, I thought it was gonna take a lot longer, quick question about the FX5, it says it's good for a tank up to 400gal, but how accurate is this? I've been a little skepticle since they retail for so cheap compared to say an eheim 2262, which is supposed to do about the same size. does anyone here use a FLUVAL FX5, and is really enough for a 120g tank?

[newb]

I just bought one from Fishland and I love it so far. It runs really good, easy to setup, and even easier to clean. I personally wouldnt ever use just one filter on a tank. and I guess it depends on what fish are in the tank as well.

[supadave]

The FX5 is a great filter. I've been running mine for about two years now without a single issue. It will filter your 120 without a problem, but like Newb said......I would keep atleast one of the HOB filters on the tank also.

[mgarrido]

Re: adding/changing filters

What kind of media are you using in your fx5 guys?
I read some bad histories about microbubbles after a couple of days running with the original polish pads.

[supadave]

I use the 6 foam blocks that come with the filter and I use Seachem Matrix as my bio media. I have not had an issue with microbubbles.

[wesleydnunder]

+1 on adding the new filter while the others are running. When you start taking the others out of service, I'd remove one a week to give the FX5 biobed a chance to increase to meet the volume removed by the old filter's being taken out of service.

Mark

[geoff_tropheus]

I have been using FX5's for three years now and love them.

They are so easy to clean and maintain, the only hassle with them is cleaning the pump. Pain in the rump to dissassemble, clean, and put back.

Other than that nothing wrong with them. I am actually starting to prefer them over the 2262.

In my FX5's I run the 6 foams it comes with, top&middle baskets Bio-media of somekind such as Substrat or Substrat Pro, then in the bottom basket I am putting Eheim 2217 Fine or Coarse pads in there. They are a perfect fit, and do a much better job than the Fluval FX5 pads.

You are going to love that filter.

[stevenallenbarnard]

I'm picking up the filter from Andy at fishland tomorrow. I buy all of my chemicals/supplies from him so he cut me a great deal and is holding it until tomorrow morning. I'm going to keep the 2 350's and 1 200 running for now, and in about 2 weeks i'm gonna take off the other 200 and just have the 2 double bio-wheels and the canistar permananly. this is gonna be my first canistar filtar so what are some good ideas for media besides what comes with it. I've seen people say they use dish sponges, can that really work. what do y'all suggest and how much of it?

[supadave]

You can use the plastic pot scrubbies and they will work fine..it's just that you won't be able to get that many into a FX5. The FX5 has three baskets with each being lined by two foam blocks....so all it gives you is the center of each basket. Still leaves alot of room but not as much as a filter which has no baskets like a 2260/2262. I am a big fan of Seachem Matrix. This stuff is the same as the eheim media but a whole lot cheaper!!! When I say a whole lot cheaper I mean " A WHOLE LOT CHEAPER !!!! I loaded my FX5 up with 2 liters of Matrix and a pouch of Purigen. (Btw...Purigen is another amazing product made by Seachem)

Seachem Matrix Link @ Pet Mountain

Big Al's Seachem Matrix 2L

Big Al's Seachem Matrix 4L

[stevenallenbarnard]

What kind of media are you using in your fx5 guys?
I read some bad histories about microbubbles after a couple of days running with the original polish pads.

what are microbubbles? and how are they bad?

( i know what y'all are thinking... This boy is in waaaaayyy over his head, lol)

[supadave]

what are microbubbles? and how are they bad?

( i know what y'all are thinking... This boy is in waaaaayyy over his head, lol)

Microbubbles are tiny little bubbles. What Miguel was referring to was that some reviews have stated that the Fluval FX5 will produce these little bubbles. They come from the output side and kinda look like the bubbles you see from some of the powerheads. They are not bad..it's just some people don't like that look. I think the microbubbles are caused by trapped air in the FX5 or the lid is not on tight enough...allowing air into the filter. Of the five members here that I know of that use the FX5...none have ever said anything about their FX5 producing these microbubbles.

[wesleydnunder]

Microbubbles are tiny little bubbles. What Miguel was referring to was that some reviews have stated that the Fluval FX5 will produce these little bubbles. They come from the output side and kinda look like the bubbles you see from some of the powerheads. They are not bad..it's just some people don't like that look. I think the microbubbles are caused by trapped air in the FX5 or the lid is not on tight enough...allowing air into the filter. Of the five members here that I know of that use the FX5...none have ever said anything about their FX5 producing these microbubbles.

Cavitation by the impeller will also cause microbubbles to form...a pressure differential caused by the spinning blades. It's one reason submarine propellers make it so hard for them to run silently. Cavitation is often worsened when an input or output of a pump is slightly blocked, increasing the pressure differential.

http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Cavitation

Mark

[stevenallenbarnard]

Got it home and set up, for media along w/ the foam blocks I have one in each basket of

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753123&lmdn=Fish

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753169&lmdn=Brand

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753164&lmdn=Brand

Andy had the eheim medias in the plastic bags and he said that the boxes got damaged so he cut me really great prices on em to to get rid of them

BY the way, if anyone is looking at getting one of these bad boys, I called nearly every LFS in town and Fishland has them cheaper than ANYONE else in town.