carznkats Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 My Fluval FX 5 motor has died and it will cost $375 to replace the motor :evil: I am thinking of changing it to a sump set up. it is a 5 ft x 2ft x 2ft tank. The cabinet space available is 70cm x 58cm x 65cm. The tank is not predrilled so I would either have to get it drilled or set up a weir system. what would be the best thing to do? to fix the filter or to set up a sump? any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 How old is it? I didn't think they had been out that long, isn't it still under warranty? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carznkats Posted May 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 we bought it almost two years ago.... so is not under warranty. the tank has a fairly high bioload, the filter usually does a really good job at keeping it crystal clear. but currently I have a pump running through the filter...but it isn't doing a very good job filtering it. so i'll have to do something fairly soon. :-? My hubby also broke the ceramic pipe when he was trying to fix it. :evil: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 I would go back to them anyway. For something that costs that much I would expect it to last longer and if they want it to have a good reputation it would be worth them fixing it for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim r Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 Exscuse my ignorance but what is the function of the ceramic pipe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew129 Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 It would be cheaper to buy another FX5 compared to a sump! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 Exscuse my ignorance but what is the function of the ceramic pipe? I think she's referring to the impeller shaft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 So did the impeller shaft break and then the motor die? Or is the impeller shaft just broken? Have you looked around the internet and seen if there are any options on getting parts from overseas for cheaper? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 It would be cheaper to buy another FX5 compared to a sump! Not if you shop around and DIY. Plus you could have far more bio media in a sump, have higher turn over and have better filtration by having some of the media above the water level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carznkats Posted May 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 the motor died, it was fine one week than pretty much died within one week. the ceramic shaft was fine before that... but my hubby was trying to do something with it and broke it :evil: the other prob is that i bought it over in aussie not here....they are alot cheaper over there....(bought half the price than they were here) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 I have a sump on my tank about the size of yours. Now I have it sorted it works brilliantly Its not pre drilled, it has a tunze overflow (sort of hang over) box on it. Can stack heaps and heaps of media in it and the flow is superb now I have invested in a really good pump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgeous Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 My hubby also broke the ceramic pipe when he was trying to fix it. :evil: mine shaft was broken trying to fix aswell - they are quite brittle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 I'd get the pump replaced. $375 then its done. Only inconvinence is keeping the filter media alive. With a sump you'll need another tank, have it sectioned, buy a return pump, buy the piping, drain your main tank and temporarily house the fish in another tank or the bath or something, then have the big tank drilled, then have it plumbed up, and once finished you'll have to deal with the noise of the water trickling. There are ways around some of those barriers, such as the Tunze overflow as mentioned above, but at the end of the day its a huge pain in the ass. Easier to just fix what you already have and know works (or at least has done for the last 2 years). Sumps are great, but you have to be realistic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 you'll have to deal with the noise of the water trickling. You mean the sound of efficient filtration and good aeration? You could use a hang-on-the-back type overflow and you wouldn't need to drill the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted May 1, 2008 Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 There are huge benefits to sumps yes, aeration and the share quanity of media you can use. I'm not saying sumps are bad, I'm just saying they aren't ideal for many people and often too much hassle to get reliably running and doing so quietly. You can get a HOB syphon setup which is great until it clogs or gets air in it. Not worth the hassle if the old system was doing a perfect job anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carznkats Posted May 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2008 Though the FX5 is usually good at filtering the tank...i'm just not sure on the life span :-? Good points with the sump is that I can increase the quantity of biological media...I'll also be able to hide my heaters in it :lol: My hubby is pretty good at making things up for me I do have a seahorse tank which runs a sump so I am used to them. it is nice and quiet unless I don't have the water level right... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ant N Posted May 2, 2008 Report Share Posted May 2, 2008 In NZ under the Consumer Guarantees Act you should be covered for manufactoring defects and breakages for what would be a resonable life expectancy for what the item costs, hope that reads better than it sounds! eg we have a dishwasher several months out of its warranty period but F&P reolaced parts at no cost to us. also a DVD player 15mths old was replaced under a 12mth warranty. Fluval have a good name for long term reliability try them again. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted May 2, 2008 Report Share Posted May 2, 2008 but it was bought overseas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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