Floater Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 I see everyone on here never stops saying how great their FX5 filter is, I'm wondering if it would be suitable for say... a 400L tank that is going to be heavily planted and house discus. What sort of a current does this thing produce? Can you tone it down? Would you need to tone it down? Cheers, Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morcs Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 The outlet has two nozzles that can be turned in different directions. Apparently when turned all the way in one direction, it actually reduces the output diameter thus reducing the flow. The FX5 also has adjustable flow control. Im a walking FX5 Library now as Ive done hours and hours of research to buy one :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firenzenz Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 Personally for that set up I would be tempted to go two smaller canisters, so you get the filtration without such an effect of flow. I have a 5ft with FX5 and and is great for malawi's as it means I can go ages without worrying much about water changes/ cleaning filter. I also have a 300ltr 4ft with a fluval 404 and eheim 2213 cannister which has housed Discus and was great as had awesome filtration with little flow. It now has big fancy plecs so again is well suited. End of the day regular water changes is what will make any Discus tank excell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floater Posted November 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 Personally for that set up I would be tempted to go two smaller canisters, so you get the filtration without such an effect of flow. I have a 5ft with FX5 and and is great for malawi's as it means I can go ages without worrying much about water changes/ cleaning filter. I also have a 300ltr 4ft with a fluval 404 and eheim 2213 cannister which has housed Discus and was great as had awesome filtration with little flow. It now has big fancy plecs so again is well suited. End of the day regular water changes is what will make any Discus tank excell. So in your opinion the FX5 would produce too much current for the likes of discus and plants? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firenzenz Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 I think that in a 400ltr tank it would be hard not to get a fair degree of current. the Fx5 does 3500-4000lts and hr so you are cycling your tank 9-10 times an hr which is great. Personally though I dont think its optimal for a discus set up, because the filter would be overkill. I would suggest that even with only one medium cannister and 10% water change 2-3 a week the Discus and plants would do better. You could probably get two smaller cannisters using less room than fx5 with outlet/inlets at at each end of the tank for same or probably less $$. Put that FX5 filter in a 1000 ltr tank and different story, as I would recommend that piece of kit to anyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 The FX5 does create a lot of current. How long is your 400L tank? What firenzenz says is right, the FX5 does create a lot of water current, but what sort of plants are you going to have in there? I have set up a 5ft tank with discus and plants for a customer who had an fx5 on the tank, and the water flow was negligible because of the way the outlets and plants were positioned. Use plants like sag. subulata that get tall and bushy, and tiger lotus. Driftwood strategically placed also will act as a barrier to water flow, so it can be done- just depends on how you want to do it. Do not discredit having 2 filters on the tank either, although 2 405's brand new will be much more expensive than an FX5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R32GOTMLK Posted November 6, 2009 Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 i get about 2.5 to 3 foot of flow out of my 2 fx5's on my 6 foot tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floater Posted November 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2009 The FX5 does create a lot of current. How long is your 400L tank? What firenzenz says is right, the FX5 does create a lot of water current, but what sort of plants are you going to have in there? I have set up a 5ft tank with discus and plants for a customer who had an fx5 on the tank, and the water flow was negligible because of the way the outlets and plants were positioned. Use plants like sag. subulata that get tall and bushy, and tiger lotus. Driftwood strategically placed also will act as a barrier to water flow, so it can be done- just depends on how you want to do it. Do not discredit having 2 filters on the tank either, although 2 405's brand new will be much more expensive than an FX5. Tank is 150cm long. I think I could probably arrange it in such a way that is doesn't blow my fish away. Can't be that hard right!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted November 7, 2009 Report Share Posted November 7, 2009 5ft. yeah should not be hard at all. I mean the smartest thing to do would be to start the tank, plant everything, let them establish and then add the discus in. so you should have enough time to play with your options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floater Posted November 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 7, 2009 Thanks for the advice guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquatopia Posted November 8, 2009 Report Share Posted November 8, 2009 Do not discredit having 2 filters on the tank either, although 2 405's brand new will be much more expensive than an FX5. Not if you get them from Organism in chch. Even with shipping the difference is not too bad. 405's $299 each. FX5 $549 $50 difference but with the flexibility of two filters, both of which have flow rate adjustment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted November 8, 2009 Report Share Posted November 8, 2009 I have a 5ft, 450 litre planted discus tank and run an fx5 with no problems at all. The outlet sits at the right hand side of the tank with the two outlet nozzles set at 90 degrees. The current doesn't worry the discus as they don't sit up at the top of the tank anyway. I have a couple of pieces of driftwood in the tank, one sitting by the outlet and the other floating. The only issue at all with the filter is that the discus insist on laying on the outlet pipe and as the young become free swimming they go up it!! Heres a pic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer Posted November 8, 2009 Report Share Posted November 8, 2009 AWESOME tank adodge!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floater Posted November 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 8, 2009 Very cool looking thank. Thanks for the info Adodge. I've ordered an Ehiem 2078 now though, still a potent filter but with more gadgets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted November 9, 2009 Report Share Posted November 9, 2009 good luck, discus tanks are great to sit back and look at Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new zealand discus man Posted November 9, 2009 Report Share Posted November 9, 2009 Hi You can alway kill flow by turning upwards spray bar so will not make and current.. Tomorrow we lift a 2000 x 800 x 750 mm High 15mm thick glass and set up a Aquis 2450 UV-C Power filter thats got UV Build in.. Its about 11 to 1500 L and hour and using an under bench 2 kw unit to pre-heat the water then through the mighty filter... I mean mighty because of the uv... Cheers Phill Collis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.