FX5 bio media selection and tank water circulation

[bigfishhead]

....I always ask questions and questions....Well I guess that just the way how you learn and grow to EXPERT.....

Now...question:

I got my second FX5 for my 760L tank. I want to set it up and more focus on bio filtering. So what is the best selection of media to put in FX5 three trays? :bounce: :bounce:

I have two FX5 and I really want to create a good water circulation for my tank if possiable. good circulation here means a good water flow circle that has less dead spot and can carry most waste to intake hozzle area.... So what is the best way to place these two FX5? :digH:

[ryanjury]

Just buy some biomedia off trademe, some ceramic noodles will work well. You can also goto a garden centre and buy some pumice chips the right size (you will have to grade them for FX5 because otherwise it passes through the holes in the trays and ends up in the impeller as I found) but it is cheap and works well.

Some will say you need to buy the eheim (ceramic gold) ones that cost a small fortune because they have the surface area of an inner city block per kg or something crazy like that. But I am yet to see anyone tell you how much surface area you need for a given stocking or tank volume and I would suspect even if you filled 2 FX5s with filter wool you would have plenty of surface area for bacteria and would be fine.

Several options for where to stick your filter inlets/outs, you could stick both inlets and both outlets at the same place this would create massive flow in the same direction. You could stick both inlets in the middle and outlets at each side, I don't think there is any real wrong way of doing it apart from sticking an outlet by an inlet (sucking in clean water not waste). So just do what works with your tank and move the outlet jets until all the poop is getting picked up. 2 FX5s on a 700L tank would be awesome!

[bigfishhead]

Thanks Ryan,

For my first FX5. I put pot scrubber at the bottom of tray to stop media drop into impeller + bioballs on top of it. I have this setting on two bottom trays. top tray with fluval pre filter media.

I google it and get the idea with pot scrubber....they have massive surface area and cheap...

But for my second FX5. I want to put in something like bio noodles and carbon media. Are they good for filtering and keep ammonia and nitrate level balance?

Do you use any carbon media?

[ryanjury]

Good idea on the pot scrubbers, I had heaps of issues with media stuck in the impeller and they aren't cheap to replace if you wear it out. But yeah have heard the same can't really go wrong with cheap and heaps of surface area.

The thing to remember with bio media is that bacteria will only build up proportionatly to how much bio load (ammonia) is produced in the tank. I would be confident in saying that you have already provided more than enough surface area for as much load as you could produce in your tank with your existing filter, so any extra is just a bonus.

Carbon is not needed it doesn't really do much (some even go as far to say it can cause harm by stripping too many minerals from the water) just use it if you are trying to remove something like meds etc.

[henward]

i have 3 fx5.... LOVE THEM! :thup:

i find that i fill the 2 bottom trays with bio media (if you use eheim efi substrat, use a stocking back) i have had osme slip into the impeller and slows down the turnover, doesnt damage just slows it down as it gets caught anyways.

if you use noodles or similar, no problems. then the top tray i just put a 30cm by 30cm size filterwool.... i cut in half and fold each piece into halves .

this works extremely well for me, keeps water extremely clear

by putting bio media at the two bottom, you will find it slightly slows down the turnover but with the amount of media, it counteracts that effect anyways with maximum conversion.

[bigfishhead]

Thanks henward！ :happy2:

So how oftenh you clean your FX5?

I have not clean my tank for 2 months now. Most people say clean the tank for 3 months?

...... :digH:

[ryanjury]

How often you clean the filter depends on what media you run in it.. If you stick really fine filter wool in it or polishing pads then you will need to clean it more often because it clogs up faster, I clean my FX5 every 6months or so could probably go upto a year even more as it still has good flow, that is with the standard filter pads around the outside of the trays and noodles etc in the middle. The trade off for the longer maintenance period is it doesn't get 100% of the really fine crud out of the water but still keeps it clean enough for me.

[henward]

thats right

i have to replace my filterwool ever 2 to 3 weeks when i had full capacity. i had fine filterwoola t the top, and bio media two bottom.

but now, i think once a month replace filter wool as the tank doesnt get anywhere near as much poo.

depends.

how ryan runs it, he doesnt put fine filter pad so it will do the bio filtration and course filtration of debris but fine particles will be around.

me, i have an obsessionw ith clarity - so i put fine pad.

to change it, i just lift cover replace wool and shut, i can do one fx5 in 1 to 2 minutes literally.

i dont wash sponges for at least 4 to 5 months, maybe 6y months if flow is still good after filterwool is replacxed.

as for bio media, i rinse the bio media with the old tank water (to not kill any bacteria) to dislodge debris after i clean the course pads in it, so every 4 to 6 months i overhaul the canister filter and fully take everything out.

low maintenance is my thing

[GZ_Loach]

Splintered glass is the next best thing to Eheim media, it's one advantage is that it doesn't clog up as fast as the Eheim balls (but less surface area)