Fluval Fx5 Rant!

[indigo]

im running 2x 404's and i've had a few teething problems with both, ie breaking the propellers which is an easy thing to do, but apart from changing all the pipes, fittings and O rings i've had no problems with either, i only changed so much on there as they're 4/5 years old and came with the tank that i inherited from a family member

i'd replace with another fluval for sure in the event of them being beyond economical repair in the future

give Hagan a ring, when i rang them almost in tears that i was having problems with one of the filters when i first got them, and explained that the insurance had arranged for a guy to install the tank but that he hadn't explained fully what he was doing and when i checked a filter over a few weeks later i managed to break the propeller, they sent me a shedload of spares, gave loads of good advice on the phone and have been very helpful ever since

 

[Fella]

I run 2 x Fluval 304's on one tank
1 x Fluval 305 on another
1 x Fluval 205 on another
2 x fluval internals
and 1 x fluval FX5 on my tanks


And with proper maintenance, they're fine. i've never had a problem with any of them. A filter is a basic bit of kit, it's an impeller, drawing water through a media, and then firing the water out the other side. Nothing more, nothing less, and I've never had a problem with them, and see no need to buy more expensive Eheim filters.

 

[MojoDex]

ok the ehim 2180's i run are actually bigger in size than the fluval so by all the fluval owners own interpretation that makes them beter as they have more filter media! the 2180 has a flow rate of 1700 litres an hour all coming out of 1 16/22 diameter tube the fx5 according to hagens very own site has a flow of 2300 litres per hour not the 3500 you all seem to be quoting! http/www.hagen.com/uk/aquatic/product.cf...=01002180030101

it only holds the same amount of bio media as the tetra tec 1200 which for a filter that big is pathetic! compare that with the ehiems 2180 which holds nearly twice the amount of bio media. and if you get the 2180 as i have u also get a 500watt heater built in and it still uses less electricity! my complaint was never about the fluvals size either its about the shape its a stupid shape they have gone out of there way to be different to eheim and it has blown up in there face, the eheim is bigger than the fluval as this picture of mine proves

seriously tell me that bolted on box on the fluval is a good design feature!

ive fixed the fluval now either way but i shouldnt have to pay £25 for a new impeller because fluval cant be arsed making it right in the first place!

 

[rsands]

you bought a filter from an individual by sounds of it...unreliable and anything could have happened it when he had it. the filters are good, who cares what it looks like! its a filter!

 

[T1KARMANN]

the fluwho has sponges the eheim has media

make your own fx5 it will be cheaper just buy a pond bucket and bolt a pump on it

 

[MojoDex]

you bought a filter from an individual by sounds of it...unreliable and anything could have happened it when he had it. the filters are good, who cares what it looks like! its a filter!

its not about what it looks like its about the opracticality of it despite the ehim being an all round bigger filter it actually has a smaller foot print because it doesnt have a stupid bolt on impeller housing that just gets in the way!

anyway i beleive im in a better position than anyone else on this board to say which filter is best as i own the top eheim and the top fluval and to my knowledge no one else does and eheim wins hands down im afraid!

 

[Fella]

the fluwho has sponges the eheim has media

make your own fx5 it will be cheaper just buy a pond bucket and bolt a pump on it

Where would you put the microchip on the bucket?

 

[drud]

you bought a filter from an individual by sounds of it...unreliable and anything could have happened it when he had it. the filters are good, who cares what it looks like! its a filter!

its not about what it looks like its about the opracticality of it despite the ehim being an all round bigger filter it actually has a smaller foot print because it doesnt have a stupid bolt on impeller housing that just gets in the way!

anyway i beleive im in a better position than anyone else on this board to say which filter is best as i own the top eheim and the top fluval and to my knowledge no one else does and eheim wins hands down im afraid!

I should hope so. I could almost by THREE FX5`s for the prise of ONE EHEIM!!!

 

[marcan]

(...) the fx5 according to hagens very own site has a flow of 2300 litres per hour not the 3500 you all seem to be quoting! http/www.hagen.com/uk/aquatic/product.cf...=01002180030101

(...)

In Canada and USA, the FX5 is rated 3500L/h.
http/www.hagen.com/canada/english/aquati...=01002180011001

 

[KhaosInc]

for all the hatred the Fluvals have... despite everything I have bought (Enhiem on down) the only 4 canister filters I have currently funtional and not in need of parts are fluvals. There are 4 magnum 350s sitting under my 300 gallon... all leak. They replaced the 2 big enheims I bough ages ago.. neither one pumps. (they are in a box around here somewhere). the longevity award goes to a fluval 304.. had it since it was the hot new thing... never missed a beat. currently running it and a 404 on my turtle tank (150 gallon tank). Im running 2 FX5's on my 300 gallon tank now (africans) and I am about as hard as it gets on filters. I drop them, I missplace things, and I have a bad habit of modifying stuff to make it work better.. so far other than the every other week rinse, I haven't messed with mine..

though it might be kinda like old american cars...

if you build a product inconsistantly enough.. occationally you make a good one. (and this is coming from a guy with 9 of them)

 

[T1KARMANN]

the fluwho has sponges the eheim has media

make your own fx5 it will be cheaper just buy a pond bucket and bolt a pump on it

Where would you put the microchip on the bucket?

who needs a micro chip it a filter not a PC

with a small mod on both my pro3 i have more sponge than the fx5 this is the advantages of 2 x intakes you take one of them to a big pond bucket before it gets to the filter giving you a big massive sponge filter just like the fx5

the fx5 even has pond hose

 

[MojoDex]

(...) the fx5 according to hagens very own site has a flow of 2300 litres per hour not the 3500 you all seem to be quoting! http/www.hagen.com/uk/aquatic/product.cf...=01002180030101

(...)

In Canada and USA, the FX5 is rated 3500L/h.
http/www.hagen.com/canada/english/aquati...=01002180011001

since its a german company ill take the word of the site based in europe hey! litres are litres they arnt like gallons were america has its own version. and if you actually took the time to read down a bit further it says 2300 anyway

T1KARMANN id be very interested to see the way you have set up that sponge filter on yours sounds like a good idea

 

[HODDY]

i have a 305.I brought with a tnak second hand like 2-3 years ago and stil going strong.Bit noisy mind.I think i will go for ehiem for filters.Though my mate got one and the water flow dont seem very good.My 305 is powerful.

 

[T1KARMANN]

(...) the fx5 according to hagens very own site has a flow of 2300 litres per hour not the 3500 you all seem to be quoting! http/www.hagen.com/uk/aquatic/product.cf...=01002180030101

(...)

In Canada and USA, the FX5 is rated 3500L/h.
http/www.hagen.com/canada/english/aquati...=01002180011001

since its a german company ill take the word of the site based in europe hey! litres are litres they arnt like gallons were america has its own version. and if you actually took the time to read down a bit further it says 2300 anyway

T1KARMANN id be very interested to see the way you have set up that sponge filter on yours sounds like a good idea

i cant get pics as the pond bucket sits behind my pro3 so once the pro3 is in the cab you cant see the bucket

you should be able to understand if i explain a bit better

the pro3 has 2 x sucktion pipes you take both pipes out of the tank like normal

take suction pipe 1 to a pond bucket like this http/www.aquatics-direct.co.uk/rangeView...?categoryID=335 then from the pond bucket to the pro3 like normal basically the pond bucket acts like a big massive pre filter/sponge filter just like a fx5

then take the 2nd sucktion pipe to the pro 3 like normal buy doing it this way both the pond bucket and the pro 3 are being fed with tank bacteria

the pond buckets i use are the cyclone 5000 without the UV which makes them cheaper than the price stated on the link and pond UVC are no good for a tank anyway

i paid about £40 each for my pond buckets

and before anyone asked the water still falls the same rate to the pro 3 with the pond bucket as it does without