Fluval Fx5

[robertsskippyj]

Right i've finaly got the stand built for the 8 footer I was lucky enough to aquire all I need to do is get as many mates round to lift it on there.

I've abandoned the idea of drilling it, building a sump so I am going back to 2 FX5's which i'm just about to order.

My question is i can see that the FX5 has foam blocks in cage type baskets which it comes with and they then say additional media avalible to add. Fluval recomend there Biomax ceramic rings. Where do these go? Is it as simple as putting them in the big hole in the middle of the donut shaped baskets? Can the FX5 use Tetratec Bioballs instead as I have spare of those?

Also what's everyone thoughts on this filter?

Thanks in advance

 

[ainsy]

Yep the foam surrounds the three chambers - so you can put whatever you like in them.

I have ceramic ring prefilter in the top. Peat and some matrix in number 2 and number 3 is full of matrix.

 

[mattlee]

the extra media just goes inside the basket in the middle and any type can be used. on an 8ft tank i would defo go with a sump it will be so much easier to manage and give your tank a bigger volume of water. you can also hide the heaters etc in the sump tank giving more room in the tank and making it a better looking tank.

if going for the FX5 filter route then i would possibly say get 3 of them on an 8ft tank. i had 2 on a 6.5ft tank and they were just about enough for it. im currently using 2 on a 5ft tank and its perfect.

what are ya going to stock in this tank?

 

[balajake]

if you have never ordered from zooplus the have a code for 16% off £60 or over orders for first time orders 16OVER60

http/www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/fish/filters_pumps/canister_filters/hagen/78856

£199 before discount

if buying 2 it would take £64 off before quidco

 

[robertsskippyj]

the extra media just goes inside the basket in the middle and any type can be used. on an 8ft tank i would defo go with a sump it will be so much easier to manage and give your tank a bigger volume of water. you can also hide the heaters etc in the sump tank giving more room in the tank and making it a better looking tank.

if going for the FX5 filter route then i would possibly say get 3 of them on an 8ft tank. i had 2 on a 6.5ft tank and they were just about enough for it. im currently using 2 on a 5ft tank and its perfect.

what are ya going to stock in this tank?

New World Cichlid Tank Hopefully.
Not completely decided on what yet maybe, Green Terror, Jack Dempsey, group of ellioti or aureus, unsure of numbers of the first 2 and they would have to be all males. Love the red tiger oscar to but i've heard about there ability to choose there tank mates and kill everything else.

The thing that puts me off a sump is all the weirs that I would have to have in the back which i was told on an 8ft would have to be at least 2. That's like 2 bloody great big internals in the back of your tank and with the chance of them draining your tank onto the floor in a power cut. Do you have a sump?

if you have never ordered from zooplus the have a code for 16% off £60 or over orders for first time orders 16OVER60

http/www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/fish/filters_pumps/canister_filters/hagen/78856

£199 before discount

if buying 2 it would take £64 off before quidco

No i've never ordered of them before, thanks for that.

 

[Tizer]

I have to say i've been planning my 8 foot in my head for the last few months and i've pretty much decided on a moving bed filter sump for mine when it happens. Might be something worth looking into? Pretty sure it would work out a lot cheaper than two big externals and be a lot more efficient.

 

[robertsskippyj]

I have to say i've been planning my 8 foot in my head for the last few months and i've pretty much decided on a moving bed filter sump for mine when it happens. Might be something worth looking into? Pretty sure it would work out a lot cheaper than two big externals and be a lot more efficient.

Thanks for that I will ahve a look into those.
How big a sump tank have you looked at? Someone told me I need half the tank capacity as a sump which means a sump tank of 567 litres which will be a really big tank.

 

[Tizer]

I'll probably look for a 2nd hand 4 foot long, (240 litres(ish)) remove all the trim and get some glass cut to size and make my own. Not 100% sure if that will be big enough, but dont see why not. Still got a lot of reading to do myself, never gone the sump route but i think its necessary with something this size.

 

[robertsskippyj]

What about ready to go sumps to purchase is there such a thing and where would you get there?

 

[Tizer]

What about ready to go sumps to purchase is there such a thing and where would you get there?

Talk to the guys making your tank? Should be pretty clued up on it.

 

[robertsskippyj]

I acquired the tank for free of someone who hadn't had it long.