Equipment Review and Discussion :: Talk to me about the FX5.

[Rubicon]

I'm getting an FX5 for my 75 gallon tank. I see that it's got huge trays for media. How much does one tray hold? Like how many boxes of fluval biomax would it take to fill one tray?

Trying to figure how expensive this things gonna be.

[Chrisbarnett]

Maybe someone who has one can say, but what I would do is find the FX5's total media capacity, then just divide by 3. Then look up how much biomax is in a box and you have your answer.

[BullDog]

When I switched from a 404 to a FX5, I was surprised that the two baskets of biomax in my 404 filled up nicely one basket in the FX5. I think that was one large box worth + a bit. In Frankie's, I bought one large box of biomax, and ended up buying one more later, and splitting it between my two filters.

I can't remember exactly, but I think the large boxes are about 1000g, and the smaller boxes are 500g. I would say two small boxes or one big box per basket. It won't fill it up to the top, but 3 boxes per basket is too much. If you're putting it in two or three baskets, you can go 2 boxes per basket + one extra to fill up extra space.

[papoopeepoo]

im also considering buying an FX5 with tax return money. can any of you guy list any cons you've experienced?

[BullDog]

Pap - The only con I can think of revolves around size. It's a physically large filter, which is why it's such a high-flow filter, of course. Being a large filter, it's a bit louder than the Fluval 404 (though not a whole lot). It's also a bit of a beast to do a full cleaning, since it doesn't fit in my sink, but you don't have to do a full cleaning that often.

Oh - and one oft-heard complaint is that the tubing that comes with it is on the short side. There's enough tubing for a 4' tank, but I've heard that it falls short for 6' tanks.

Other than that, I certainly wouldn't trade mine for anything else out there right now!

[therabbittree]

how loud is it?..as my turtle tank is on a divider between my kitchen and living room. The filter would be on kitchen counter etc in a corner.. so if the fx5 crazy loud, I may have to drill the counter top and put the filter under the sick in the kitchen etc.... any tips.. I will probably be buying one soon..any suggestions on media ...I'd prefer to buy it online ie ebay or some where cheaper??..locally seems as the stores want over $300 for it ha..ebay is about 200 including shipping...any ideas or tips?
Thanks
Deo

[BullDog]

It's hard to describe how loud it is... I've got two in my bedroom, so they aren't overly loud, but I do have both wrapped up a bit in pillows & blankets to muffle the sound a bit. For me, it's just white noise.

I got my first one from eBay, and my second one from bigalsonline.ca, when it was on sale for $250. I think eBay is the cheapest place to buy it.

There are lots of posts on what media everyone uses, just do a forum search.

[Rubicon]

Hmm I may go with two 404's It would be cheaper and plus I'd have two inputs and outputs. I'll never have over a 90 gallon tank so ya.

[BullDog]

Never thought of it like that! That is definitely another good option!

[Chrisbarnett]

Still less GPH than the FX5 though.

[Rubicon]

True but less price and a better area of cover? I dunno just thinking.


An output on each side of the tank and two inputs in the center would be pretty sweet.

[Chrisbarnett]

True but if you're going for a show tank look, the less hoses in the tank the better.

[therabbittree]

how often do you guys have to tear the FX5 down and clean it?
Thanks,
Deo

[BullDog]

For me, its once every ~ 6 weeks (give or take, depending on the state of the tank).

[Rubicon]

I may have missed it but what size tank is your FX5 used on? Also what size are you turtles that are living in it?