FX5 filter

[PUNISHER VETTE]

Just put a bid on one from ebay. Actually i'm using a sniping program that puts the bid in at the last second. It'll put in the cheapest bid up to what i specified so it wont just put in what i said.

How much are these things really worth? I just saw one just like it on ebay go for $168 + $40 shipping. The one i'm bidding on will do about the same so...

I have a 110g so hopefully this will be plenty and last me a while.

[cocoa_pleco]

theyre about $300-$350 in stores, i got mine for $250 on sale though

[PUNISHER VETTE]

Well i hope it's a good one since i just won it.

Finial bid was $142 with $40 shipping.

$182.40 total

[PUNISHER VETTE]

Okay. Now i guess i need to read up on what to add into the filter.

I saw something about a nitrate, phosphate and something else remover but since i have plants i like those things.

[cocoa_pleco]

it comes with sponges on the outside, thats it. i just threw a junkload of bioballs and ceramic rings in mine

[xoolooxunny]

NO CHEMICAL FILTRATION!! sponges, polishing pads and ceramic rings. congrats on the new filter for the low low price PV.

[PUNISHER VETTE]

I saw they had a peat type media to put in there. Since my pH is so high i'd like to try that and see if it helps lower it.

No chemical filtration as in? are those the nitrate/phosphate removing stuff?

What about carbon?
Still haven't looked into it much but by the time it gets here i'd like to have the filter stuff to put in it.

[xoolooxunny]

I saw they had a peat type media to put in there. Since my pH is so high i'd like to try that and see if it helps lower it.

No chemical filtration as in? are those the nitrate/phosphate removing stuff?

What about carbon?
Still haven't looked into it much but by the time it gets here i'd like to have the filter stuff to put in it.

Peat can do a good job, just be sure to monitor your ph more often, and I would break up the water changes to two 25% changes per week to avoid a larger ph swing from the water going in that hasn't been "peat filtered".

Yes, you got it, no carbon, no phosphate remover, no nitrate remover, as these are all things that take away what your plants need most. btw, with peat, make sure your kH doesn't drop below 3 to help keep your tank from having big ph swings.

[cocoa_pleco]

yep, carbons useless

[xoolooxunny]

yep, carbons useless

unless removing meds, i forgot to add that earlier. (which most shouldnt be going into a planted tank anyway)

[Incredulous_Ed]

Carbon should be used continually anyway. Its detrimental to a fish's health.

[PUNISHER VETTE]

Okay. I'm going to print out the manual when i get to work. I found an online version so i can read that today when i get a chance.

It's looking like i just need the foam filter and polishing pads and maybe some peat granules?

bio balls maybe too.

[PUNISHER VETTE]

Okay here is what i got out of the manual today while reading it at work.

Since i don't want chemical filtration that options out.(no carbon/ammonia/nitrate removing stuff)

Top basket looks like i need the polishing pads( Water polishing then Fine filter)

Middle basket is for the peat granules.

Bottom basket is for bioMax ceramic rings


Don't know if i need foam filter pads or pre-filter ceramic rings.
I think the foam filter pads go around every basket? and they should already be included in this first one. But don't know if i need the pre-filter rings or not.

[cocoa_pleco]

im pretty sure that theres foam around every basket

[PUNISHER VETTE]

Went to the LFS and they discontinued selling stuff for this model. They only had the water polishing pad left so i got that.

Looks like i'll have to order everything else online quick so it has a chance to get here about when the filter does.

Any input on the prefilter ceramic rings? whats the difference between those and the polishing pads?

[Incredulous_Ed]

Went to the LFS and they discontinued selling stuff for this model. They only had the water polishing pad left so i got that.

Looks like i'll have to order everything else online quick so it has a chance to get here about when the filter does.

Any input on the prefilter ceramic rings? whats the difference between those and the polishing pads?
I think the ceramic rings have more surface area.

[PUNISHER VETTE]

Okay. Just went ahead and ordered the rest of what i think i'll need/want

Here is what i'm thinking of how to set it all up. Since i've never seen it yet there might be some room issues but here is what i'll plan on doing.

TOP-prefilter C-rings, maybe the water polishing pad under those if there's room
MIDDLE-peat granules and maybe the fine filter pad under those
BOTTOM-BioMax C-rings

What i saw though was people didn't know if the water flowed top-bottom or bottom to top.

So should i reverse all of what i have above?

[xoolooxunny]

the water flows from the top basket to the bottom. bottom gets the cleanest water, so you should put the c-rings in there and the polishing pad on the bottom of those. every basket dose have a foam lining on it, so thats your coarse mechanical filtration there. dont for get to float your ring-holding basket in a bucket of tank water when you are cleaning the filter so they dont dry out, killing all of your precious bacteria.

[PUNISHER VETTE]

Yeah. I've been reading this thing pumps a LOT of water but when people don't fill it up enough with filtration the water moves too fast and the bacteria can't filter fast enough.

So i'm hoping with the different types of filtration i can fill it up completely and keep the water flow a little slower. Plus it'll need to go though my reactor anyway which will slow it a little.

I'm also seeing people using these things you clean your dishes with instead of the biomax so we'll see how they do. Maybe i'll attempt to try a few different things in the baskets to see if i see any changes later on.

And i hope the peat helps my pH some. With my KH so high i have a feeling it is just too hard to adjust.

[xoolooxunny]

And i hope the peat helps my pH some. With my KH so high i have a feeling it is just too hard to adjust.
well the peat will definitely help lower the kh, and along with some driftwood and co2, you might have a good recipe brewing, without adding or measuring stuff from the jar. there is only 1 way to find out . . .

[PUNISHER VETTE]

well the peat will definitely help lower the kh, and along with some driftwood and co2, you might have a good recipe brewing, without adding or measuring stuff from the jar. there is only 1 way to find out . . .


I already have CO2 and a huge chunk of wood and the KH is still through the roof along with the pH. Although i haven't had the KH tested in a while i guess i'll do that saturday if i go to the LFS for any reason.

[PUNISHER VETTE]

Fastest shipping i've ever seen. It left MI last night at 5pm and arrived at my doorstep at 9:30am the next day.

Although it's only about 400miles it was still super quick.

I hooked it up. Although i only had the standard water polishing filter i left my others in for now until the rest of my media comes in.

It might just be because it's breaking in but how many bubbles normally come out of the filter? I was hoping none eventually but i just tightened the top really tight to see if that helps. I guess the bubbles are a good thing for the fish so i probably shouldn't worry right now about it.

[xoolooxunny]

the wood and co2 wont drop the kh, just help lower the ph after the peat reduces the kh.

As far as the filter goes, yeah all the bubbles should be out of there in a day or so. happens every time i clean my filter.

[PUNISHER VETTE]

I saw that i need to put the peat granules in a bag of some sort. Anyone know if thats actually required or if i can use something else? I guess i can see if the LFS carries something like that. I just hope they aren't made special for this filter.

[xoolooxunny]

I saw that i need to put the peat granules in a bag of some sort. Anyone know if thats actually required or if i can use something else? I guess i can see if the LFS carries something like that. I just hope they aren't made special for this filter.

no, they are just regular ol' media bags for various filters that come in various sizes, most lfs's have them.