Fluval FX5 or two AC100

[EMTBMIKE]

I currently have a aqualear 110 and two double stacked sponge filters on my 150 and 125 gallon tanks. I want to add filtration to both of these tanks. I was thinking of using a Fluval fx5 and the sponge filters to filter the tanks. But is it worth The $365 it will cost me to get the fluvals? The FX5 uses 48 watts of electricity and pumps 918 gph. The aquaclear 110 pumps 500 gph and uses 14 watts of electricity. If I add another ac110 I can get 1000gph using 28 watts per hour. Are the fluvals worth $185 and the extra 20 watts of electricity?

[Afreakin]

How many fish are in the tank and how big will they get? How often and how much water do you change? What is the ammonia and nitrite now? I hope 0 :)

Do you really need it?

I filter my 130 w/fluval fx5 2 AC70s and a sponge

My 125 w/2 sponges and 3 AC110s

[Artie]

[QUOTE=Afreakin;

I filter my 130 w/fluval fx5 2 AC70s and a sponge

My 125 w/2 sponges and 3 AC110s[/QUOTE]


That's cause you're a wealthy guy !!!!!!!!! Gettin' the Paracyp itch you wacko !!!!!!!!!???????????????

[mack74]

Mike if u are going to get a canister filter I would get the fx5. It moves alot of water and it has to 2 outtakes so u can point them anyway u like to get good water movement. I hated them at first but one I figured out how to pack them I have no complants.

[EMTBMIKE]

All of my levels are 0. I do 50% water changes every week. The 125 is a grow out tank. It can be over stocked at times. The 150 is my breeding tank for my albino taiwan reefs and nyassochromis boadzulu kanchezdas. I like the fluval fx5 but after sleeping on it. I think it is way too expensive and uses too much electricity. I am getting two ac110 for $75. When you think about it I can add another ac110 for a total of 3 per tank. The total cost will be $205 for the extra filters and using only 42 watts of electricity.

[EMTBMIKE]

BTW I am still going to use the sponge filters. I am actually going to add a third row of sponges.

[Afreakin]

I have a 110 that I filter with2 penguin 350s and 2 sponges

No problem

[EMTBMIKE]

I don't have any problems with either tank. I just want to add filtration that is efficient in cost of the filter, electricity and cleaning the tank.

[Ironman]

Sup' Mike,


On my 150 i have 2x110 A.C. & 2xFX_5 With out any complaints. So to answer your question for me YES, it's worth the money........

A plus is maintenance is simple. In the last yr I cracked open my fx-5 twice and both times they were pretty clean. On the other hand my 110's i rinse out the media once every other month...

[eggzackary]

Correct me if i'm wrong but i thought i read some where that the true output of a packed FX5 was no where near 918gph.... more like half that.

[Afreakin]

Correct me if i'm wrong but i thought i read some where that the true output of a packed FX5 was no where near 918gph.... more like half that.

If you do regular maintenance and your tanks aren't busting at the seems with big fish, moderate filtration should be fine. I know Malawi keepers tend to over stock tanks but a moderate stocked tank should be fine with less than the "10x turnover per hour" filtration.

The key is Stocking your tank and regular large (35%- 50%) water changes weekly. IMO

Anyway the FX5 is a great filter and even if it doesn't turnover 900+ gph you should be fine w/the other 2 filters and sponges.

[joe_jaskot]

Correct me if i'm wrong but i thought i read some where that the true output of a packed FX5 was no where near 918gph.... more like half that.No filter that is packed performs at its advertised output. Companies advertise their filter's output with no media or with new media in a clean tank.

Mike 20 watts of electricity run 24 hours a day would consume 175.2 kwh of electricity/year. At about 20 cents a kwh, you are talking about $35/year or less than $3/month. Aquaclears are great filters. Most canisters are great filters. Hang on back filters do require more maintenance. Canister filters filter better than HOBs because all water coming in has to pass through the filter media before coming out (no bypass). All filters (sponge, box, undergravel, HOB, canister, wet/dry, etc.) work. The choice is yours. It is very hard to overfilter a tank.

[EMTBMIKE]

If the tanks were in my house. I would have no problem using the extra electricity. But they are in my dads house. He is the one paying the electric bill. I ran it by him with these estimates. He rather me get the aqualcear 110. I clean the filters once a month. I never had a ac110 bypass the sponge yet. I can't see spending a couple hundred dollars on the fx5 after doing the comparison.

[joe_jaskot]

I run 21 HOB filters, mostly Aquaclears. Some water always bypasses the media. I stopped using canister filters years ago when one of the connectors leaked, drained the tank, killed the fish and flooded the room. However, today's hosing connectors are much improved.

[EMTBMIKE]

I thought you meant it overflowing by the intake tube.

[joe_jaskot]

No, they only do that when the media needs to be cleaned.

[EMTBMIKE]

I know.. I thought you were referring to that. I had a blonde moment....

[chris1932]

I have three FX5s and I am really happy with them. You cant use the filter pads that Fluval sells or you will be replacing them once a week. Running the FX5s is cheaper than the 8 HOBs I had. If you get Maten foam and cut discs out of it you will love the FX5. They are quiet and you will evaporate much less water.