Advice on filter purchase

[cichlidaddicted]

So I'm in the market for a new filter I currently run a magnum 350 canister (total garbage) a hot magnum (fairly crappy) and an AC110. The tank is 125 gallons and heavily stocked with africans. I am a firm believer in over filtering and using atleast two different filters. This being said I hate the magnum 350 what a headache, not because its a canister, I'm a firm believer in canisters but because its an extremely poor design. I have been looking and narrowed it down to a few but can't make a decision. Does anyone have any thoughts on the fluval fx5, eheim 2075, fluval G6 or any other similar quality canisters. Any feedback would help the G6 has lots of neat bells and whistles bit the more it has the more can go wrong and due to its high price I would probably have to get a used one off ebay. The eheims seem to have a low flow rate but I read that the fluvals rates are higher only because they are tested without media? Is this true and how many gph would be sufficient in a 125?
Thanks guys
Dan

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[Andrewtfw]

The g6 is not customizable in terms of media. Replacement cartridges are not easy to find in lfs and are costly.
The fx5 is a great filter. Due to capacity, it is heavy when removing to clean. It has a drain at the bottom but if you set it on the floor, it will be too low to gravity siphon. I know nothing on the eheim.

 

[DougGosnell]

You mention power canisters but I would think you would get many times the performance and ease of maintenance going to a wet dry filter. TBH I think all of them are equally bad but I do know someone using the fx5 with good results.

 

[Forester]

Fx5 all the way!!! I have one on my 75g and it works great!

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[Ading522]

fx5's are great and are mostly common in comparison the older eheim 2260 or newer 2262..although i think it all depends on how you customize your filter media..if you set it up for mostly mechanical filtration, an fx5 would be sufficient for even a heavily stocked 125..it would be filtering your tank almost 8 times over.. if you want, and additional HOB or canister filter can be added.. i think the G6 is really just for planted tanks, its expensive and media replacements are costly.. eheims are pretty good, although not a lot pop out for sale often.. new ones like the 2262 would cost almost 400 dollars, and you can get 2 used fx5's for that money.. if you are open to the sump wet dry setup, you can also look into that..

 

[cichlidaddicted]

The sump will be a future project several years down the road fo now I'm limited in my options so a canister will have to do. I agree a sump woupd be a better option its jist not feasible right now. Thanks for the input would yoh all agree that the sunsun and other generic brand canisters are as nad or worse than the current magnum?

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[jonclark96]

I love my FX5's. The debate over canisters will go on and on about how often they need to be cleaned, but I like them.

Not sure why you are limited to canisters now unless it is space. If you are looking at things from a cost perspective, you can definitely do a sump or dump filter for half the cost of a new FX5.

 

[Ading522]

I love my FX5's. The debate over canisters will go on and on about how often they need to be cleaned, but I like them.

Not sure why you are limited to canisters now unless it is space. If you are looking at things from a cost perspective, you can definitely do a sump or dump filter for half the cost of a new FX5.

+1 sump wet dry systems are pretty cost effective, and depending on the way you set things up, you can have a larger surface area than that of an fx5.. if its space you are limited to, then maybe canisters are the way to go.. the only thing that bothered me about a sump system is the calibration.. it took me 3 days running straight to assure that during a power outage, i wont come home to water on the floor.. you dont really have to acquire those acrylic sumps.. any tank, a couple pieces of glass or plexiglass and a tube of silicone, a creative mind would lead you to a good wet dry system without shelling out the $$$ for a brand new acrylic sump.. but then, there are always nice deals on CL and sometimes EBAY..

 

[cichlidaddicted]

My main concern with sumps is
1. I live on the second floor and the idea of flooding my downstairs neighbor with 125 gallons of water is not very appealing.
2. Between my three tanks I have almost 250 gallons on my floor and I am begining to get concerned about a weight issue. If I did do a sump I would only do it correctly with a 20 gallon tank adding an extra 200 lbs or so isn't an option.
3. I am completely out of room. I designed my stand to include a shelf for my filtration apparatus and a sump just won't fit the tank is acting as a as a barrier between my dining room and living room viewable from both sides and a there really is no logical location to set up a sump.
Thanks guys for your input and ideas much appreciated.

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[dogofwar]

In your situation, I'd go with an FX5. And clean it regularly

Matt

 

[clearsky5]

there are failsafes so as to not have 120 gallons of water purging through your floor to the neighbor,, but i digress....
I have a C-530 working on a 125, with some nasty dirty cats and it is doing a bangup job! I also have a hangonback large filter and (funny you said it) a 350 canister as well.... I do believe in backing up my systems where ever possible.... I would agree, that as an "only" unit, a 350 wouldn't be enough, but as additional or backup I love mine..
if you ever want to sell your 350, let me know....
david

 

[cichlidaddicted]

Do you have issues with noise, problems sealing after cleaning and, loss of flow rate extremely quickly on your 350? What media do you use in it

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[mchambers]

I'd go with an Eheim 2217, 2028, or 2229 (but if a 2229 pay attention to the height of the tank). Eheims may have less flow than Fluvals (I don't know), but they are quiet and reliable.

Oh, and I'd only clean it when the flow slows.

 

[blkmjk]

Fx-5... I have a 150 and while the stock is modest at the moment there was a time in recent history that this was not the case. At one point I had...

4) Green Texas
4) Carpintis
4) Pearsi
4)Syns
5)Bifas
2) Guttalatus
2)Regani
3) Black belts
2) La Cieba yellow heads
4)Zonatus
4)Hartwegi
2) Salvini

Some of these were adult pairs some were juveniles none were smaller than 3'' none larger than 11''. The tank had no water quality issues. Just had to change water weekly. Just like any other tank I have.

My two cents worth.

Drew

NO GOOD DEED SHALL GO UNPUNISHED!

 

[clearsky5]

Do you have issues with noise, problems sealing after cleaning and, loss of flow rate extremely quickly on your 350? What media do you use in it

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how old is your unit?
sounds are usually impeller issues.. nothing craps out a canister filter faster than getting some grit down in the impeller housing or canal down there..
also... if the return tube is not directly in line when you put on the housing, there can be some water noise.
I agree, that I would n't use it by itself on a very large tank. I use them more on smaller tanks or as backup units. They are probably not the best designed... As mentioned earlier.... a sump system is maybe the best for a heavily stressed tank....
good luck

 

[cichlidaddicted]

Its about three years old but only used for two years. The noise is always somehow associated with the impeller the most annoying part is how fast it loses its flow sometimes in just days and since there are two other filters I can't imagine its because of to much debris

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[cichlidaddicted]

Thank you all for your input. I decided to go with the fx5 and so far I am very happy with it. What a beast! Anyone have any suggestions on a good media combo? When I bought it they really tried to push the chemi-pure on me. Anyone ever use this? Normally I don't even use carbon but the claims of removing nitrate are appealing with my heavily stocked tank. I'm still using the magnum 350 with the water polisher in it. Any other ideas for good media would help. Thanks again

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[jonclark96]

I stay away from the chemical filtration products. They probably work at first, but guess that you'd have to either replace or recharge on a regular basis for them to act as anything more than additional surface area for bio filtration.

I use Seachem's Pond Matrix in my FX5's. It is a porous bio media that works well - it is the same stuff as the regular Matrix, but a little larger pieces and is way cheaper. I fill all three baskets with it and use the standard sponges for mechanical filtration. I don't use any of the floss pads. They clog quickly and for as a good as a filter as they are, they are bulky to get out from under my 180.

 

[cichlidaddicted]

Yes quite bulky. As a rule I usually stay away from any chemical filtration or water additives. Do you use a sponge prefilter in the intake?

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