REVIEW:Fluval FX5 vs Eheim Pro3 compared

[user134679]

I'm so sick of canister filter reviews,blah blah blah...There are only three basic elements to a filter, a sponge and some bio-media and a pump.

My 2213 is in it's 10th year running.

 

[mzhantsche]

My Fx5 blowing micro bubbles. Clean it and it goes away for about two weeks than comes back. But....for the money....i just recently bought another Fx5. Damn money always wins.

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[Ogrim]

I have had 2 fx5s running on my 180gallon for over 3 years so far and never replaced anything, no leaks and very quiet.

I clean them every 8 weeks or so, no never changed the seal.

Thank you for the important info on the FX5, that really matters to me!
+1 FX5 & looks like I am about to buy one

If Fluval had any sense, they'd ship the FX5 with full media pack & blow away the competition
Cheers

 

[Ogrim]

Sounds like your impeller is cavitating & your filter media/sponge/polishing-pad is clogged. Try use original or 20ppi foam with bio-media only in all 3 trays & skip the fluff pads all together for 4 weeks & see how you go with the bubbles

My Fx5 blowing micro bubbles. Clean it and it goes away for about two weeks than comes back. But....for the money....i just recently bought another Fx5. Damn money always wins.

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[camdenbreed]

good job on review u could buy 2 fx5 for almost the same money for 1 eheim

 

[ecoli73]

good job on review u could buy 2 fx5 for almost the same money for 1 eheim

For the price of 2 fx, I can get one eheim that holds three times as much filter material as one fx and a lot of that price difference is due to price of the filter material. Eheim classics, not pro3 are better...


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[Ogrim]

I find EHEIM Classics series to be very reliable & still recommend them for smaller aquariums.
However actual filtered water turn-ower per watt used is about double, compared to today's standards...
Hence I am going FX5 50W (~1950Liter actual) insted of a 2260 65W (~900L actual).
I am for the mechanical filtration of FX5 giving a simplified filtration with less equipment.

Something got missed from reviews!
Eheim Pro3 contact time is longer, however FX5 will have twice the water filtered in the same timeframe so contact time is doubled in the given time frame


Hence I see the FX5 as a better overal filter & buying one after using the EHEIM Classic series
Cheers

 

[ecoli73]

Fx5 can only hold 1.5 gallons of filter material, eheim 2260 holds 4.8 gallons. If you think 2260 flow rate is too slow, go for 2262. Twice the price but three times the capacity.


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[ecoli73]

In Singapore, a main lid seal approximately 10-12% of eheim pro2 & 2080. Have not check ed FX5 seal price.

Any idea how much your location ?

Yes the part cost sucks. It actually has being 8 month since the current setup has being running on my 300 and I have yet to clean my eheim. I can probably go longer but I'll open them up next month before I leave for vacation though... So I can't test the one year service claim yet.


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[Ogrim]

Fx5 can only hold 1.5 gallons of filter material, eheim 2260 holds 4.8 gallons. If you think 2260 flow rate is too slow, go for 2262. Twice the price but three times the capacity.


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Ecoli,
Thank you for the tip, but I can't buy 2262 in AU & it would only be 30% more flow in best case anyhow.
Far as I know the 2260 has the same capacity as a 2262, only the pump is upped to 900 gallon/h.

The filter media in the FX5 will be plenty for my 669 liters or 184USG aquarium.
Also the water in the FX5 will pass twice as often it would in an EHEIM. So less media, but twice as effective!
So I firmly believe in this case less is more & more efficient as well!

Note, just because there is space for 16 liters of biological media in the 2260, does not men it is actually used that well, but it adds to EHEIM profits 4 sure & makes us feel better.
There is only so much oxygen in the water at a given flow rate to sustain so many aerobic bacteria. The slower the rate the more oxygen needed to filter efficiently & sustain the beneficial bacteria.
All the anaerobic bacteria growth/effectiveness in the EHEIM media needs to be taken with a pinch of salt as well, for those dreaming of less water changes.

I am set on buying an FX5 & will make use of my test kit to confirm it's effectiveness!
However Fluval has done the foot work there already, just we are not convinced, because we want to spend more $$$ on expensive media we don't need.
I think Fluval is being more innovative with the FX5, however they have managed to stuff up with they new line filters
Cheers