Fluval FX6 on a 75 gal- NOT enough!??

[OZZ1978]

Hey everyone. Recently I came across a good deal on a new FX6 so I thought I’d go for it even though it theoretically should be way more than needed on a 75 gallon.

However, It doesn’t seem to be doing a good job at all of filtering fish debris from the water. The water itself seems fine but there’s fish poop floating everywhere in the tank. It’s a well stocked mbuna tank, with rocks and Cichlid sand as the decor.

What gives I thought this thing would be a beast on a tank that is considered small for its specifications!???

 

[Chefken]

Try adding a small wavemaker for 24 bucks.....have it sweep the bottom of your tank and keep stuff from settling. A FX6 is more than enough for a 75 gallon tank!!!

 

[Mitchell The Monster]

Your rocks may be blocking/ creating dead spots in the aquarium stopping debris from making it to the intake. That happened in my 125 and I just rearranged the decor and added an air stone in the corner to add some more flow to create that circular flow to get around the whole aquarium.

 

[FESHMAN]

You might want to add some fine padding in it to filter out particles. You can get it at sawing or crafts store, make sure it says 100% polyester.

 

[brent245]

I am having this same problem with my 180g. I have 2 aquaclear 110's on it and it just didn't have enough flow. Pleco poop built up on the overnight. I feed heavily. I never had an issue with water parameters but the buildup of poop was insane. Last night I added 2 sun sun powerheads. Hopefully that helps.

 

[duanes]

I believe many aquarists have a somewhat delusional idea of filtration does, that it should take out all nasty stuff.
That is what siphons and water changes are for, and when debris and old water is removed from the tank, that does much more for water quality.
Filters are there for aesthetic reasons like getting out small particles and some turbidity from view, and the biomedia to help neutralize fish urine and ammonia.
If too much gunk is allowed to build up in filters, water quality degrades, and invisible toxic substances build up that can cause fish disease, and other problems. Regular cleaning of filters is needed, otherwise the aquarist is simply sweeping feces under the rug (in the filter, yet still essentially in the tank water).
And ratings for filters are often based on small community tank fish, not for medium sized or large species often kept by members here on MFK, large fish may need triple the amount of a normally rated filter.

 

[Preacher]

I believe many aquarists have a somewhat delusional idea of filtration does, that it should take out all nasty stuff.
That is what siphons and water changes are for, and when debris and old water is removed from the tank, that does much more for water quality.
Filters are there for aesthetic reasons like getting out small particles and some turbidity from view, and the biomedia to help neutralize fish urine and ammonia.
If too much gunk is allowed to build up in filters, water quality degrades, and invisible toxic substances build up that can cause fish disease, and other problems. Regular cleaning of filters is needed, otherwise the aquarist is simply sweeping feces under the rug (in the filter, yet still essentially in the tank water).
And ratings for filters are often based on small community tank fish, not for medium sized or large species often kept by members here on MFK, large fish may need triple the amount of a normally rated filter.

Very well said!

 

[Lilyann]

Yep, I have two FX 6's on my 180 gallon tank and still do a 75% water change weekly.

 

[brent245]

On my 180 I vac the poop every 2 days and it's about a 15% change. On the weekends I do a 40%. My water seems to be always full of particulates, but water parameters are just fine. My issue is getting the poop suspended in the water column long enough to get sucked into a filter. I'm going to try putting the powerheads on timers alternating them on and off every couple hours. Hopefully that keeps stirring up the bottom.

 

[VNCNT]

I have a 75g Mbuna tank as well. It’s filtered by an Eheim 2080 and a seachem tidal 110. With all the rocks, poop gets trapped in the dead spots in the tank. I have to siphon the waste during water changes. The Eheim has 2 intakes so there’s a total of 3 intakes with the tidal 110. It’s nearly impossible to eliminate dead spots in a tank with so many rock piles and caves. My water is crystal clear and my water parameters are about as good as it gets.