FX5 not working properly- any suggestions?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I understand the point of view saying that if they are getting clogged, then they are doing their job by trapping debri. My problem is that I don't want to be working on this filter every 2 weeks. I am a small female and this filter is REALLY heavy when full and hard to move around. I always have my BF help me when it needs cleaning.

Every 2 weeks is just too much...for me at any rate.

Right now I am just happy that it is working again. :-)
 
haha this topic is soo funny
these filters suck because they filter too much stuff!

There is a decent amount of discontent on the FX5
mostly because so many have been sold and
because that polishing pad polishes the water

Take it out, run a smaller dedicated mech filter if you want a polisher
Keep that water flooowing through the Fluval
service every three months
$.02
 
HeyNow;4594384; said:
I understand the point of view saying that if they are getting clogged, then they are doing their job by trapping debri. My problem is that I don't want to be working on this filter every 2 weeks. I am a small female and this filter is REALLY heavy when full and hard to move around. I always have my BF help me when it needs cleaning.

Every 2 weeks is just too much...for me at any rate.

Right now I am just happy that it is working again. :-)
Click to expand...

Try the blue pad, your service time change from weeks to months.

When servicing close both hose lines and remove. Connect a hose on bottom drain outlet, and open the tap to rove most of the water before taking it out to service. Makes life much easier.
 
HeyNow;4595158; said:
rhodes- I did have the blue pads in- they were these: http://www.petco.com/product/106210/Hagen-Fluval-FX5-Fine-Filter-Pad.aspx?CoreCat=OnSiteSearch

I put them in 10/14 and I started having the problems this past week.

Because of where the filter is situated below the tank, I have to get it out of the stand cabinet, and lift it onto a chair so I can hook a hose to it to drain into a bucket. You are right though- once drained its not nearly as heavy.
Click to expand...

How have you, and what type of media arrangement is in the filter ?
 
I put one of the blue pads in each media basket (resting on the bottom of the basket of course), and I had carbon/bio media in the top, less carbon and more bio media in the middle, and all bio media on the bottom.

I think the top basket pad was the problem- it was absolutely caked solid w muck- the other ones were gross too, just not as bad as that top one.

Correct me if I am wrong but the way the water flows through the canister it hits top basket first. Maybe my mistake was adding a pad to the top basket.
 
Just so I'm clear, bc I am new to the FX5.
Most people are reccomending the blue pads?
These pads can be used in the same baskets as the media, but must be removed/replaced every couple of weeks?
Are there any reccomended configurations that people find most successful?
 
HeyNow;4596379; said:
I put one of the blue pads in each media basket (resting on the bottom of the basket of course), and I had carbon/bio media in the top, less carbon and more bio media in the middle, and all bio media on the bottom.

I think the top basket pad was the problem- it was absolutely caked solid w muck- the other ones were gross too, just not as bad as that top one.

Correct me if I am wrong but the way the water flows through the canister it hits top basket first. Maybe my mistake was adding a pad to the top basket.
Click to expand...

Here is your Problem.
You don't put the pads at the bottom of the basket !
The pads go on the top of the basket over the media.
don't overfill the baskets which have the filter pad. Allow 3/4" above the media for the pad to rest. This will ensure proper fit between the baskets to alleviate bypass, and help protect the bio media from being clogged.

Hope this helps.

You also don't need to put a pads over every basket. Just one pad over the top basket is sufficient. You can put an additional pad over the middle basket if you like, but generally it's not necessary.

Water flow in the fx5 comes down the intake tube to the bottom of the unit, then up through the outer sponges, then back down through the center of the baskets, then back up the outlet tube to the tank.

I would advice the against the use of carbon in such a filter as generally the media will expire before a service interval is due, and carbon is not necessary for sustained long term use in keeping the aquarium optimal. I would only use efficient bio media such seachem matrix or similar in all the baskets.
 
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