Equipment Review and Discussion :: Fluval FX5 help.

[Daniel3507]

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.j ... Id=2754125
i found mine at a local pet store. i have it in the middle basket.

UVB is absolutly necessary. Your turtle needs it for the production of the vitamin D3 that is required for the metabolization of dietary calcium. It also helps the shell

[BullDog]

i know i did one thing that no one mentioned was to use a bit of the old media's mixed with the new to get the good bacteria going. i hope this will prevent the 'new tank syndrome.' y'all think?

Yup, that's exactly what I did, and I didn't even have an ammonia spike

A great improvement!

But you very much do need a UVB. Without it, your turt will eventually develop severe shell problems. It's really only a $20 investment ever 6-12 months, and it'll keep your turtle healthy!

[Lnorigb]

i know i did one thing that no one mentioned was to use a bit of the old media's mixed with the new to get the good bacteria going. i hope this will prevent the 'new tank syndrome.' y'all think?

Yup, that's exactly what I did, and I didn't even have an ammonia spike

A great improvement!

But you very much do need a UVB. Without it, your turt will eventually develop severe shell problems. It's really only a $20 investment ever 6-12 months, and it'll keep your turtle healthy!

day 2 and still just as clear. i keep joking "where's the water?" =)

i pulled out the UVB. it'll go up after my morning java. also going to order a timer for the light. should the light be 12 on 12 off or something more in keeping to our habits?

this site is so fab! i'm even starting to haunt the non-turt area...

thx

~

[BullDog]

I do my lights 12 on 12 off (about 10:30-10:30 for me), but some people adjust their lights with the season - so in the summer the turtles get a bit more light (say 14 hours) and in the winter a bit less light (10 hours).

[Lnorigb]

d'oh i didn't post how i filled the baskets as per y'all recommendations!

bottom basket has layer of coarse (blue) filter topped with black stars (2 boxes worth) and another layer of coarse filter.

middle basket has a layer of coarse filter topped with charcoal bits (3 bags) and phosphate bits (2 bags). then topped with fine filter (white).

top basket has layer of fine filter topped with ceramic rings (1 box) and a small sleeve of used rings again topped by fine filter.

nothing is compacted just assembled nicely. the 3 bags of charcoal have 2 very small used bags from my in-tank filter and the larger charcoal bag is only a half filled sleeve. and i snuggled the phosphate bags around the rim of the basket. i should've took photos! if only for my own reference in a month when i take it all apart.

oh!! my morning routine is so disrupted! its quite nice tho. generally i get up get cawfee going take JT out and put her in little tank. feed her. and take filter pads out, give them a rinse. then reassemble and leave JT till she poo's or until i run out of time.

but today i did none of the above but make cawfee!!! she's seems to be looking for some breaky but i read up last night and noticed that i've been SEVERELY over feeding her. yikes.

haven't even had her 2 months and i swear i've invested more thought time and definitely dollars (just over $1k already) then any other pet of my entire life!!!

i never knew i wanted to be a turtle owner until i 'rescued/assumed ownership' but now i wouldn't change it!
esp since i have non smelly non ugly water now. >that< was really getting me down.

~

[BullDog]

You'll have to switch your baskets in the correct order (just stack them the opposite way). The water goes through the top basket first, so your fine filter and biomedia will get clogged very quickly. The idea is to take out a little more gunk as the water goes through the baskets. First the big stuff gets taken out in the top basket, then the medium + chemical in the middle basket, and finally the water is "scrubbed" by the biomedia and fine filtration. Switch it asap otherwise your new filter will suddenly seem not so good!

[Lnorigb]

You'll have to switch your baskets in the correct order (just stack them the opposite way). The water goes through the top basket first, so your fine filter and biomedia will get clogged very quickly. The idea is to take out a little more gunk as the water goes through the baskets. First the big stuff gets taken out in the top basket, then the medium + chemical in the middle basket, and finally the water is "scrubbed" by the biomedia and fine filtration. Switch it asap otherwise your new filter will suddenly seem not so good!

omg. i KNEW i did it wrong. sigh... so i'm only switching the top and bottom filter? ok deep breath.
will do so as so as the mister comes home and can help.
i had a gut instinct i was doing it wrong... i've never been an easy learner from merely reading. i tend to need to SEE it done.

blah.i really want to hire a regular tank maint. person.
you available?!?!?

~

[BullDog]

That's correct, switch the top and bottom.
No worries, I've done that before. It's especially confusing since the other Fluval canister filters are stacked the opposite way!

Hey, if you pay for my trip out to California, I'll maintain your filter for free!

[bradmeisel]

I just got my new 75 gallon form a 20 gallon and I think I am going to go all the way and get a FX5. Is this the best filter i can get? Will i need to keep the intake away from the turtles some how?

How does it compare to the 405?

[BullDog]

I think it's the best filter, but I don't have a lot of experience with other filters
In gph, it's unmatched by any other canister filter out there, though pond filters could compete.

I see you've got a couple of RES about 4". I think they should have no problem with the intake. There is a big intake strainer, so you can't feel much suction. The output is quite strong, but if your turts have problems fighting the currents, you can aim the outputs towards the wall of the aquarium.

In short, it doesn't even compare to the 405. I had the 404 in my 75 gallon, and just replaced it with an FX5. It's got a lot of really nice features that the 405 doesn't have, self-priming and the ability to drain your tank, being two of them.

It's a bit pricey, but well worth the investment. That's why I have 2 of them
Look around on ebay, and you should be able to find one for around $200+- with shipping.

[bradmeisel]

that's what I paid on ebay. It should be here on tuesday. I'm excited for it and hope it fits in my stand. My two 5$ turtle just cost me $700.

I just wish i could let them swim the whole tank together but after reading some of those posts, I think their days swimming together is over.

[BullDog]

My two 5$ turtle just cost me $700.

Yup, that's how it goes! That was the same with my "free" turtle

That's a very wise idea to separate them now. When they get a bit bigger, they'd be able to do some serious damage to each other.

[akaghettoraver]

this filter pad that takes out phosphate, interesting, do tell more!!!

[bradmeisel]

I got my filter and set it up yesterday. I thought they forgot to give me 2 hoses before I realized I actually had to cut my new filter. It was a tad difficult to get going but now it is humming.

I can't believe how quiet it is and how quickly the water starting getting clearer.

It fits perfectly under my 75 gal tank and I am very happy with it.

Is it ok to use three polishing pads in the bottom tray? I was afraid it would slow the flow but it seems ok.

[BullDog]

I got polishing pads with mine, so I put one in when I first set it up. However, about 10 days later, I was like, "OMG! There's no flow!" The pads had totally clogged up.

It seems some people have luck with them, and some don't. Give it a try, and just monitor your flow