Equipment Review and Discussion :: FX5 Day Three, Incredible

[devilduck]

Looks like your growing aquatic popcorn in your tank

[michelangelo]

How much do each of the trays of the FX5 hold? Just wondering how much Media I will need to fill it up.

Do you suggest 2 trays of Purigen and 1 tray of carbon?

Thanks

[muck]

Follow this to the letter, you will be happy you did.
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=30145

[michelangelo]

Follow this to the letter, you will be happy you did.
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=30145

I have and it really says nothing about volume of the trays. And when it says Bio-Media what does that mean?

By the diagram presented Carbon/Purigen is 1/3 of the top tray and "Bio-Media" is 2 and 1/3 trays.

The manual says 5.9 Liters of Bio Volume, does that mean each tray is about 2 liters, or does that mean with the media and foam it is 5.9 liters?

Just wondering if an experienced FX5 owner can give me these answers... thanks

[muck]

I used 6 boxes of Biomax but any ceramic biomedia will work
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fluval-Biomax-A ... 231dddf346

You can find cheaper, just showing you an example.

I used about half a box of biomax, purigen and carbon in basket one, and split what was left of the biomax to fill basket two and three.

[muck]

Here is where I bought mine
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... atid=15433

[michelangelo]

I used 6 boxes of Biomax but any ceramic biomedia will work
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fluval-Biomax-A ... 231dddf346

You can find cheaper, just showing you an example.

I used about half a box of biomax, purigen and carbon in basket one, and split what was left of the biomax to fill basket two and three.

Do you ever have to change the Bio-Max out?

Thanks for the response...

[muck]

some do, but most suggest you just rinse it, and replace the purigen and carbon.

[VeipaCray]

I didn't include any sort of media measurement as different manufacturers measure/sell the media in different ways. Some sell it by weight, some by volume, some by volume of packaging. Different brand bio media is different shapes, obviously the smaller the shape the more tightly it will pack together and the more volume you can pack in there (which sounds great but you also reduce flow by doing so). I chose to represent the media volumes as universally understandable pictures instead. If you see a tray full of media... fill that tray up as much as it will hold while still having the trays fit together properly.

I can tell you from my FX5, if you use the Fluval BioMax brand media you'll need five or six of the 500gram packages. I used a total of five: two boxes for two trays and a single box for the third tray. It's a LOT of bio meida, but bio media is a one time purchase. It never needs to be replaced - only rinsed. The sole purpose of biomedia is to provide inert surface area for naturally occurring nitrifying bacteria to colonize. The more surface area, the more home for bacteria and the larger the ammonia load it can handle. Because the media is basically porous ceramic - the media itself doesn't go bad. The media manufacturers would have you believe otherwise so they can continuously sell you expensive bio media. All you need to do is give it a quick rinse during your monthly filter maintenance to knock off any gunk or residue that's made it through the other layers of filtration and is now stuck to the bio media. We rinse it so that it remains porous and thus continues to provide the necessary surface area for the nitrifying bacteria to live.

Purigen can be regenerated (Cleaned) and reused about a dozen times so if you do normal monthly filter maintenance, the purigen will last a year before it should be replaced. The seachem website says it can be regenerated 6 times....my personal experience has been as I mentioned once a month for a year then replace the purigen yearly.

Carbon should be replaced monthly. If purchased in bulk and placed in reusable media bags (Fluval FX5 requires the carbon to be in a media bag) you can keep the cost down a bit vs buying more expensive pre-bagged smaller quantities.

[michelangelo]

Wow very good information VeipaCray Thanks

[VeipaCray]

You're welcome. Let us know how it works out for you.

[michelangelo]

You're welcome. Let us know how it works out for you.

Just ordered FX5, Biomax(6x500g), Purigen(2x250ml), Carbon(3lb), Fine Media Bags(4) and Foam(6).

Should be good to go right?

Once I get it set up I will give an update.

[VeipaCray]

yeah you've got plenty there. by foam are you talking about the blue pads or replacement foam for the sides of the FX5? The FX5 comes with the side foam. You just need a package of the blue pads.

[michelangelo]

yeah you've got plenty there. by foam are you talking about the blue pads or replacement foam for the sides of the FX5? The FX5 comes with the side foam. You just need a package of the blue pads.

I guess I didnt realize the filter came with the foam, so they can be replacement foam when they get super nasty.

I thought I heard that you dont need the polishing pads because they get clogged very easily and reduced flow rate. With two RES in 180 gallons will I need the polishing pads?

[slider_keeper]

You will be alright without the blue pads. I don't use them on my FX5. My water parameters are good.