Equipment Review and Discussion :: Fluval FX5 help.

[Lnorigb]

am totally under educated about filters. i took the advice of this site and got the best filter i can afford. unfortunately it's not filled with media. so i ask:

for one 8" female RES whats the best media's and the order in which they go into the 3 baskets? currently she's in a 43gal tank 3/4 full.

i know my filter is way to good for this tank. i also know her tank is too small for her. my goal is to get a bigger tank...

but for now this is it. so medias? order they go in?

anything else i should know about this filter?

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[MTski]

alright i have the same setup as you, i have a 40 gallon breeder tank with a fluval FX5 and this is the media i have:
top basket: pre filter ceramic rings
Middle Basket: Zeo carb
bottom basket: bio max rings
it works very well

[BullDog]

You want your coarse/mechanical in the top basket, and your chemical/biological in the lower baskets.

Here's what I have in my FX5 (90 gallon tank, 8.5" F):
Top: prefilter and Coarse foam pad (see my recent post in this same board)
Middle: two bags of carbon (at this point, they're more mechanical than chemical, but they do the job). plus a layer of biomedia (Biomax)
Bottom: biomedia.

Keeps my tank nice and clean

[Daniel3507]

in my FX5 i have
Top: prefilter
Middle: Fine filter pad and phosphate removing pad along with a bag of carbon and ammonia remover
Bottom: biomedia

im looking to make improvements to mine though even though my water is crystal clear.

[Spookster]

I fill the bottom and middle baskets with ceramic stars and rings (for developing good bacteria for breaking down turtle waste and removing ammonia and nitrites) and the top basket contains activated carbon (for cleaning the odor and discolorations in the water)

[kgielda]

I got my xp3 and was not happy when I realized it didn't come with all the media I needed. You'd think they would give you everything to get started.

Kate

[Lnorigb]

it's in. it's running and OMG i can see thru the water!!!

i have severe doubts i put the media in a sorta correct order. my research shows there's a multitude of orders and such, basically it just comes down to personal preference and what works for yr amt of turts/fish/etc. at least i hope thats true.

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?

one of the many benefits of living in SoCal is Fish Tank Maintenance professionals. so if i get truly lost i can get someone over here to fix!! mhhmmm maybe a budget for monthly maint?... =) maybe i'll ask for a year maint for x-mas prezzy!

anywy i'll edit in some pictures in a few.

THANKS for all yr help w/ replies and for merely having this site!!

[Daniel3507]

using old media was smart. i used the bio media from my old filter in my FX5 and didnt have any new tank syndrome.

[Lnorigb]

Above: is JT sitting on her old filter intake and shows how yellow her water was. the bubbles are from the maker. the rocks are also gone now...she eats them.


-- the whole shebang! so clear, yes?



-- just for reference, can see clear thru to our porch! wow.


-- just cos. it's almost like she's saying "What Are You Looking At?" i swear she watches teevee too.

photos taken with phone cam, forgive the crap quality.
what y'all think?? suggestions for improvements?

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[Daniel3507]

oh man what a difference. it looks like you only have a ceramic heat emitter above the basking area. you need to get a UVB light for the basking area. once you do get a uvb you should replace the screen with egg crate. the small gaps in the wire screen block out some uvb rays

[Lnorigb]

I got my xp3 and was not happy when I realized it didn't come with all the media I needed. You'd think they would give you everything to get started.

Kate

i thought so too but then i had the thought that if one is purchasing such a high end filter it's likely one is already educated about filter media's. but for the price of this baby i sure do think it could come pre-setup at the very least.

oh well now i can say i'm learning hands on style about filter care. =)

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[Lnorigb]

oh man what a difference. it looks like you only have a ceramic heat emitter above the basking area. you need to get a UVB light for the basking area. once you do get a uvb you should replace the screen with egg crate. the small gaps in the wire screen block out some uvb rays

i have one. i took it away pre-FX5 cos it felt it was TOTALLY contributing to the algae growth/dirty water. i'm hesitant to put it back up... given the state of the sunlight i have. i'm on a 4th flr corner unit with direct south and west windows (qty 4) and sliding glass doors (qty 2) to the porches. but i could be wrong that UVB gives good algae growth, am i?

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[Daniel3507]

it can cause some algae growth but my guess is that all the sunlight the tank is getting from the windows. a UVB is a necessity though. i found a filter pad that you cut to fit and it takes phosphate out of the water and i dont have any algae anymore.

[Lnorigb]

it can cause some algae growth but my guess is that all the sunlight the tank is getting from the windows. a UVB is a necessity though. i found a filter pad that you cut to fit and it takes phosphate out of the water and i dont have any algae anymore.

got a link for those filters?? and the question that follows that, is which basket to put it in?
closing up my light source just isn't an option for me. so fighting algae has become my obsession.

given that this turtle never had a UVB light in her lifetime (she's 2 yrs old) and given her excellent health as supposed by her girth/size is UVB really necessary?

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[PcBuilder14]

Big difference! Looks great!