Ok so i have set up my FX5 on my 180 with a 405 on it too. I am using reverse UGF so both the outputs are going into the UGF uplift tubes. I have 2 airstones running to ripple the surface. I have kept a 204 runnning on the tank but with no media to circulate the water and for additional surface rippling. I have left the sponges in the 204 to catch any large particles. I figured the sponges would catch any large particles, and without the sponges the impeller may get blocked. Does anyone else run an empty filter and their tank and do they use the sponges? What are opinions on whether i should leave the sponges in or not.

Why are you running an empty filter?

OFL wrote:


i think its to cause water displacment i have used a fluval 4 in the past for this with the flow open full they are realy good with no sponge in at all my o loved swiming against the strong current

I'm not sure what water displacement has got to do with running an empty filter. Do you mean causing surface agitation, thus oxygenating the water?

yes that is exactly what i meen "oh very matter of fact"

Why not just put media in it anyways?

I can't see how any damage would be caused to a filter just because you don't have media installed. At the end of the day water is passing through the filter, whether it's empty or full, the mechanism of the filter will work exactly the same I would have thought. However, I could be totally wrong.

if it has no media the flow is stronger and they dont need cleaning

In that is all Dell boy wants it to do then I might be inclined to look for a power head that will do exactly the same job, but maybe using less consumption

i think its a case of why buy a power head if that does the job and youve already got it thats the position i was in

Run it on another tank!

ronnie biggs wrote:


Well if the filter was consuming 50 W and a power head doing the same job was only consuming 25 W, you would be better off using the power head consuming less energy