Okay so I am getting a new filter. I was wondering how you guys set up your fx5(filter and bio material) One more thing I currently have a big sponge filter and 2 HOBs with bio material, can I switch to the fx5 immidately or do I need to run all filters until I get bio bed in new fx5. Perhaps after I get this worked out I won`t be blowing up the forum all the time. Thanks

i just got an fx5 two days ago. It replaced my emperor 400 and penguin 330. I put everything from the hobs, even the biowheels and the extra biotubes into the fx5 and even some extra biotubes from the 404. Yes the fx5 took all 4 biowheels from the hobs even the big ones from the emp, took the catridges and even some 2 extra penguin 330 catridges i had in the emp. it a bearly fit. If u use catrdiges on ur hobs, just snung them around on the outer part of the fx5 baskets.

I've tesed my water this past two days and amonnia and nitrites are at 0. So you can try it. Just make sure you do it quicky, so that ur benefical bacteria is underwater asap. Also set your intake and output on each edge of the tank, as far as posible so all the water can get filtered. If your not going to use the hobs or dont have an air stone in there. Put the output of the fx5 at the water level so that you can get some surfece agitation, if the splashes are too noisey, just adjust it. Enjoy ur fx5, its a great filter.

Thanks for the help.If I transfered all bio material like you said how long do I need to wait to add the bio rings and sponges I`m ordering with the fx5? Should I do half an half? Would it be better sinse I am leaving my fish in the tank to run all filters for a month or so to get plenty of bio in fx5 and then take the old filters out? Sorry for questioning every detail but I want to do it right so I don`t lose anymore fish.

the easiest way is to load your fx5 full of bio max all three trays and run it in tandem with your hobs. after one month remove one hob and a month later remove the other. this will allow time for the beneficial bacteria to grow in the fx5 and will reduce the risk of an ammonia spike in your tank.

Thank you thats what I`ll do. Do I need the bio sponge media also or will the bio max rings do? How many boxes of bio max rings? One more ? Do I need to change out the outer white filter media or just rinse with water and are they enough mech. filtration?

For me I bought an FX5 primarily as extra mechanical filtration (my sump takes care of bio). For this reason I got the polishing pads inside the filter and they do a brilliant job - crystal clear water. HOWEVER they do clog up fairly quickly (need to clean / replace the pad every fortnight). If you arent to concerned about getting the smallest particles from your water (or your water flow in the tank is slow enough to let it settle) then the sponges should be enough mech filtration

smdsatx wrote:

i concur with this one...the fastest instant replacement without compromising the
good bacteria colony....

but if you have luxury of time... you can do the normal parallel operation...
which is also 100% effective....

necromancer4 wrote:


i think necromancer gave you the best advice here. I don't think its worth the risk of having your filter loose cycle to move all the media. i run 2 fx5. i fill all trays with bio media. 4L will fill these trays for 1 filter. you get 6 sponge per filters around the baskets so you don't need much more than the bio media. you can buy polishing pads if you want. if you do they go at the very bottom of the basket/filter.

if you opt for this option you can speed things up a little by taking one of your dirty pads/media and washing it in the tank next to the input of the fx5. do this once you have the fx5 up and running of cause

I remembered something, before turning your filter on fill it over half way with water.

once you have your fx5 up and running for a few months you will need to carry out some maintenance. you will find the media should be pretty clean so don't bother to do anything with that. clean 3 of the 6 sponge prefilters leaving 3 dirty. I would say you will need to carry out your 1st filter clean 3 months after setup for a heavy stocked 150g tank. (you didn't mention your tank size) after 6 months the bio media should still be pretty good so wash all 6 foam pads. by 6months of running 3 full baskets of media will give you more than enough bacteria. from then on every 3 months clean all foam and rinse 1 basket of media. 3months maintenance intervals is plenty if you vacuum the gravel and feed right. 4-5 months could be more realistic for a smaller tank but I am still confident the filter will cope 5months without need for cleaning on a 150g. i think you will like the long cleaning intervals a large filter will give you.

one more thing. if you do opt to fill all 3 baskets with media you can wash the foam under tap water but MAKE SURE YOU RINSE IN A BUCKET OF TAP SAFE water conditioner.

yea u can do a little bit of both to seed the fx5, but what necro said is the best thing, its safer. its the 3rd day with my fx5 and i tested the water today and no ammonia or nitrite. i just took of the hobs now cus they are so noisy, the emp 400 is like a sound box lol.

One question, I've heard of using Vaseline for aquarium use. Could it be used to like "grease" up impellers?

smdsatx wrote:
any caniter that build up air inside will sound like a person with sore throat gurgling....

never heard of it..it will make you water greasy on top...water is already act as lubricant...

As Paul said Water should be a sufficient lubricant I assure you. And I like the idea of running the HOB's in tandem with the FX5 until the bacteria colony is built up. Great thinking Necro.