MEandYouPhoto wrote:VeipaCray wrote:Do you already have a second 406 or would you need to purchase one? If you're going to purchase a second one, I'd just get the XP3 that I've linked instead and sell your original 406.
I was originally looking at getting a second 406 so that I had some uniformity to the look of the tank. Also replacing parts is easier when i only have 1 model to deal with versus two.
Does the FX5 have a bypass design too or is it like the Rena XP4?
The FX5 is not bypass by design. The FX5 is a unique filter from any other filter in the Fluval line.
Gracie Turts wrote:@VeipaCray would the Fluval 406 also have a lesser flow rate with media and no head? or do the two filters just work differently?
The 406 also has a lesser flow rate with head. However because water can bypass the media, the flow rate through the canister isn't as restricted as much by the presence of media. So yes... the flow rate does drop when media is in a 406, but not as much as it drops in other filters if that makes sense.