Habitat - Indoor

Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 2:41 pm **Virgin Poster........**

Greets the regulars.......

Doing reading this and that........

Upgrade to 75 gallon underway.......

I was thinking FX5 filter.......180.00ish plus 30.00 shipping. Is that an overkill or worth the semi investment? Other recommendations......

Im trying to resurrect the 48 long hood-light.......It seems like it wants to light up all the way, but lately it just thinks about lighting up all the way and never makes it there. Any suggestions on making that repair.

Or

I was thinking of only half size/ side lighting with a new UVA / UVB setup, thoughts?

Our turtle is old, just like us, but if you holler at Slowsky, he might just wake up and give you a wink.

till we hear the shout, goye

Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 3:06 pm

Hi and welcome! Are you planning on going any bigger than a 75 gal tank in the future? If 75 gallons is as big as you're going to go, an FX5 is really bigger than you need. If you want it, go ahead and get it, but you could certainly get by with a little bit smaller filter. I've only heard great things about the FX5 from other members who have one. I must admit i was more than a little tempted to get one when i got a bigger tank. I decided to go with an XP3 on my 75 gal and it's working great, my water is always crystal clear and my ammonia/nitrite levels are always at zero.
On the lighting, hoods meant for aquariums aren't the greatest for turtle purposes. You can make it work, but it takes a little creativity. I'm not sure if they even make 48" UVB lamps. For a tank that size, i would say that the best way to go for lighting would be a mercury vapor bulb. That way you only need one lamp over the basking area; if you wanted the rest of the tank lit up you could get a strip light to go over the other half of the tank.

Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 6:00 pm

If you're sure he is not going to outgrow the new tank, get an XP3.....but if I saw an FX5 for 180. I'd jump on it. They normally go for 299.!
A 75 gallon would be the absolute minimum tank I would use for an FX5, I have one in a 90 gal. and it works great.
Check the ends of the bulbs on your fixture, if they are black you need to change them. If they are not black, check the connections where the bulbs slide in. Unplug it first of course........if the connections are clean, then it's probably the ballast. Toss it and get a new fixture.

Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 6:30 pm

I've got an FX5 in my 90gal, and I love it!
I got it for about the same price as the one you're looking at.
Sure, it's a little big for a 75 gal, but you can turn the flow a bit if you find it's too much.

You'll have to post some pics of your turt! How old is he?

Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 12:39 pm

Greetings All........

I scored the fx5 for 180.00 dlvd yesterday........

Where expecting him to grow more, hence the 75er......

Pictures are forth coming......

I got the lighting fixtured working right, but still undecided about using it or getting a half light set-up.......still investigating the "mercury vapor bulb" though.

I have one of those toppers and havent figured the how-to's just yet.....

Appreciate the friendlies,,,,,Happy Easter, goye

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 9:21 am

Greetings All........

fx5 filter in hand, delivered 180.00.

Reading and re-reading the instructions, Im going to jump to the chase.

Filter comes media free

Im using a 75 gallon, for a 3 year old male slowsky.....

Suggestions

Recommendations

Do and Donts

What combination does any1 use for their top, middle and bottom baskets?

Ammonia Remover?
BioMax?
Carbon?
ClearMax?
Fine Filter Pad?
Peat Granules?
Pre-Filters?
Water Polishing Pad?
ZeoCarb?
Opti-Carb?

Needless to say, Im anxious for today to be the day, or tomorrow, I have a nearby PetCo that I support and will be making a visit, before making my online purchase of goodies.

Appreciate the inputs and directions from your experiences.

Have a scrumd day, goye

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 9:58 am

I don't have an FX5, but I have an XP3. I'm actually using the pre-filter ceramic rings from Fluval in mine, I think they really help, most of the solid waste was trapped in there. As for the "carbon" part of the filter, you just need one that works for you. The Rena one commonly used is called BioChemZorb, I'm not sure which of the list that is. Unless you have an ammonia or hard water problem, don't put in anything to alter those conditions. I think often for both brands, you want the foam pads that keep things trapped from going into the carbon, and you want some activated carbon, and other than that, you need something in between the foam pads and carbon that will allow bacteria to grow (Rena has this BioStars or ceramic rings, I imagine Fluval has them too, but they aren't the pre-filter ceramic rings). Also, you can switch in and out certain things between the different brands, like if you want the BioStars, you can use them. Hope that helps!

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:11 am

goye wrote:Greetings All........

fx5 filter in hand, delivered 180.00.

Reading and re-reading the instructions, Im going to jump to the chase.

Filter comes media free

Im using a 75 gallon, for a 3 year old male slowsky.....

Suggestions

Recommendations

Do and Donts

What combination does any1 use for their top, middle and bottom baskets?

Ammonia Remover?
BioMax?
Carbon?
ClearMax?
Fine Filter Pad?
Peat Granules?
Pre-Filters?
Water Polishing Pad?
ZeoCarb?
Opti-Carb?

Needless to say, Im anxious for today to be the day, or tomorrow, I have a nearby PetCo that I support and will be making a visit, before making my online purchase of goodies.

Appreciate the inputs and directions from your experiences.

Have a scrumd day, goye

First off, I found the DVD that came with it VERY helpful in setting up my two FX5's. So, if you can, I would watch that real quick. Second, DO NOT USE THE Fine Filter Pad, OR THE Water Polishing Pad!!! They get cloged in UNDER A WEEK!!! Then you have to take the whole thing apart and clean them out!! It gets really old , really fast! The foam rings that go around the outside of each basket pick up PLENTY of "debris."

I have both of mine set-up the same way..

Top Basket.
Carbon + Ammonia Remover.

Middle Basket.
BioMax.

Bottom Basket.
BioMax.

You may want to get a little more "fancy" then that, but that is what works for me.

Here is what I think of the Media you posted.

Ammonia Remover? Works fine, no need to fill a whole basket though.
BioMax? AWESOME! Any Bio media works though, you don't have to buy the name brand stuff.
Carbon? AWESOME!! If you don't want a smelly tank, this is a must! Once again any carbon media works fine.
ClearMax? I have used this in the past, but I didn't really notice any difference in water clarity?
Fine Filter Pad? NO!! NO!! NO!! Clogs WAY too fast!!
Peat Granules? ?? Never used them before...
Pre-Filters? ?? Never used them before. I don't think they are needed?
Water Polishing Pad? NO!! NO!! NO!! Clogs WAY too fast!!
ZeoCarb? ?? Never used them before...
Opti-Carb? ?? Never used them before...

I hoped this helped, let me know if you have any questions!!

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 10:58 am

Hey, thanks for the friendlies.........

Ill give the dvd a look over at lunch today.........

Till I hear / read more.........

goye

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 2:07 pm

In my FX5, I have:
Top basket: pre-filter
mid basket: carbon + biomax
bottom basket: biomax.

I've got my 404 set up similarly, and it works fine for me

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 9:05 pm

Appreciate the inputs........

Im going to try this out, unless there are objections, please advise, virgin fx5 user, at least until later on........

top: pre filter and 2 bags of Zeo-Carb

middle: BioMax and 1 bag of Zero-Carb

bottom: Biomax

Let me know and I really appreciate the friendly help........

goye

added p.s.

reading the instructions, it mentions cleaning the pre and the bio filter with non-chlorine water..........

Does that mean the 75 gallon tank should be non-chlorine water only also?

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 9:23 pm

That looks like a good setup to me

When you first set it up, there will be no bacteria anyhow, so chlorinated tap water is fine.
Just make sure you dechlorinate it before you put your turtle in, either by putting in some dechlorinator, or letting it sit for 24 hours or more.

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 9:47 pm

Thanks for the quick

Were good with the drops as that what we normally do.

I think Im gonna running the fx5 through its paces first before inviting the slowsk......

Again thanks BD

Collingdale?

Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 9:25 am

Morning All........Overnight first run, there appears to be small amount of ultra fine white powder on the bottom of the tank.

Did I not clean the "bags" enough to dislodge all the fine particles or could there be something "floating" around the inside that shouldnt be?

After initial first plug in last night there was the littlest slightest "chirping" sound, almost sounded like it was coming from the impeller area, could that be the cause of white powder. That sound didnt last long 15 / 20 mins at the most.

Thank You

Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 1:36 pm

If there was a white powder, I would say that's from the biomedia.
They scratch against each other when in the bag and that creates some ceramic dust. If you didn't thoroughly rinse the biomedia, I would hazard a guess that's what it is.

Not sure about the chirping noise though... If it stopped, then it could just be "startup noises" or something.

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