fluval flex filter mod and update
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 เม.ย. 2019
- changed the filtering on this tank to something a little better ,,,,we shall see.
plants www.ebay.co.uk/str/k2aqua
equipment www.aquacadabra.com/
treatments www.ebaystores.co.uk/aquacadabra
supplements thenutrientcompany.com/
bits and bobs www.pro-shrimp.co.uk/
mods / pondguru
filter parts filterpro.co.uk/
ammonia www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DrTims-Amm...
This is the tank I have but in white, been struggling to get the filtration right and this was a big help thank you
Your very welcome
That foam you first put in is a great idea. I did that before seeing this video. Those small slits clogs up fast when you over feed like I do. The foam gives the trash more surface area to cling to and lets the water flow easily around it. I have found my fry and shrimp will go back there to hide from the bigger fish and eat like kings without getting sucked into filter because the water pulls from a larger area it's not so focused over powering them.
I have recently removed the whole back compartment and filtration so i can run a fluval "U" series filter and to be honest its far better
Interesting I like what you did. I actually got a second foam and put in the first compartment with two packs of rings. Then just pulled out the carbon in the second compartment and put a pack of rings there as well. In total about 4 packs of rings. Also fully aquascaped with co2 and cycled with the usual startup bacteria. The first fish added a 5 days later. From there a few more every week. (Fish and shrimp)
i thinking doing the same what you done
Lee Pearson I actually removed the first filter now and am just running the original without carbon. I found that durning the startup of my tank when the plants where smaller it worked great. However now with my tank being filled with plants I found the bio filter was so great it would remove the nh4, no2, no3 to quickly when I added fertilizer to the tank causing a nitrogen deficiency in the plants.
I should note I added a second light to the hood doubling the wattage and CO2... so I guess if your primary focus is fish keeping double down on that filter like the video or myself. If you go high tech and aquascape it all up it might be too much filter.
@@davidkinch2100 so just removed the carbon and added biomax to where carbon be ?
Lee Pearson yep that’s what’s running in my tank at the moment 2 bags of the bio rings and the original sponge. I find carbon is great if you need to remove medical or you put to much fertilizer in. So keep the pack on hand it can be helpful for removing chemical from the water in a pinch. I found it to be a great balance. But again I am using a lot of plants which are processing a lot of the chemicals.
I have been using biohome products for years and the "ultimate" and "gravel" are still going strong I do wash it out once a year in "RODI" water
That's looks a good set up. You would have thought fluval would do a prefilter insert for first chamber. Try a bottle of atm colony it's good stuff.
Great idea i think as for the first chamber it was meant to settle large debris or maybe to sell new items such as media baskets or skimmers but its all about cost and longevity for me this was better and cleaner
Im planning to keep middle as is with rings ofcourse and not the carbon, you can buy flush fine mesh covers on Etsy for the those intake covers so you dont have to keep messing around with the foam inside them.
You can get mesh but i did find it clogged i used a weir guard and this worked well before i removed it all
@@AQUAGUYUK I just found out with testing that the middle chamber with the pull out sponge etc fits in the first section too so i may get another one and do that, if i dont copy you and pull out that inner wall.
@@TheFewzz Best thing is test what you want and find what works for you i mean you can use media in all the chambers if you want and get some anaerobic filtering going hope it works out
@@AQUAGUYUK You know what, im actually pissed off with the inner filter wall lol, i really do want to rip that out, i may even do just that then put a Tidal on the back but then the lid wont go on...argh lol, another reason is the pump in this is so loud.
@@TheFewzz Well i did have the 35 on one a while ago and worked well
Hi looking at getting back into keeping an indoor tank, and this tank was recommended, I like the upgrade you suggest, could you not get a 1/2 Ltd bag in the pump side too ? Does the media come in the mesh bags if not where did you get them ?
Thanks Paul.
Hi Paul indeed you can get more media in the pump side but the media I am using seemed to cause a vibration and found this to work very well as for the media bags
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Zipped-Filter-Media-Bags-For-Aquariums-Ponds-All-Sizes-Available-Great-Prices/233079039499?hash=item364497e60b:m:mEROf97M8loDzK2S3KrMBUg
@@AQUAGUYUK what size media bags did you use ?
@@mobilegeeks2985 I used two sizes www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Net-Bag-with-zip-for-Filter-Media-25x30cm/332722249303?epid=19021496303&hash=item4d77ca9e57:g:wX8AAOSwWjBbTI1R
and www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Net-Bag-with-zip-for-Filter-Media-10x15cm/332722246561?epid=22021497903&hash=item4d77ca93a1:g:IakAAOSwHt5bTIvY
I just left the original sponge where it was, replaced the carbon with mature media though. I then put 3 bags of media in the first compartment and I have pump and heater in last compartment.
how is that going for you
@@leepearson4400. Hi, it's going great. I'm a little over stocked with around 50 rcs, 4 huge amano shrimp, 6 Cardinal tetras and 3 otocinclus. However, there's enough media in the first compartment to support them and then some. Water is always crystal clear (except for tannins), nitrates are practically nonexistent, probably because it's heavily planted and everyone seems happy. I do a 15 - 20% water change every 10 days or so.
@@denisepollitt1021 am a beginner i put 2 bags of alfagrog in the 1st and in the 2nd i toke carbon out going put alfagrog in there or get some bio ring for there. don't want carbon if got live plants
@@leepearson4400. Sound great! Good luck and welcome to the hobby.
@@denisepollitt1021 thank you also got sponge in the slots
Hi, just watched your video on filter mod , am looking at purchasing a flex but wanting to upgrade filtration, how was yours running after your tips from Richard thew.
It's good i had also thought about removing it altogether and running a fluval u3 which to be fair was better
Got the same tank and middle compartment filled with bio media how ever I’m still using the original sponge in the first compartment would you recommend putting the heater in the first compartment with the same mechanical set up as this as I tend to find the pump rattles on the heater over time and becomes a utter pain in the back side
I think its ideally set in the pump chamber but with the 75 watt heater i used it in the first no issues
Hi Alan, how are you finding the fluval flex? I am wanting to get one for my bedroom to house a fighter with some shrimps and pygmy corys. How often would you recommended doing a water change? Thanks
Check your water out the tap for nitrates it can be as high as 50 ppm ,,,,,but ideal change frequency would be minimum 25% every week but more if your tap water good you may need to block the bottom filter vent if using sand for the cory and also get some plants but maybe invest in the fluval timer and set lights for 8 hours ,,,I have notice I slight hum bear that in mind if in the bedroom ,,hope this helps.
@@AQUAGUYUK I've read the hum is probably due to the impeller not sitting flush in the filter. I would take it out and push it in a little, probably 2 or 3mm, this I have been told will stop the hum. My nitrates are approx 10ppm so its pretty good.
@@nayanmistry4641Interesting will have a look at that thank you
@@AQUAGUYUK no problem. Always willing to help a fellow aquarist
AQUAGUY UK I’ve had my Fluval Flex 57l set up for a week now cycling. Does pushing the impeller in a little help with the humming as mentioned in the comments?
Hello I have this tank. I was wondering how you found it after that filter mod. Was there much difference? I've ordered some bio gravel and am aiming to put it in where the carbon is.
I loved it and found I could keep more fish without an side effects however I have now removed all media and baffle plate to see what happens
I've had the tank for almost 2 years, the flow that the standard pump puts out is really high and, unless the fish you are stocking like a strong current, it will cause issues. My dwarf shrimp and chili rasboras really struggled in the tank until I modified the output of the pump to reduce flow. I've since supplemented with a small sponge filter hooked up to an air pump, while not aesthetically ideal, the shrimp love it and I've gained additonal mechanical and bio filtration because of it.
@@adamwarpinski8838 How did you modify the pump?
@@michaelfox6820 Theres a plastic suction tube that goes between the top of the pump and to the output nozzle, I perforated it with a sewing needle in about 10 spots iirc. This bleeds some of the flow which results in a lower volumetric flowrate for the pump. I have since converted to a walstad tank and removed the entire hidden filter/pump.
@@AQUAGUYUK Hey man, question, gettin a bit of an issue with surface crud, I just downscaled from a 60 Jewel that had a surface skimmer, so missing it a bit, I know Fluval have their own but it looks like you have to massacre your top cover to have it in.
What size heater have you got ? I was gonna go for a eheim Jager 50 W
I am using an Eheim 75 watt but 50 should be ok
@@AQUAGUYUK For some reason the heater won't warm up the aquarium. I brought a Superfish 100w eco heater. Even that won't stay up to 26 degrees.
@@rewloirweok1If you are looking at the front of the tank if the heater is in the left side it takes a lot longer than the heater in the right compartment with the return pump also make sure the heater is not shutting down due to having a hot spot or touching anything else in the tank ,,,to make sure the heating is working put it in the main display part leave it in there for about an hour and see in tank gets up to temp
@@AQUAGUYUK thanks for the quick reply the heater is in the right side near the return pump. I've put it in as the diagram shows on the box. Its not touching the filter just stuck on the back end of the tank. But will try your way .
for the Flex 57, a 50w is a little on the low side. I was recommended a 100w Deltatherm) It's more than it needs so should be more efficient and able to adapt quicker/easier. IMHO
Which foam exactly did you use please?
Its the medium blue foam used in ponds
I know this sounds a daft question with the bio gravel should I rinse it before putting in the filter
Questions are never daft fella I would normally get a bucket of tank water or dechlorinated water and give it a rinse get the dust off
I think so
Just tried this you can get so much more media in although I had the bumpy part of foam both facing out no like how you did
you can adjust the media to suit your needs and gauge it every few weeks this worked for me but since removed the whole back compartment and using a eheim pick up
@@AQUAGUYUKhow come you removed the whole thing
@@hakman239 found that no matter what i did to the compartment the filtration and flow was not optimal so a stripped it out and never looked back th-cam.com/video/8xWtBmdDVjo/w-d-xo.html
@@AQUAGUYUKblocking the bottom inlet improves circulation and you can put an ehime pump in
@@hakman239 Very true but always found shrimp babies in the back and found it a little hard cleaning it but this was a decision i made for me to solve a problem that i had and yup didnt need to but happy with the results
You need a larger pump turn over rate !!
600 ltr or 100 is plenty
sponge has the most surface area brother
problem is it blocks very easy especially 45 pores per inch and now we have biohome products that can even promote anerobic bacteria meaning lower nitrates
Can someone please tell me where to get those vent covers?
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fluval-Flex-Filter-Intake-Screen-Genuine-Spare-Part-Protect-Fish-Aquarium-Tank/402036560787?hash=item5d9b3f1393:g:1dAAAOSwKyBeHdsl
@@AQUAGUYUK thanks for that. I got mine yesterday, went to set it up today and turns out they come with it standard now. But appreciate your help.
Hi, any link for the Bio Gravel please? thanks
Indeed i have an EBAY link to their shop if that helps www.ebay.co.uk/usr/filterprouk?_trksid=p2047675.l2559 ,,,,also this is excellent to Eheim Substrat Pro
Sorry, can’t find the ones you had in video. Any guide if possible where to get them? Thanks
What size bags are you using thinking of this tank as a betta and ghost shrimp tank keeping stock media but adding 1-2 of these bags with gravel your using in first chamber
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Zipped-Filter-Media-Bags-For-Aquariums-Ponds-All-Sizes-Available-Great-Prices/233079039499?hash=item364497e60b:m:mEROf97M8loDzK2S3KrMBUg
10 cm bags are best I used bio gravel and eheim substrat pro
So just ehiem substrate pro
@@MT-qf7nu I use Ehiem and biogravel
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1Kg-2-2-lbs-BIOGRAVEL-UNIQUE-POROUS-GRAVEL-FOR-FILTERS/221710077194?hash=item339ef34d0a:g:8eQAAOSwEeFU~AAU
How often would you replace the bio gravel I known fluval recommend changing carbon every 3-4 wks and ceramic every 3 months
I really never had any problem with standard filter /media not using any of that overpriced bio media.
I use pumice stone which is what seachem matrix is made of, cost me a 10th of the price but each to their own i use what works in my tanks to achieve balance ,sponge is a good media for bio and mechanical filtration
How did this mod go
Very well it worked and i only changed it has i removed all the back filtration and baffle to try something new
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fluval-Flex-34l-57l-Lid-Opening-Supports-Not-Official-Fluval-Product/233052050252?hash=item3642fc134c:g:TPkAAOSwa1ZcF8K1
What brand bio gravel ?
Ehiem sintered glass substrat pro
How often should you change the bio gravel is it the same as regularly bio media approx every 3 months
Found these on eBay today lol www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fluval-flex-57l-Acrylic-cover-for-feeding-hole-Not-official-Fluval-product/232931719139?hash=item363bcff7e3:g:DU0AAOSwZttboAIE
Overkill for a tank that size. There will only ever be enough bacteria to handle the bioload. You could have ten tons of media and it wouldn't make a scrap of difference.
agreed i also think that flow rates and stocking make a huge difference
we see nothing...understand nothing..and what an UGLY water!!
Hmm not sure on that lool
Did you not find when you put foam in the grills on the left that the flow into the back was reduced I did the same with mine however the level of water in the rear compartments dropped quite a bit and I nearly burnt out a heater as soon as I removed the sponge in the grill it filled right back up again