Fluval FX4 or FX6 for a 29 gallon tank?

[Dominic M]

Hello,

I've been using a hang on the back filter for about 7 months now and am looking to upgrade my filtration. I was looking at making a sump and I learned that the hang on the back boxes that siphon water from the top of your tank will probably flood if the power goes out and I would have liked to drill a hole in the tank but my tank has already been running for 7 months with animals and stuff in it I don't want to drill and hole with all that in it or take the tank down to drill a hole. So I have a friend who has the Fluval FX6 for his turtle tank (200 gallons) and it seemed to work really well. So I did some research and found a few people running it on there saltwater tanks. So I was wondering can I run these filters well with a saltwater tank? I know there really over kill for a 29 gallon but in terms of filtration I think over kill is really good, ill also look to add a hang on the back refugium with Chaetomorpha. Also will the filters be too strong and suck in my fish?

Thanks, Dominic

 

[SamBackspins]

They won’t be too strong to suck in the fish, but honestly I would just do a sump with the HOB overflow box. If you take time to really understand how it works and what can go wrong, there’s plenty of things you can do to make sure you don’t dump water on the floor, especially with a 29 gallon.

If you use a canister, I would just use the 4, there’s little need to have an FX6 blasting away on a 29 gallon.

 

[Dominic M]

They won’t be too strong to suck in the fish, but honestly I would just do a sump with the HOB overflow box. If you take time to really understand how it works and what can go wrong, there’s plenty of things you can do to make sure you don’t dump water on the floor, especially with a 29 gallon.

If you use a canister, I would just use the 4, there’s little need to have an FX6 blasting away on a 29 gallon.

Is there a good source in particular where I can look for how to do the overflow box properly? Thanks for the information.

 

[MamaLovesHerReefTank]

I've been running my 125g for 6 years with Fluval FX6. No sump, no issues. I maintain it regularly (once a month) by changing out the pads if needed. Once a year, I empty it (leaving a couple inches of tank water in it to scrub it down), empty the rest of the water and fill with fresh saltwater. I leave the used pads at this time and change them the following month.
For a 29 gallon, I would go with the FX4

 

[SamBackspins]

Is there a good source in particular where I can look for how to do the overflow box properly? Thanks for the information.

I’m not sure of a particular resource, there may be a YouTube video somewhere or a thread about it.

Its mostly about making sure your sump has enough roof to handle an overflow from backsiphoning. Or drilling a hole in the siphon tube to prevent siphoning in the first place. Also making sure the return chamber of the sump will run dry before overflowing the display.

either way, the best way to go is whichever is going to make you happy and enjoy watching your tank, a lot of people have success with a canister, you just need to know the nuances and differences that come with it.

 

[Dominic M]

I've been running my 125g for 6 years with Fluval FX6. No sump, no issues. I maintain it regularly (once a month) by changing out the pads if needed. Once a year, I empty it (leaving a couple inches of tank water in it to scrub it down), empty the rest of the water and fill with fresh saltwater. I leave the used pads at this time and change them the following month.
For a 29 gallon, I would go with the FX4

Nice, ive been seeing some good deals on the FX4 so I might just go for it and see how it goes.

 

[sfin52]

Is there a good source in particular where I can look for how to do the overflow box properly? Thanks for the information.

Lifereef has some excellent ones

 

[RipVanWinkle]

Just throwing it out there that I use a much cheaper aqua top mk 2 or whatever the 370gph one is and it has a built in UV light. Have it on a FW 75 and 55 and my 36 gallon reef. Works great, only like 120$ and I really like the added UV function.

 

[Sleeping Giant]

I use an FX4 canister filter and love it

 

[sfin52]

If you want a canister look at the 300 and 400 hundred series. The fx4 will be too big for your tank

 

[Dominic M]

Just throwing it out there that I use a much cheaper aqua top mk 2 or whatever the 370gph one is and it has a built in UV light. Have it on a FW 75 and 55 and my 36 gallon reef. Works great, only like 120$ and I really like the added UV function.

Cool, ill take a look.

 

[Dominic M]

If you want a canister look at the 300 and 400 hundred series. The fx4 will be too big for your tank

What happens if its too big? I would like it to be too big but if it wont work then that would be a problem.

 

[Dominic M]

Lifereef has some excellent ones

Thanks, ill check them out.

 

[sfin52]

What happens if its too big? I would like it to be too big but if it wont work then that would be a problem.

Fish blown around or hide but it's the coral you have to worry about

 

[Dominic M]

Fish blown around or hide but it's the coral you have to worry about

Ah ok

 

[Sleeping Giant]

What happens if its too big? I would like it to be too big but if it wont work then that would be a problem.

You can adjust the in/out flow on the FX4 canister

 

[sfin52]

You can adjust the in/out flow on the FX4 canister

I'm not sure how low the flow will go or what effect it will have on the pump. I think the pump is an ac.
Height will also reduce the flow. The higher the water has to pushed will lower the gph.

 

[nereefpat]

To be a contrarian, I wouldn't run a 'filter' on a 29 gallon. If you can do a sump, great. Sumps have many advantages in terms of more volume, place to put equipment, possible fuge, and other things a canisters filter can't accomplish. If you can't do a sump, I would just use plenty of rock, sand, powerheads, and maybe a hang-on-tank skimmer (but probably not the skimmer).

 

[sfin52]

A little research on fresh water if you reduce the flow you could burn up the pump. I would look at a 407, 307 or a 207. The fx4 is going to be way to powerfull for a 29.

 

[sfin52]

To be a contrarian, I wouldn't run a 'filter' on a 29 gallon. If you can do a sump, great. Sumps have many advantages in terms of more volume, place to put equipment, possible fuge, and other things a canisters filter can't accomplish. If you can't do a sump, I would just use plenty of rock, sand, powerheads, and maybe a hang-on-tank skimmer (but probably not the skimmer).

Thats also a viable idea.