Fx5 Too Strong?

[IlliniGuy18]

I am setting up a 72 gallon Bowfront in the next month and plan to keep a very nice planted tropical tank, like many of the members on this board. I was planning on purchasing a Fluval FX5 since I would be able to handle a larger bio-load. Will this filter be too much for a live planted tank? Thoughts

 

[Themuleous]

No. In general its always best to over-filter any tank and that also applies to planted tanks, on a tank of this size the more the better, within reason.

Sam

 

[PaulEbs]

Call me stupid, but do you mean over-filtering, or too much output flow causing a strong current in the tank?

Because if it's the strong current your worried about [as over-filtering isn't really a problem] then I recommend maybe finding a spray bar attatchment - sorted me out when I had too much flow in the 30 gallon.

Paul.

 

[IlliniGuy18]

Call me stupid, but do you mean over-filtering, or too much output flow causing a strong current in the tank?

Because if it's the strong current your worried about [as over-filtering isn't really a problem] then I recommend maybe finding a spray bar attatchment - sorted me out when I had too much flow in the 30 gallon.

Paul.

What I'm concerned about is creating a very strong current, resulting in high surface agitation. This could result in too much CO2 escaping. Thoughts???

 

[saboy]

I would say that a fx5 for a 70 gall would be too strong

 

[PaulEbs]

I used to have the filter output over the surface of the water - and had no co2 results, but now the output is under the water surface the co2 has risen.

So yeh, your right.

 

[IlliniGuy18]

I used to have the filter output over the surface of the water - and had no co2 results, but now the output is under the water surface the co2 has risen.

So yeh, your right.

So do you think I would be OK with the fluval fx5 if I pointed the filter output down into the tank, away from the surface?

 

[ridewake210]

just make it so where the water returns to the tank. extend it down more towards the bottom of the tank. not so close to the top. great filter for a 75g though. no worries