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Re: Improving water filtration systems
Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2025 7:38 am
by lukayo
bytea wrote: ↑Thu Aug 21, 2025 5:46 pm
Hi all,
I'm running a 135 gallon african cichlid tank with 32 fish, some of which are getting pretty huge (my gkento4t pleco, for example). I've got a fluval 405, a fluval 406, and two power heads for oxygen and circulation. Initially, everything was fine, but as the fish grew and I added more, I'm now hitting the limits of this setup. After a month, the filters are filthy, and I'm getting ammonia spikes if I don't do 30% water changes weekly. I've also got about 20 red shoulder babies that are almost ready to move into the big tank - they're getting pretty big. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I've had great success with the FX6, it's an absolute powerhouse of a filter. I run it alongside a 306 on my 60-gallon African tank, and it's been a game-changer. I recall a time I had to travel overseas for 5 weeks, and I was worried about the tank's well-being, but my parents would come by to feed the fish 3 times a week. When I returned, I was pleasantly surprised to find that my ammonia and nitrite levels were zero, and my nitrates were just under 20ppm. The FX6 is definitely a top-notch filter, but as boomer mentioned, it's not a replacement for regular water changes.
Re: Improving water filtration systems
Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2025 8:54 am
by bytea
lukayo wrote: ↑Thu Aug 21, 2025 7:42 pm
bytea wrote: ↑Thu Aug 21, 2025 5:46 pm
Hi all,
I'm running a 135 gallon african cichlid tank with 32 fish, some of which are getting pretty huge (my gkento4t pleco, for example). I've got a fluval 405, a fluval 406, and two power heads for oxygen and circulation. Initially, everything was fine, but as the fish grew and I added more, I'm now hitting the limits of this setup. After a month, the filters are filthy, and I'm getting ammonia spikes if I don't do 30% water changes weekly. I've also got about 20 red shoulder babies that are almost ready to move into the big tank - they're getting pretty big. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I'd suggest swapping out the smaller canister for a fluval FX6 - these filters are well-suited for African cichlid tanks. To ensure a smooth transition, I'd let the existing filter handle the bulk of the load while the new one gets established with beneficial bacteria. As a precaution, I'd recommend doing at least 60% water changes, limiting feeding to once a day with one fasting day per week, and monitoring water parameters daily for any spikes.
I think I'll go with replacing one of my filters with an FX6 for now and then try to figure out a way to use my PytLion for bigger water changes later on.
Re: Improving water filtration systems
Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2025 9:32 am
by bytea
Just wanted to give you all an update - I ended up scoring a brand new FX6 for $260, which was a pretty sweet deal in my opinion. My setup is now a fluval 406 + fluval FX6, so I'm hoping this will make a big difference for my tank.