I’m definitely interested in seeing a 407 vs FX2 comparison. Your product evaluations are the best! I appreciate your straight forward no-nonsense style.
It's not a drain plug. It's actually made for the fluval gravel vacuum to hook up to. It's the return inlet for the water to go back into the filter after passing through the vacuum filter.
Thanks Bentley! I was wondering about a possible difference in size of the media trays between fx2 and fx4 and you told me exactly what I needed to know!
Love your product reviews. Very balanced as always. Would like to see the 407 compared to the FX2. You should actually do product development for these companies. I find they get a lot of things right but there is always something missing in even the best products, suspect the designers are not hobbyists.
Subscribed! Came here straight after listening to your podcast on planted tanks for beginners in the aquarium insider podcast. That was 1.5 hours of my life well spent. Thank you. I also share your idea of the 'medium' tech planted tank, I have various types of java fern & anubias in my tank with diy CO2 and it grows very well indeed. Planning to see a lot of your videos.
I had an FX5 for years until I broke it. Great filter, but I really wish they'd get away from the hand tighteners. I don't use the drain, but I can see how it's useful.
good video Bentley, thinking of getting an FX2 for my shaker, which is why i think Fluval designed them,i would have loved the FX4 but it won,t fit into the shaker cabinet, i tried my friends which is a shame because i like the utility valve idea...
Have gobs of the fx6s and fx4s and have never ever used the drain valve any of them. If I need to drain them for whatever reason, I plop them in the bathtub, take the top off, pull the filter baskets and then dump them out. Much faster and way less time and hassle. Not having the drain valve is actually a + for me.
@Bentley Pascoe Yeah, I'm guessing there's very very few people with floor drains in their living rooms though, or where "typical" people have their aquariums. In a basement with access to a floor drain, great. Otherwise, more of a sales tactic I think.
Please go over the 407 vs FX2. The overlap is so great I don’t understand why I should buy the less space efficient FX2 over the 407. Their media capacities are similar, the pump wattages are close and I doubt there is a lot of flow difference when loaded up with media. So why buy a space inefficient FX2 over a 407?
Some people mention the flow can be too much and so reduce the flow by turning the outlet down no more that 50% to reduce flow. Just an idea, could you fit a bypass between the inlet and outlet with a ball valve in between to control the bleed? That way you could bleed excess flow from the outlet back to the inlet. Just an idea.
Very interested in the FX2 and the price is definitely worth considering, but I am wondering if you can see OASE coming out with a new version of the Bio Master Thermo in the future? Thanks BP
I really like my old FX6. I don’t remember it having all these fins. Everything fit together like a glove. These look like they are made to never get clogged up because there is so much bypass fins. I also owned the 407 at the same time. And at one point had them both on the same tank. The 407 I added a skimmer. But when it came to cleaning the 407s water was also way dirtier. I thought the fx6 would be doing more of the cleaning but I don’t know how but the 407 was better at cleaning the tank of fine particles.
I just bought an FX2 for a 100g tank. I am curious if I should have considered the 407. The FX2 has been running for a week, and so far, I am happy with it. I do have to dial down the flow a bit.
@brianholdridge1860/@bentleypascoe Need to know whether I need to adjust "IN" and "OUT" AquaStop Valve both or need to adjust only "OUT" AquaStop Valve?
I originally restricted the intake valve. I ended up buying the spray bar kit and modified that. I made an L shaped (with a PVC elbow) return on the outflow. I drilled the holes bigger on the first leg and pointed the holes up towards the top (acrylic tank) so the water flows along the top and drips back into the tank. The holes on the other leg are just above the water line. This creates a nice current in the tank that doesn't bother the fish and the filter can operate at its maximum.
Do you recall the 3erd gen Haggen canister filter line. 403 filter ? Haggen/fluval Need's to come out w. Fx2 two trays, fx4 tree tray & fx8 four trays. All with new tray style.
@BentleyPascoe , yes but I believe he's inquiring what the the size of the canister is round with out the pump, as I am wanting to know too... because we can turn the pump into a corner of cabinet or even notch a hole in cabinet for pump to fit into. We're interested in the actual dimension of width of canister only please 🙏. Just measure it for us. I'm looking to purchase, tomorrow, a fx6 or fx2 sadly if I can't fit or make fit in topfin 75 gallon cabinet. Thank you
ThanQ ThanQ ThanQ, Ive been going crazy trying to find differences everywhere, your video was absolute fantastic and full of the information i have searching for, i cant ThanQ enough. Great work Bentley. but can i ask 1 Q please...can i use the Fluval gravel vac on the FX2 canister ?? because of the NO drain pug on the bottom, can i use the Inlet on the top of FX 2 ??
Can you please help by sharing inputs via RU-vid video? Comparison of Canister filter technologies Example: 1) Input at bottom, Output at top Eheim way 2) Both input output at top Sunsun way 3) Fluval way sponges at sides 4) positive pressure from Netlea (Impeller at bottom) 5) Having heater and CO2 mixer inside filter 6) Having seprate pre-filter inside Canister Which one is most effective filter? @BentleyPascoe
@Bentley Pascoe Thank you for your reply! I definitely plan to trim the excess in and out tubing. I sincerely appreciate your videos, you really help me/us tremendously!
I have a RES turtle and I’m debating on the fx2 vs fx4. He will eventually be in a 75-120 gallon but right now just a 55. Would the fx2 be too small for his 120 if that’s what he gets?
Hey bently, do you think the fx4 would be too much flow for an angelfish in a 125g? I put a co-op powerhead on my spongefilter in a 75g and the angelfish did not like it. Thanks
@Bentley Pascoe thanks, I know Cory's view on canisters, what's your opinion? I have only ever used sponge and tidal 125 HOB. How would you filter a 125g? Hoping to upgrade 75 soon. I have a angel, 7 roselines and cardinals right now. You helped me with my fluval 3.0 a while back, very much appreciate your advice. Oh and can I put crushed coral in filter? As you know our seattle water has nothing in it.
@@ummfish4878 Really? I’ve tried everything I’ve been told to do and it still makes a loud noise. What would you suggest? I’m trying to get them to send me out a new pump as that is the only moving part with the impeller
the fx is a great filter its really powerfull but its well over rated n over priced the baskets are a right pail to clean they dont hold alot of media there good at keeping big tanks clean but not heathly as theres a lack of space for biomedia i had a new fx4 on a 300littre tank i had to add a eheim classic 2213 to get more space for biohome media to keep my nitrates down i ended up selling it after 10months iv used over 12 diffrent canisters n the eheim pro 4 is by far the best
I'd just opt for an Oase Biomaster (or Eheim) & be satisfied with knowing I had a far superior and more easily maintained filter than ANY Fluval filter. Just based on my extensive experience with using Oase, Eheim & Fluval external filters .....
Sure, everyone has preferences. I know a number of people who don't like Oase or Eheim and many more who LOVE them. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Got something you love, keep rocking it and be successful with it!
You conveniently skipped the most important comparison, the price. FX2 costs more than the FX4 and is only $20 less than the overpriced FX6 which is a ridiculous price point for a significantly smaller filter rated for less than half the capacity. I hope no one is dumb enough to look at that and still think it's worthwhile.
