FLUVAL FX6 gets more POWER

In todays video I am going to show you how to get more flow and power out of your fluval fx6 or fx4. Its a really easy way to maximise your filter with some cheap plumbing bits. Hope you all enjoy.
go follow me on instagram @micksfishuk

[@andywoodscichlids2942]

Basically you have restricted the flow rate, to create more turbulence. Just like putting your finger over the end of a hosepipe. Good if you want surface agitation, but bad if you want more water passing through the filter. You tank is well filtered with large fish, so extra agitation is beneficial to your system. Great tip for creating more turbulence. Happy fishkeeping to you sir

[@MicksFishUk]

You have got it mate. Makes a massive difference my Arowanas love flow so keeping them happy. Keep up the good work mate 👍🏻🇬🇧.

[@53WRX]

Glad you pointed that out I didn't want to be the first. Creating more back pressure increases the exit force. Similarly I popped off the diffusers from the fx6 outlet as the 2 rounds that are left behind create way less turbulence for my oscars. In my two 400 gallons I have been using in tank moving bed filter towers which have proved move effective than the fx6 at biological filtration. I reckon with your eye for detail you could fashion a good looking acrylic moving bed tower for your tank. They look awesome churning in the corner of the tank and air driven.🙂

[@Drquimbaymatumbo]

I was gonna say... the motor creates the flow... not the venturi

[@Aqua_Man84]

Why have i not see this before rhis is just what i needed. Thabks man 👍. Been watching you for a while and you got some banging fish. Purchased my first two arows about a month ago 💪

[@arthurpellett9256]

Yeah did this with mine years ago been working great ever since

[@arthurpellett9256]

Love your new arrows

[@timnune7470]

Great vid Bud 👌

[@dae711moe5]

Cool. Tank is beautiful

[@alfiehowie4652]

Nice work mate 👍

[@joeoak7090]

What a nice tank!!!

[@MbSbAquaGamer]

First view mike. Great video

[@stellarlivingstoned]

Tank us bigger than the home... I love it!

[@AlameenConstructionltd]

Nice tip 👌

[@acuariombr]

excellent video, I sent you a great greeting from Spain, like 11

[@tombourne8002]

I did this on a fx4 .was so much better. I didn't need a no hairdryer or new gasket. Just put the new pipe bit in the tube pipe . We'll worth doing

[@jeremy87turbo87]

My friend if you do not stack those media porcelain. White round media filters like you are. And you randomly set them in there. You will actually get more surface area. You're blocking a lot of surface area. By standing them all up like that. The sides are touching each other and allowing no water to touch the sides of each one of those.

[@nolanerck4612]

No way, I think I follow you on instagram. Bruh I didnt even know this was you.

[@allant9432]

Yep I done that aswell but I done it the lazy way and just blocked 1 end of the outlet,your way looks tidier

[@kumarsa108]

Depends on your redundancy, but if you have multiple filters on a system, cleaning in tank water isn't critical.

[@Kills-gz9yd]

Would like to see a update on your dats and how there doing in your monster tank.

[@MicksFishUk]

Will do soon bud 👍🏻

[@craigv367godsman4]

Question where did you find that nice piece of Driftwood?

[@greygoose117]

Great tip! What size tank is that?

[@SquiddysAquaticts]

I'm surprised you ain't got a huge sump on that beast Mick. The only thing with canisters is that the flow they say it gives is when it's totally empty so I reckon you only get around 60% max once your media is in it. Beautiful tank tho bro✌️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@MicksFishUk]

It’s getting done soon don’t worry ☺️

[@azrael7200]

How big is that tank and how many FX-6 do you have on it ???

[@alancunningham6033]

Good vid, but do you never use the fx6 drain to do the filter change ?

[@stevemitchell1280]

Just done this to my FX4 with my 250L tank using the 107 filter head I had spair, Not sure if it’s a bit much for the fish though 😂

[@aaron1278]

Have you ever thought about using a inline heating system?

[@stevetaylor7443]

I keep african cichlids. And I find doing this creates greater flow rate and in my opinion keeps the fish busier and aggressive behaviour is almost non existent in my tank now. Food for thought for the cichlid keepers out there

[@helderferreira2068]

I think it's great ,but the fluval engenears don't advise it, becouse of the back flow,it makes the turbine to work more and damages your filter or it can even burn the engine, or you think that they din't think about that? And if they put 2 out flows it's becouse it's how it's suposed to work . By doing what you are advising you are defenitly shortning the life time of your fx6 . But great vídeo enyhow.

[@karlastley7882]

Get the dirty water onto your plants in the garden...double winner

[@EBSELPROAUDIO]

On a tank that size, have you considered placing a sump in the middle and using the FX6's as mechanical filters? You don't need a huge sump, 5 or 6 chambers would be ideal. It increases the volume of water, you could keep your heaters all in the sump and pile up lots of biological media, of course the first chamber needs to be mechanical filtration, and even have one chamber as a moving bed filter. You could possibly take the biological media out of the FX6's then fill the middle trays with sponges and filter floss in the middle trays, this would significantly improve your overall filtration. You would then regularly clean up the fx6 filters as normal and clean the sumps mechanical chamber.

[@mikesmith-wk7vy]

wouldn't it be difficult to balance the water to where you dont risk overflowing the sump or tank with such a big tank . i was always told you need 1/3 of the total tank for a sump so he would need like a 150+gal sump there . im about to get a 180gal and wanted a simple 20gal sump but people are telling me i would need a 40+ gal or i would flood the room

[@1014p]

Your sump does the mechanical and bio media. No reason to have a canister going. Down side is non drilled tanks adds a bit of complication to sump set up.

[@RichardKnight9309]

Great video mate I’m just setting up a 600L. I have the option to fill up from a mixer tap in kitchen so set refills at 25’c. I heard that chlorinated water can hurt the bacteria so was advised to turn off the filter when adding water and then add dechlorinator. When full turn the filters back on. What do you reckon as I see you leave your running.

[@MicksFishUk]

Hey mate yes it can hurt the bacteria especially if you directly clean the filter with it. I leave mine running when I do a water change but you can turn them of it will grow back pretty quickly. But I wouldn’t leave them of for ages. If you can put pre warm water in ur tank that’s good. I don’t have the option for that as mine is huge. I have done it this way for years mate hope this makes sense

[@Lee-re1by]

You could buy a black fluval 107 outlet would fit just as well and no playing with a hairdryer!

[@koilife4143]

Not really much difference and what he has done is most likely cheaper 3/4” fittings are very cheap compared to fluval fittings 🤷‍♂️

[@Lee-re1by]

@@koilife4143 Agreed, but not everyone wants to play with a hairdryer when you can spend £4.99 and have a perfect fit! All good either way.

[@tee_pierce6]

How many fluval heaters u have in there

[@simplyfishy5295]

Love the size of the tank and those Arowana! How high do your nitrates get between changes? Why use the ceramics, loads of empty space in the filter?

[@Sean3D2Y]

Been wanting to put the FX4 nozzle on an FX6.

[@MicksFishUk]

Try it mate in theory it should create more flow 👊

[@lancashiresoaps8890]

Do you use tap water to fill up your tanks? I'm pretty new to fish keeping and have been filling up containers through a filtration ro unit. It takes a couple of days to fill all 6 up. My tap water here in Yorkshire is very high with nitrates. Is there an easier way of doing water changes?

[@NUTTER8291]

I use tap water and I'm in suffolk which is very hard and like you full of nitrate ... there's nothing you can do about it !! So just put your water treatment in and crack on ! BUT make sure the fish you have can deal with your water chemistry

[@jaime8318]

I just bought a 300 gallon tank. I have 2 FX6 filters. Will that be enough filtration for a tank that size?

[@Gbonejohn1974]

depends on stocking but i was never happy with 2 on my old 300 gallon ....i would run two fx6 on a 180

[@kyy3852]

alright mate,another question haha. i’ve got fake plants an fake logs, an i’ve noticed recently they have formed what looks like black beard algae, ? how can i remove

[@frankjesko8165]

An overgrowth of black algae is a sign of high phosphates. Flying Fox fish will eat it. Do some big water changes, check nutritional analysis on your fish food, and don't use phosphate based ph buffer products. A bit more light also helps favor green algae growth to out compete the black. Some self appointed "experts" will tell you that you can't reduce phosphates with water changes. Ours were in the 350-500ppm range but five weeks later they were in the single digits and have been there since. No more black beard algae

[@dougmottert2258]

It looks nice , But you need to clean the heaters

[@JJDTC]

Hey Mick. You just need one of 19mm. Easily can stick in the rubber it's self. It's also thinner than the 30mm, more pressure, more flowrate!

[@MakoyUnggoy]

This seems an easier solution, I'm off to B&Q in half an hour when it opens to see if I can find the right part, thanks!

[@jannerkev]

Hi Mate. I have a great tip for helping you empty your tank. Get another head from your fx6/fx4 inlet/outlet, £25 from amazon. and jubilee clip it onto your clear hose you use for draining your tank. Shut off your inlet/outlet heads. Turn off the power. Now clip your new head onto the outlet. Turn both heads on and turn the power on. It then pumps the water out for you just make sure your water syphon in your tank is deep enough for the extraction. Simple. Saves fannying around with gravel syphon.

[@MicksFishUk]

👊👊

[@JustMyFish]

Hi there buddy I was sent here boy simple reef can I have a look at some of your videos👍🏻

[@ayee6174]

So it's true. Brits actually don't know what's a toothbrush...😂 jk Great looking setup.

[@alexaddison850]

I know it’s a joke and all but if you look on the scale for country with the best teeth uk one off the top on scale 😖

[@hairlesshippy]

did you know you could remove the pipe from the cover.. just twist it off..

[@Gbonejohn1974]

3/4" is 19mm 30mm is 1.18"

[@ROTTERtube]

Replace the sponges in the filter. They're nasty.

[@stucody]

What power heads are you using?

[@MicksFishUk]

Mp40s mate

[@stucody]

@@MicksFishUk that’s serious hardware. I’m looking into what powerheads to get for my 750lt African cichlid set up and have not a clue

[@fishmanc5357]

Mick, are you not worried you'll take out too much beneficial bacteria by doing so much at once?

[@MicksFishUk]

Not at all mate I have 2 other filters on the tank bud

[@fishmanc5357]

@@MicksFishUk Yeah I realised after making the comment lol. So 4 fx6s do the job 👍🏻2 can handle the bio load. How often to do you test for ammonia?

[@MicksFishUk]

I’ve got 3 fx6 on the tank mate and no problems at all I have customised the media tho helps a lot.

[@fishmanc5357]

@@MicksFishUk of course 3! 🤦🏻‍♂️ Yh noticed the strategic way you placed the ceramic rings, must have taken ages lol

[@scottmoore8443]

Do you run carbon in your filtration setup?

[@MicksFishUk]

No mate check my older videos

[@scottmoore8443]

I have exactly the same set up as yourself in my 7ft tank, apart from i only have x2 fx6's, i have done the same with the ceramic rings, sponges and also cotton to polish the water. I have a malawi cichlid stocked tank, and i am really struggling to get clear water like yours, any advice?

[@MicksFishUk]

How often you doing water changes? And how long do you leave you lights on for each day. How often do you feed?

[@scottmoore8443]

@@MicksFishUk im doing 50% per week, so 550 litres a week. Lights are on from 8 till 9- maybe an issue? Feed once a day, i dont over feed either all food is consumed well before 2 minutes

[@MicksFishUk]

Ok mate feed pellets 5 times a week and then frozen food once a week normally day before water change and on water change day don’t feed. Your lights are on way to long I have mine on 6 hours a day so turn that down it will make a huge difference. I have mine on from 3pm to 9pm hope this helps

[@markhutchinson9860]

Try swapping out your media for bio home media.. give it a bit of research you won’t be disappointed.

[@MicksFishUk]

I have some in my other filters it’s good stuff 👍🏻👍🏻

[@markhutchinson9860]

Wish I just had fish to look after 😅 four horses goats chickens and 6 German Shepherds 😅😂😂 . But we have the fish 🐠 bug here currently have three tanks . One at 6 ft 7 with a growing Arrawana fish . And a 22 ft by 14 ft wide pond by 7ft Deep .. we are really needing a tank like your big one in the near future. Would be a great request if you did a video on where you got your sent up from and cost .

[@tatt2edboy]

Mick, how do you refill your tank,

[@MicksFishUk]

With the python

[@tatt2edboy]

@@MicksFishUk OK thanks.. My tap doesn't have option to get fitting on..

[@MicksFishUk]

Ok mate I’ll do a video on it soon I used to have that problem in my old place

[@1014p]

There are 2.54 cm/25.4 mm to an inch. No way your near 3 cm for .75”. So 2.54*.75 is 1.905 cm. That said I have pondered doing this to mine but really have not put effort on it. I use original part for surface agitation. I plumbed .75” pipe in and attached it. So I could easily push fit pvc in place. I don’t trust corrugated pipe. When it goes it goes fast.

[@mymodel6]

Clean tubes with a bottle brush dude...

[@kyle7273]

That restricted flow not increased. All you increased was pressure. You are now moving much less water through the filter and have greatly decreased the efficiency of the filter.

[@mattrogerson7591]

³⅜

[@stelarter9276]

its not giving more power its just giving more a single jet,, plus its causing turbulence in you pipe work using an elbow , you would of been better using a 90 degree bend and not an elbow