Wanting the quietest filter. Fluval fx6?

I have an 80gal that's an empty glass box atm. I'm planning to set it up in a common area of my home rather than my room, and my mom wants it to be as quiet as possible. Because she's awesome and knows I'm doing this on a budget, she's offered to pay for the quietest filter I'm also planning to safely overstock the tank, so I'm super happy about overkill filtration. Is the fluval fx6 my best bet? Is there a quieter/better one? I'm in Canada if that limits some options.

 

not sure about the fx6, but I have the Fluval Aquaclear 50 and it's completely quiet! It made a light hum on the first day, but after running for a while and adjusting the rotor (often moves, since the item sits in a box for so long) it was dead quiet.

 

not sure about the fx6, but I have the Fluval Aquaclear 50 and it's completely quiet! It made a light hum on the first day, but after running for a while and adjusting the rotor (often moves, since the item sits in a box for so long) it was dead quiet.

I've got the aquaclear for my 30 gal! I just want a little more hardcore filtration for the 80 gal. I've considered 2 110s but at that point the price is almost as much as a canister.

 

I've got the aquaclear for my 30 gal! I just want a little more hardcore filtration for the 80 gal. I've considered 2 110s but at that point the price is almost as much as a canister.

Where do you get supplies from? Some stores (including PetSmart and PetSupermarket) price match with Chewy and I know the PetSmart app has a game you can play to win a 25% off coupon.

I think the fx should be quiet tho.

 

Where do you get supplies from? Some stores (including PetSmart and PetSupermarket) price match with Chewy and I know the PetSmart app has a game you can play to win a 25% off coupon.

I think the fx should be quiet tho.

I go to my LFS, usually. It's pretty great. I don't think petsmart does the app/coupons in Canada, but I will look into that! Thanks!

 

I have an 80gal that's an empty glass box atm. I'm planning to set it up in a common area of my home rather than my room, and my mom wants it to be as quiet as possible. Because she's awesome and knows I'm doing this on a budget, she's offered to pay for the quietest filter I'm also planning to safely overstock the tank, so I'm super happy about overkill filtration. Is the fluval fx6 my best bet? Is there a quieter/better one? I'm in Canada if that limits some options.

Hmmm .... I like your Mum. My 13 year old daughter has two fish tanks. Both have Fluval FX4 filters. The filters are quiet. They are out of sight under the fish tank.

Here's a quick photograph. Sorry they aren't quite finished yet.




I thought it would help if I talked about the FX4 a little further.




The FX4 is smaller than the FX6. It's suitable for tanks up to a capacity of 250 litres or 65usg. The FX6 is suitable for 375 litres or 98usg.

The filter also has a very user friendly function which allows the tank to be emptied for water changes. But it's not quite as good as it sounds. I'd suggest you ignore this function in the short term.

OK that's enough about the Fluval FX4. Now can I talk about something far more important. The stuff you're going to put in it. Yes the media. If you look above I have specifically stated the amount of water the FX4 & FX6 can cope with. Both filters come with some media. But not enough. And in my humble opinion the wrong stuff too.

We have used Biohome Ultimate. An there is virtually no nitrates in either tank. We managed to squeeze 2.5kg's into the FX4 and my best guess is the FX6 will take about 50% more. 1kg of Biohome Ultimate will fully cycle (remove all nitrates) for 100L (26usg) of water. This allows more fish and [possibly] fewer water changes. I say possibly because we have had to cope with high phosphate levels in our tap water.

Here's a video on the FX4 which is just the baby brother/sister of the FX6.

(I'd suggest you ignore the use of more mechanical filtration and focus on the Biohome Ultimate.)

As you can see my daughter has two FX4's in her room. She has a TV in there and neither of her filters can be heard above that.

Our tap water is 10ppm nitrates. The Biohome reduces this to 1ppm. Nuff said

AiYn'U

 

The Eheim classic / 221* canisters are about as quiet as it gets for canisters... at least they used to be. I haven't looked into that specifically in a few years. A 2217 could handle that 80G at almost half the cost of the fx6.

 

Hmmm .... I like your Mum. My 13 year old daughter has two fish tanks. Both have Fluval FX4 filters. The filters are quiet. They are out of sight under the fish tank.

Here's a quick photograph. Sorry they aren't quite finished yet.

View attachment 712066

I thought it would help if I talked about the FX4 a little further.

View attachment 712067

The FX4 is smaller than the FX6. It's suitable for tanks up to a capacity of 250 litres or 65usg. The FX6 is suitable for 375 litres or 98usg.

The filter also has a very user friendly function which allows the tank to be emptied for water changes. But it's not quite as good as it sounds. I'd suggest you ignore this function in the short term.

OK that's enough about the Fluval FX4. Now can I talk about something far more important. The stuff you're going to put in it. Yes the media. If you look above I have specifically stated the amount of water the FX4 & FX6 can cope with. Both filters come with some media. But not enough. And in my humble opinion the wrong stuff too.

We have used Biohome Ultimate. An there is virtually no nitrates in either tank. We managed to squeeze 2.5kg's into the FX4 and my best guess is the FX6 will take about 50% more. 1kg of Biohome Ultimate will fully cycle (remove all nitrates) for 100L (26usg) of water. This allows more fish and [possibly] fewer water changes. I say possibly because we have had to cope with high phosphate levels in our tap water.

Here's a video on the FX4 which is just the baby brother/sister of the FX6.

(I'd suggest you ignore the use of more mechanical filtration and focus on the Biohome Ultimate.)

As you can see my daughter has two FX4's in her room. She has a TV in there and neither of her filters can be heard above that.

Our tap water is 10ppm nitrates. The Biohome reduces this to 1ppm. Nuff said

AiYn'U

Thanks so much! I just came home with the fx4 and this is super useful info!