FX5 stopped working, HELP!!

T

tlscott77

AC Members
Sep 16, 2009
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Sunny Side Of Louisville
I have a FX5, and i noticed that it has stopped working. I unplugged it and plugged it back up and I could feel the motor kick on and off several times and then stop. I unhooked it and clean everything, I even took the motor off and cleaned that. Still it is doing the same. While I had the motor off I plugged it in and it spun just fine. I just plugged it back up after waiting 10 minutes and it still starts several times and then stops. Its hooked to a 160+ gallon Cichlid tank, I use sand for the bottom also. I've had it running for almost 2 months now. Any help on this one will be appreciated. Thanks in advance!!
 
I would try filling the canister filter with water and then plugging it in.
 
FX5 PROBLEM TROUBLESHOOTING​
Problem Possible Cause Suggested Action Excessive Bubbling
Too near to an airstone, another filter or protein skimmer Remove cause of bubbles. The FX5 is extremely efficient in cleaning. The FX5 can suck suspended air bubbles from up to 4 feet away. If there is any problem with ongoing air bubbles, ensure that all air production devices are removed to ensure they are not the original cause. Not enough distance between intake and output strainer Leave 4 feet between the input and output systems, if this is not possible, use tank decorations as a barrier to reduce air bubble flow from output to input Air Pockets in media. Remove some media - The filter is more effective if it is not too full of media. Too Much Media As outlined above. New Set-up Allow 48 to 72 hours for the full effects of self-purging to be fully implemented Rubber adapters not submersed in water Reposition so these are fully submersed. Faulty Valve Replace Reduced Flow Too much media in the filter chambersReduce the amount of media to ensure flow is unrestricted and filtration efficiency is maximized Impeller not running effectively Clean or replace the impeller Blocked HoseClean out hose or replace Rattling/Shuddering noise Substrate in impeller Clean impeller and ensure intake is not too near the bottom of the tank. The input should be able to strain the water cleanly without picking up substrate as well. Debris around rim of motor housingClean the system. Air in Canister Purge or remove some media Airstone too near, other filter or protein skimmer is creating an air source that the power of the Fluval FX5 is drawing into the system Remove the cause of air insertion into the aquarium. As mentioned above, the Fluval FX5 is extremely effective at drawing suspended bubbles form as much as 4 feet away. If air is entering the system , stop all other devices that may be adding air to the water column to ensure they are not a cause. Filter too powerful for size of tank Remove and replace with a smaller filtration system that does not cause as much disturbance to the environment. Worn Bearing Replace motor Ticking sound Impeller shaft worn Replace impeller Filter won't restart after being off Impeller needs cleaning or replacing Clean or replace Impeller




Filter won't restart after being off Impeller needs cleaning or replacing Clean or replace Impeller
 
The very best way to verify that the FX5 is working properly is to test it after it is thoroughly cleaned including the hoses and valves with a pipe brush pulled through the hoses tied to a string. Now you know all obstructions are gone test the FX5 in the tub with a 5 gallon bucket of water. It should pour water out and stop after 1 minute and then turn back on and remain on. If in this verified clean state the the FX5 after initially starting shuts down and does not start back up, the circuit board timer has malfunctioned.

The reason why the FX5 has a timer is because the FX5 pump is so powerful that it actually creates enough negative pressure inside the canister that it pulls air out of solution over time and every 24 hours shuts down so that the trapped air can escape naturally. If the canister media is overdue for cleaning, greater negative pressure is created and air is pulled out of solution more quickly. I have my 6 FX5's on wall timers 30 minutes on 30 minutes off to save power 25W vs 50W, and I can tell when they are overdue for cleaning becasue air will bubble will discharge out every couple hours the timer shuts the FX5 down, but it takes about 4 to 6 months to get that way depends on your media. If on the regular 24 hour timer your FX5 fills with air prematurely, the excess air will shut it down.

If my FX5 timer circuit board ever fails and I cant get a replacement under warranty or for a decent price, I will try and bypass the circuit boar so that it operates purely on or off when plugged in without the internal timer, and I will just continue to operate it on my wall timer. So far I haven't had any problems with my 6 FX5's I could not figure out and the only time I ever had one stop working or discharging water is when the filters, hoses, and valves were completely clogged with Diatom slime during a new sand setup. Also one other time recently when I wasn't paying attention and had one of the valves off or hoses switched. I recently discovered the cure for new sand diatom bloom by sterilizing / boiling new sand before introduction.
 
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You need to raise your intake higher in the aquarium to lessen the chance of ingesting sand.
 
Usually the only way you get sand inside is if your intake is against the bottom or when kicking-up and moving sand around like during cleaning, adding, or moving sand, you forget to shut down your FX5 until finished.

I keep my intake 3/4 of the way down the tank depth but at least 6 inches off the bottom. Unless your sand is extra fine it should be caught by the filter elements before it reaches the motor. Make sure your basket O-rings are intact and lined up becasue there should be no bypass especially if you are using a polishing pad. I use custom cut polishing pads (Poly-batten) on the outside of the large outer 6 circumference sponges which catch everything and polish so well, my 3 inside baskets are just use for carbon, bio-balls, and Lava-rock
 
CWO4GUNNER said:
Usually the only way you get sand inside is if your intake is against the bottom or when kicking-up and moving sand around like during cleaning, adding, or moving sand, you forget to shut down your FX5 until finished.

I keep my intake 3/4 of the way down the tank depth but at least 6 inches off the bottom. Unless your sand is extra fine it should be caught by the filter elements before it reaches the motor. Make sure your basket O-rings are intact and lined up becasue there should be no bypass especially if you are using a polishing pad. I use custom cut polishing pads (Poly-batten) on the outside of the large outer 6 circumference sponges which catch everything and polish so well, my 3 inside baskets are just use for carbon, bio-balls, and Lava-rock
Click to expand...
Yeah the sand is pretty fine, but that's what I just did, cut a piece of pad for the bottom to catch the extra if it happens again.
 
you could try a sponge pre filter over the intake but you would need to rinse it out every so often to keep your flow from becoming a trickle.
 
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