I'm looking to upgrade my filtration system on my discus tank and wanted to know if anyone has ever used or know someone who uses the Lifegard Aquatics Aquarium Filtration Systems.

Never tried it. I have seen them before and I think they are a bit bulky and expensive...but I'm not quite sure if I'm thinking of the same filters. Are they like a 3 stage filter? If so what I have stated above is true but I hear they work very well.

Sorry never tried it either.

3 to 4 stage DD. I know there expensive but I'm willing to pay more for something that works well.

What about the Fluval FX5? I know people on MFK love them but what do ya'll think

I've never used either, but I've heard great things about both. The Lifeguard system is supposed be really good for plumed (drilled) tanks, since they can be easily connected with ridged PVC piping. My only concern with the FX5 is it may produce more current than your discus would like. Good luck with whatever you choose.

Mark

The FX5 makes an impressive current. On a 75g you'll have instant river.

I'm not sure, but I'll ask, but there's a guy near me that does salty stuff that I think has one of those on a pretty big tank. If it's not it looks very similar.

Those separate chambers are a popular setup for pond filters, and they work really well, so I'd imagine that would work good for a tank too.

Also, price wise it's not much more that the big boy filters from most of the other companies either. fx5 and the xp4 are in the same ball park. Shopping around though you may be able to get one of the other two on sale somewhere since they're a bit more common.

im not sure but if the fx5 is a canister they tend to starve your tank of oxygen .thats why i heard you shouldnt use canisters with discus!

Good to know. Saint let me know what you find out.

If there's a significant power outage, and you have a canister filter and then the power comes back on, you can get a nasty oxygen destroying surprise, but otherwise not anything that I'm aware of either.

Anyway, I forgot to get back to you about this. I asked about that filter. Guy has a much older but similar model to what you're looking at. His is something like 10 years old and has more chambers than the inline one. His has 8 doubled up almost like two compacts were mashed together.

He said the heater unit is awesome, and keeps the temperature perfect, but that the pleated filter gets clogged pretty quickly, and your flow will drop without you really knowing, since it's extremely quiet.

He has one set up on a 125 with another filter on a saltwater tank that had live rock and fishies in it, but I couldn't tell you what sort. He also said his was from before they were bought by Pentair and had heard that there was some problems from when they were bought, but didn't know specifically what and if they were taken care of. This was some time ago so he figured it be good by now.

He doesn't know much about discus, but his vote, for ya if you were still using the 75 was the Eheim 2229 with another filter in tandem. He's got two of 'em running and was pretty happy with them. I know nothing about the Eheim canisters but I have two Eheim Liberty HOB filters and have been pretty impressed with them running. I've got one running on the snail dumpster tank, and besides having to clean out the bigger chunks, it does an impressive job.

Thanks saint I'll look into the Eheim 2229

More info for ya.

Not sure how much filtration your looking to do do, but I saw a few different models. There's a smaller 2227 model and if you were interested in doing external heating there seems to be a 2327 and 2329 which has a 180w heater built into it.

Also one other thing I forgot to mention that he told me was that if you do go with the 2229 (and the 2227 I'm assuming too) to cover the inlet with some sponge or somehow cover it. The openings are apparently just big enough on his that it was letting in just slightly too big crud.

Thank you for the info saint. I have a few sponges kicking around so if I end up getting the 2229 or the 2227 I can slide it over the intake.