Hi, after seeing this video last week and getting so fed up with my flex filtration, I've stripped my tank and done the same! I'll be adding an external cannister filter, and also I'll be changing the lid and upgrading the lights - the standard one wasnt upto much even when it did work properly (about the 1st 6 months!). Thank you for the inspiration to go ahead and do this!
Thnx for showing this video. I have a fluval flex for mine son. After first cleaning i found out the filter is not working properly. Now i gonna remove the compartments and put a background plate to the back and going to use a filter outside the aqaurium
This is exactly what I've done to my nine gallon same tank as this one I also went further and scraped off the honeycomb with the same scraper like this man is using I'm planning to use the walstad method
@@AQUAGUYUK Im going for it tonight wish me luck!, ill get as much water out as possible but hopefully can do it with the substrate still left inside as its brand new, any filter you would recommend? i would love a Tidal HOB but the lid wouldnt work then. Im torin between open top and a Tidal and new light or a simple Foam Filter. Ill be hosting a Betta so any ideas or suggestions?
@@TheFewzz I would look at a u2 from fluval as it has media and foam plus it can be used as a gentle flow from the mid portion of it look at some vids on youtube or a small sponge filter,,,good luck you can move the substrate and just put it back later
Hi, I have the same tank in white, which shows everything as Tony said. I would love to take the back panel off. My question is, do you think it could be done by emptying about 50% of the water and leave the fish in? My tetras got so upset when I tried to net them, I really don’t want to put them through that. There is some give to the panel like yours was. Thank you
I would say get you could if you tuned the pump off and removed all from the rear then sucked out all the debris and muck from the rear as I think the issue would be dirt mixing with all the tank water having said that you can water change it each day until clear
Hi....I've removed mine a few weeks ago now..and use a u2 filter as the original filtration is not that good....Will it make the tank weaker by removing the back bit though as it don't seem like a sturdy tank
No the tank integrity is based on the 5 mains glass walls as for the filter make sure the center chamber is full of media i used a U2 and then a U3 and found them excellent
hi i bought one these of someone before xmas but now found the pump not working to good looked an checked for everything found the water got very low in back compartment that was making pmp not work not sure if you heard this happening i haven,t till now lol, not sure what to do ? receal it or do what what you have done can you advice me please thanks Roberta baffling
Try removing all filter sponge and media then see if it still happens i think that the sponge/media is clogged also are both the grates open and not covered by substrate/gravel
@@AQUAGUYUK hi thanks for getting back to me, think i solved the problem i did take all out again in the 3 panels they were fine but son said to me you haven,t it filled as usual it was filled half way up that black around top tank an yes so far has kept filled for was wonering why i couln,t keep the heater were the pump was water to low lol , thanks for help i will keep this in mind !
@@AQUAGUYUK i not fussed on it either i have imternal pump not sure wether to use it or not , have 1 bio filter at back gonna put second in i think, can you use them along with an internal pump ,you, think i know this ha large aquriums years ago lol, its an EHEIM pick up 45 i had bought
Hi Great video . I have the 123 flex and considering removing back panel as its just not practical.. Massively dirty behind . If removed.....what pump/ filter do you recommend in its place please
wow great tank on that i would go for the fluval u 4 or eheim pick up 200 but for a really good result try external say an eheim ecco pro 300 or aps 1400
@@thunderchild2237 ok well then i would say the pickup range from eheim or a U 4 from fluval the fluval has bio media and the eheim is just sponge but dont let that put you off i have had one for years with great success
Thank you for getting back to me. Your videos have helped me tons. Just so lm clear, you didn’t cut the silicone in the back, you just gave it a good tug?
AQUAGUY UK thank you so much for getting back to me and all your help. I did it, it’s out. I think all my fish except one baby Pygmy Corydora is swimming kind of funny but that’s because I accidentally sucked him up when I was vacuuming. So sad about that. I couldn’t believe how dirty it was back there I was so disgusted. I don’t know if it’s supposed to have all that crud back there or if it was because of the bad filtration. I had a lot of bio media in there. It’s only been a couple hours and it’s starting to clear up I’ll keep doing water changes. I didn’t even bother taking off all the silicone it’s a white one so you really can’t even see it I think I’m just gonna leave it alone. So now I have an air filter and the air filter and a sponge filter in there. Should that do it! I have 14 ember tetras five Amano shrimp and one cherry shrimp and then hopefully three Pygmy Corydoras. Thank you again, and thank you for helping me so much with this hobby
Hi mate, watching a lot of your videos now and came across this. I'd love to do same to mine, are you still finding the strength is not affected? It's such a good mod giving more swimming room for the fish and stops that infernal pump vibration which is still there with the eheim. Should I go ahead and do it? Cheers
Had this tank in my office ever since with shrimp in as for the strength the compartment really came out easy so don't think it added any to it but if it was an issue i suppose you could run a bead over the silicone in the tank but i didn't
Well stock lighting will grow limited plants and its bright enough for most fish and enjoyment but I have tried using other lighting with the stock light and in the next few days will be trying the aquasky led as these are the best around light I can find but I think I may need to do a little modding
Just finished doing this the other day, used dark green and blk acrylic paint i found in my closet, but im just going to run it off a nice aquatop sponge, hey and save electricity, it would be cool though to take the big pump that came with this tank and use it to power a sponge filter lol just a thought...
Good idea i have seen filter systems that use this with a big sponge on top but honestly a small filter in a small tank is perfect ,,,,have fun keep me posted
I'm very tempted to do the same with mine. I find it hard to imagine that the plastic wall is integral to the aquarium strength. How has this mod held up for you? Love to kill some Time during this lockdown.
i did the same on mine two weeks after i've bought it. added a hang on filter from all pond solutions and happy days. in the future i would stay away from flex type glass and on the flex that back stage sunk is very bad made. some other products have a different system with a up and down flow. fluval chose to do an left right flow witch is very strange and waste of space
Well to be honest I think the design is for a novice wanting an "all in one "solution but I have tried media baskets and simply filling the back up with media I am either going the tidal route or maybe a dennerle solution I have seen
Hi @nxbux which hang on filter did you go for from APS and has it been working well? Did you have to modify the tank lid to accommodate the new filter?
Only just found this, thank you so much for posting! I have a white 34l which is perfect for my betta but I hate the fiddly pump/filter, the waste of space and the white background which never looks clean. Guess what I’ll be doing this weekend!?
@@AQUAGUYUK I have done this now and am very pleased with the result - I have the ideal tank, with a silent filter, which is easier to clean. My betta is very happy is his new improved tank and has more room to swim around and has better landscaping. Following your instructions, it was much easier to do than I had feared it might be. Thank you.
@@sayitlikeitis8759 Excellent glad it helped i did have concerns that the plastics helped the structural integrality but it came off so easy it could make a difference and my tank is still going strong
I recently bought a 2nd hand juwel 200l which had the same filter as the 125l! As I wanted it for goldfish and already had a great Eheim external filter I removed the old filter easily with a pallet knife.
Wow, you've gone and done what i've been thinking about doing on my Fluval Flex 15 white version. Not only does the default filtration setup suck ass, the white plastic shows stains 10000% worse than the black on. Looking forward to followups on what you've decided to do for new filtration (canister?) and all that extra floorspace in the tank!
Hi Alan, I hope you're well and keeping yourself busy during the lockdown. I was looking for some advice...how have you found the Fluval Flex 34L tank, I mean, is the suplied filtration good, any issues with cracks or leaks? I am looking to buy either the Fluval Flex or the Spec V, but not sure which one. I hope you or anyone with experience with either or both these tanks can help. Cheers
Don’t get the white one it gets dirty so quickly and it is better without the back panel. I am doing it to my 57litre today the sides come off easy but the back and bottom is quite hard to get off. Hope this helps. Love 💖 from London uk 🇬🇧
I'm taking my inner filtration system out it is not a good system the water stagnant in my aquarium and it's because of that wall but it's coming down the wall is coming down
According to fluval it's a elite tank. I had a argument with them as I've lost 2 God damn fish because of their shitty filtration! 2 bettas worth $40each. All due to a bacterial infection after the fact. Mega mega angry.
I never thought of trying this. The pump had failed three times in mine. Now I can set it up with a proper system. Thanks
i loved mine had it for many years and it was the filtration that let it down
Hi, after seeing this video last week and getting so fed up with my flex filtration, I've stripped my tank and done the same! I'll be adding an external cannister filter, and also I'll be changing the lid and upgrading the lights - the standard one wasnt upto much even when it did work properly (about the 1st 6 months!).
Thank you for the inspiration to go ahead and do this!
hope its all good i run mine with a little eheim pickup 160 and love it
Thnx for showing this video.
I have a fluval flex for mine son.
After first cleaning i found out the filter is not working properly.
Now i gonna remove the compartments and put a background plate to the back and going to use a filter outside the aqaurium
Glad it helped i use it for shrimp and Betta
This is exactly what I've done to my nine gallon same tank as this one I also went further and scraped off the honeycomb with the same scraper like this man is using I'm planning to use the walstad method
Great idea natural balance is always best
Did this with a 9 gallon,loved the look so much I bought a 15 and did the same.
Would love to find a clear lid for it.
Thanks for the vid!
Glad it helped
I did the same thing and scraped off the honeycomb and used a HOB filter for a bit before going to a sponge filter. Adds some extra swimming space.
Indeed and no stuck fry
Was it easy to scrape the honeycomb off?
@@DraconisMarchVII not too difficult.
Just did the same on my flex 32 upgrading to a canister with glass lily pipes loved the shape of the tank though
Yeah the tank is unique keep me posted
That looked so easy, ive just filled mine with Fluval Stratem substrate soil and now with water, tempted too empty and restart over and do this.
I have not looked back
@@AQUAGUYUK Im going for it tonight wish me luck!, ill get as much water out as possible but hopefully can do it with the substrate still left inside as its brand new, any filter you would recommend? i would love a Tidal HOB but the lid wouldnt work then.
Im torin between open top and a Tidal and new light or a simple Foam Filter.
Ill be hosting a Betta so any ideas or suggestions?
@@TheFewzz I would look at a u2 from fluval as it has media and foam plus it can be used as a gentle flow from the mid portion of it look at some vids on youtube or a small sponge filter,,,good luck you can move the substrate and just put it back later
@@AQUAGUYUK It worked! thanks! Just cleaning the lines it leaves behind and for now i orderd a sponge filter so i can get on with things tomorrow.
@@TheFewzz Excellent keep us posted would be great to see
Hi, I have the same tank in white, which shows everything as Tony said. I would love to take the back panel off. My question is, do you think it could be done by emptying about 50% of the water and leave the fish in? My tetras got so upset when I tried to net them, I really don’t want to put them through that. There is some give to the panel like yours was. Thank you
I would say get you could if you tuned the pump off and removed all from the rear then sucked out all the debris and muck from the rear as I think the issue would be dirt mixing with all the tank water having said that you can water change it each day until clear
Hi....I've removed mine a few weeks ago now..and use a u2 filter as the original filtration is not that good....Will it make the tank weaker by removing the back bit though as it don't seem like a sturdy tank
No the tank integrity is based on the 5 mains glass walls as for the filter make sure the center chamber is full of media i used a U2 and then a U3 and found them excellent
hi i bought one these of someone before xmas but now found the pump not working to good looked an checked for everything found the water got very low in back compartment that was making pmp not work not sure if you heard this happening i haven,t till now lol, not sure what to do ? receal it or do what what you have done can you advice me please thanks Roberta baffling
Try removing all filter sponge and media then see if it still happens i think that the sponge/media is clogged also are both the grates open and not covered by substrate/gravel
@@AQUAGUYUK hi thanks for getting back to me, think i solved the problem i did take all out again in the 3 panels they were fine but son said to me you haven,t it filled as usual it was filled half way up that black around top tank an yes so far has kept filled for was wonering why i couln,t keep the heater were the pump was water to low lol , thanks for help i will keep this in mind !
@@whitey4kids1 I found filtration quite poor in the flex and temperamental i removed it all in the end and never looked back
@@AQUAGUYUK i not fussed on it either i have imternal pump not sure wether to use it or not , have 1 bio filter at back gonna put second in i think, can you use them along with an internal pump ,you, think i know this ha large aquriums years ago lol, its an EHEIM pick up 45 i had bought
@@whitey4kids1 Keep me posted i do like to see a new aquarium bloom
Hi
Great video .
I have the 123 flex and considering removing back panel as its just not practical..
Massively dirty behind .
If removed.....what pump/ filter do you recommend in its place please
wow great tank on that i would go for the fluval u 4 or eheim pick up 200 but for a really good result try external say an eheim ecco pro 300 or aps 1400
@@AQUAGUYUK
Definitely not keen on an external right now
@@thunderchild2237 ok well then i would say the pickup range from eheim or a U 4 from fluval the fluval has bio media and the eheim is just sponge but dont let that put you off i have had one for years with great success
@@AQUAGUYUK
Typical
Recently sold 2 Fluval filters when I bought this tank as didn't think I needed them any longer 😅
@@thunderchild2237 Doh ! well i would defo look to the eheim as well its served me well
Is there going to be a follow up, I have two of these and have never been happy with the filtration I would love to see what you do.
Yes next day or two
Job done may change some things but the idea is sound
Thank you for getting back to me. Your videos have helped me tons. Just so lm clear, you didn’t cut the silicone in the back, you just gave it a good tug?
I simply started at the top until the silicone came away then continued down
AQUAGUY UK thank you so much for getting back to me and all your help. I did it, it’s out. I think all my fish except one baby Pygmy Corydora is swimming kind of funny but that’s because I accidentally sucked him up when I was vacuuming. So sad about that. I couldn’t believe how dirty it was back there I was so disgusted. I don’t know if it’s supposed to have all that crud back there or if it was because of the bad filtration. I had a lot of bio media in there. It’s only been a couple hours and it’s starting to clear up I’ll keep doing water changes. I didn’t even bother taking off all the silicone it’s a white one so you really can’t even see it I think I’m just gonna leave it alone. So now I have an air filter and the air filter and a sponge filter in there. Should that do it! I have 14 ember tetras five Amano shrimp and one cherry shrimp and then hopefully three Pygmy Corydoras. Thank you again, and thank you for helping me so much with this hobby
i have a fluval flex 9 running, the filter is rattling loudly so i need to replace it without draining the tank. is that possible?
yes in fact i have a video on an eheim pump ruclips.net/video/kda1KABe2S0/видео.html
Hi mate, watching a lot of your videos now and came across this. I'd love to do same to mine, are you still finding the strength is not affected? It's such a good mod giving more swimming room for the fish and stops that infernal pump vibration which is still there with the eheim. Should I go ahead and do it? Cheers
Had this tank in my office ever since with shrimp in as for the strength the compartment really came out easy so don't think it added any to it but if it was an issue i suppose you could run a bead over the silicone in the tank but i didn't
@@AQUAGUYUK Thanks for that, I'll be doing the mod as soon as I have chance.
Hi Alan,
In your opinion what’s the best lighting to have for the flex?
Cheers mate
Well stock lighting will grow limited plants and its bright enough for most fish and enjoyment but I have tried using other lighting with the stock light and in the next few days will be trying the aquasky led as these are the best around light I can find but I think I may need to do a little modding
Just finished doing this the other day, used dark green and blk acrylic paint i found in my closet, but im just going to run it off a nice aquatop sponge, hey and save electricity, it would be cool though to take the big pump that came with this tank and use it to power a sponge filter lol just a thought...
Good idea i have seen filter systems that use this with a big sponge on top but honestly a small filter in a small tank is perfect ,,,,have fun keep me posted
I'm very tempted to do the same with mine. I find it hard to imagine that the plastic wall is integral to the aquarium strength. How has this mod held up for you? Love to kill some Time during this lockdown.
When you remove it you will understand that it has no real impact on tank strength it came out to easy
i did the same on mine two weeks after i've bought it. added a hang on filter from all pond solutions and happy days. in the future i would stay away from flex type glass and on the flex that back stage sunk is very bad made. some other products have a different system with a up and down flow. fluval chose to do an left right flow witch is very strange and waste of space
Well to be honest I think the design is for a novice wanting an "all in one "solution but I have tried media baskets and simply filling the back up with media I am either going the tidal route or maybe a dennerle solution I have seen
Hi @nxbux which hang on filter did you go for from APS and has it been working well? Did you have to modify the tank lid to accommodate the new filter?
do you want to seel your flex media baskets
already gone sry
I want to see this on a Fluval Evo 13.5 ughh I hate the black stand it’s on. I wonder if I can take that off
Indeed I am sure the same situation is in that tank I may look to sourcing one and maybe do a reef tank
Only just found this, thank you so much for posting! I have a white 34l which is perfect for my betta but I hate the fiddly pump/filter, the waste of space and the white background which never looks clean. Guess what I’ll be doing this weekend!?
Keep me posted i personally think a "U" series filter from Fluval great for these too
@@AQUAGUYUK I have done this now and am very pleased with the result - I have the ideal tank, with a silent filter, which is easier to clean. My betta is very happy is his new improved tank and has more room to swim around and has better landscaping.
Following your instructions, it was much easier to do than I had feared it might be.
Thank you.
@@sayitlikeitis8759 Excellent glad it helped i did have concerns that the plastics helped the structural integrality but it came off so easy it could make a difference and my tank is still going strong
Mine is fixed in so tight I can't pull it out... and it's clogged so it needs to come out. I'm just scared of damaging my tank
you can cut down the silicone with a knife it will help release it remember everything should be out the tank
So the best way to clean a filter is to drain the entire tank and dismantle the background?@@AQUAGUYUK
I'm hoping it is as easy as u made it seem 😬. I also want to remove built in filters on juwel lido 200ltr and a 120lite. 😱
I had a rekord and removed it fairly easy but keep us posted ,,good luck
I recently bought a 2nd hand juwel 200l which had the same filter as the 125l! As I wanted it for goldfish and already had a great Eheim external filter I removed the old filter easily with a pallet knife.
Wow, you've gone and done what i've been thinking about doing on my Fluval Flex 15 white version. Not only does the default filtration setup suck ass, the white plastic shows stains 10000% worse than the black on. Looking forward to followups on what you've decided to do for new filtration (canister?) and all that extra floorspace in the tank!
Used a deep sand bed and eheim pick up 160 just to keep the tank alive but will try different things
Hi Alan, I hope you're well and keeping yourself busy during the lockdown. I was looking for some advice...how have you found the Fluval Flex 34L tank, I mean, is the suplied filtration good, any issues with cracks or leaks? I am looking to buy either the Fluval Flex or the Spec V, but not sure which one. I hope you or anyone with experience with either or both these tanks can help. Cheers
I have the 57 lt and I removed the black baffle and just used a sponge filter
Don’t get the white one it gets dirty so quickly and it is better without the back panel. I am doing it to my 57litre today the sides come off easy but the back and bottom is quite hard to get off. Hope this helps. Love 💖 from London uk 🇬🇧
Bardzo ciekawa modyfikacja ogółem.
Thank you i love the tank now
I'm taking my inner filtration system out it is not a good system the water stagnant in my aquarium and it's because of that wall but it's coming down the wall is coming down
Good idea i found a new life for the tank
According to fluval it's a elite tank. I had a argument with them as I've lost 2 God damn fish because of their shitty filtration! 2 bettas worth $40each. All due to a bacterial infection after the fact. Mega mega angry.
Damn sry to hear that but i must be honest the filter lets it down so remove it and start again i did and have not looked back