michael.qian Posted October 22, 2007 Report Share Posted October 22, 2007 Tomorrow I'm going to buy some filter media to replace the carbon in my Fluval 405, since it has been running for 5 weeks now and the carbon is expired anyway. What are some good filters medias? I was going to get a fine sponge pad but a lot of people tell me it'll clog very easily, so I thought I'll rule that out. Currently beside the 4 sponges on the side (mechanical filtration), there are 4 verticle baskets, 2 with carbon, 2 with biomax rings. I'm thinking some bioballs, or even 4 full trays of rings. What are some other good media I can consider? perferably fairly inexpensive. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slightly Blue Dalmation Posted October 22, 2007 Report Share Posted October 22, 2007 carbons not that expensive or even just put it in one of the baskets? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted October 22, 2007 Report Share Posted October 22, 2007 The more bio media the better. Bioballs, ceramic rings, scoria rock, anything that has a large surface area/is very porous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ianab Posted October 22, 2007 Report Share Posted October 22, 2007 Nylon pot scourers - the plain sort WITHOUT any soap. Like the guys say, something durable with heaps of surface area. Fine sponge is OK if it's put in behind the other sponge filters, most of the solid waste gets caught by the normal sponges first. Ceramic media seems to be about the best per volume, but others work fine as long as you have space for extra volume. Cheers Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wok Posted October 22, 2007 Report Share Posted October 22, 2007 Aqua One ceramic media is cheap and works Eheim substrate media is great but cost heaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael.qian Posted October 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2007 Don't want to continue with the carbon as there's a small chance I might dose the tank with medicine soon. So now looks like bioballs or rings are good options, out of these two I'll probabaly go for rings, so I'll have four full baskets of rings. But I'll look at what Hollywood's got tomorrow, last time I looked they had quite a lot of medias to choose from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael.qian Posted October 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2007 Bought one jar of AquaOne noodles, also a jar of CeramicSub, it's basically like small porous rocks, similar to the Eheim media I've seen before. What should the best order be? from lowest to highest. I'm thinking of putting the rock stuff right down the bottom, followed by the new rings, then the old rings (two trays), go on top. does that sound right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted October 23, 2007 Report Share Posted October 23, 2007 Stuff with the biggest holes goes to the bottom e.g. ceramic noodles etc Otherwise you're finer media will get clogged. Although if you've got a 'medium' biological media (e.g. smaller than ceramic noodles but not as fine as a sponge) you can put that at the very top, so your bacteria can grow on it, and nothing can ever clog it up. Generally though I just go coarse->fine. If there is room free, I usually chuck gravel or something in there, more surface area the better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael.qian Posted October 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2007 The finest stuff would be the CeramicSub. If I put it at the top I'm a bit worried since it's quite sandy, the grains would fall off and get into my tank. But that won't happen right? Right now the old noodles are on top and they are quite sandy as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted October 23, 2007 Report Share Posted October 23, 2007 If it fits through the grate it will. Just put a layer of foam/sponge on top of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tHEcONCH Posted October 23, 2007 Report Share Posted October 23, 2007 If it fits through the grate it will. Just put a layer of foam/sponge on top of it. Or put it in a bag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael.qian Posted October 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2007 it comes with a mesh bag. But sadly only one, and each tray is divided into two parts (stupid design lol), so what I'll it like this. Level 1: New Rings (without bags) Level 2 & 3: Old Biomax Rings (without bags) Level 4: CeramicSub (with two bags, one from the noodles jar) The holes in the mesh bag is still quite big, or I'll see if I can use the mesh bags the carbon were currently in, since I'm throwing the carbon out tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henward Posted October 23, 2007 Report Share Posted October 23, 2007 HFF is currently having aqua1 bio rocks , cheap! i filed upa tray on my jebo 1200lph tray with one container. 12 bux i think if i remember correctly. i say put 4 trays of bio media, not bio balls but ceramic or the rocks or scoria pummice etc, and one wiht fine polyester filter wool for fine particles to make your tank exremely clear. all my tanks or meat eater tanks and water is perfect. plenty of bioballs. my jardini tank has almost 7 kilos worth of total bio media. im obsessed with them:D i have only used carbon for removing medication. i hvae never used it. should i? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael.qian Posted October 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2007 Just done the swap over, it is ordered like this. 1. original Fluval Biomax rings 2. new AquaOne rings 3. original Fluval Biomax rings 4. Bio rocks (CeramicSub) in mesh bags, at the top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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