I run the seachem matrix in my sumps, bagged up in nice little packets. You can get if from Ken's fish for $30 for 4L, which is suppose to be good for 400 gallons (whatever that is based on). I run about 1L per 100 gallons.
Bio balls in a FX5
- Thread starter cdc
- Start date
Best to use pond matrix in the FX5. It is bigger and you'll have less getting through the bottom of the media baskets. Use the blue filter mat in the top basket, as this will trap dirt and get clogged. If you use it in the top tray you can clean/replace it without tearing apart the whole filter.
Bderick67;5077612; said:
+1. The size of pond matrix is a bit better suited to your filter. I just ordered 16l for my new sump and the size is perfect. I use small laundry bags to move mine around, but you add it directly to the fx5 without a bag at all, just the pads.
The FX5 doesn't come with any biomedia unless whoever is selling it to you adds it.
The biggest difference between Matrix and Biomax (and Eheim's biomedia) is that Matrix has more bioavailable surface area. Supposedly it also allows for denitrification, but this is not well supported (the cases that support it may be more circumstantial than associated with the Matrix).
The biggest difference between Matrix and Biomax (and Eheim's biomedia) is that Matrix has more bioavailable surface area. Supposedly it also allows for denitrification, but this is not well supported (the cases that support it may be more circumstantial than associated with the Matrix).
Not very scientific but I can honestly say my nitrates in both of my current setups have been consistently lower since I added matrix which was about a year ago. I was using substrat pro, Biomax and biochem stars and my nitrates were about 15-20 ppm before a water change. Interestingly enough I'm at about 5-10 now.....
Never gave it much though before. Kinda wrote it off as a marketing gadget but my nitrates have been lower. There may he some truth to the claims after all.....or I'm feeding less, which I know isn't true
Either way, I don't thnk you'd see a nitrate reduction using matrix in an fx5 anyways. Too much oxygen present for it to be effective. None of my filters move nearly that much water. You would have a very efficient biofilter though. I like the matrix products alot. Highly recommend them.
Never gave it much though before. Kinda wrote it off as a marketing gadget but my nitrates have been lower. There may he some truth to the claims after all.....or I'm feeding less, which I know isn't true
Either way, I don't thnk you'd see a nitrate reduction using matrix in an fx5 anyways. Too much oxygen present for it to be effective. None of my filters move nearly that much water. You would have a very efficient biofilter though. I like the matrix products alot. Highly recommend them.
I'm looking at buying a new or used FX5 so I was trying to get am idea of the total cost as I know they don't provide bio media. The one I have looked at comes with 750g pre filter media and 500g of Fluval biomax.
I don't know whether to get an fx5 with no media and just buy enough of the pond matrix or regular matrix.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Fluval-A218-FX5...938?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item483fe8d972
I don't know whether to get an fx5 with no media and just buy enough of the pond matrix or regular matrix.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Fluval-A218-FX5...938?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item483fe8d972
DO NOT put that filter floss anywhere where you have to do serious disassembly to get it out. you WILL regret it. put it on the top of the top basket ONLY. listen to someone who has made this mistake before..
i like the fluval ceramic bio rings, but there are honestly lots of other sources for ceramic rings that are far less expensive
Have you changed your filter maintenance in the past year since your nitrate concentration has been staying lower?
If you are opening up and maintaining your filter every month like you should, you need to maintain the whole thing, not just the top tray. The floss is best in the bottom so it cleans the water before it gets to the biomedia. If you don't then the fine debris can clog up the biomedia reducing its effectiveness.
The flow in the FX5 is high, but that flow will not be passing through the Matrix, it will go around it. It is inside the media, just like with live rock, that the denitrification will be taking place.
If you are opening up and maintaining your filter every month like you should, you need to maintain the whole thing, not just the top tray. The floss is best in the bottom so it cleans the water before it gets to the biomedia. If you don't then the fine debris can clog up the biomedia reducing its effectiveness.
The flow in the FX5 is high, but that flow will not be passing through the Matrix, it will go around it. It is inside the media, just like with live rock, that the denitrification will be taking place.
reptileguy2727;5078429; said:
Best to know the filter's design before giving advice on such. The flow in a FX5 is through the top tray before either of the other two trays . You can remove this filter floss along with the outer ring that holds the coarse filter foam with out having to disturb the bio media. Many use this floss or matt for water polishing, it gets clogged quickly and need cleaned/changed more frequently then the rest of the filter.
Better to speak from experience and not from speculation.
