Bio for an FX5 - Ceramic media or pot scrubbies?

[Angler]

Planning on what to put in the FX5s I just ordered. I want to fill them both up with bio (for a 260 gallon). I searched through some threads on here, and the consensus seems to be that the factory outer sponges are enough for mechanical, and that it is good to just fill all the inner compartments up with bio.

What will work better, ceramic rings or pot scrubbies? I know pot scrubbies will be way cheaper.

 

[FSM]

ceramic rings have lots more surface area. No clue about how much is actually usable surface area.

Also people will tell you pot scrubbies/bioballs are only good in wet/dry filters, not sure why ceramic media is exempt.


The cheapest high surface area media is seachem pond matrix, which costs about $80 for 20 liters, which would fill up your FX5s plus some.

 

[jcardona1]

ceramic rings have lots more surface area. No clue about how much is actually usable surface area.

Also people will tell you pot scrubbies/bioballs are only good in wet/dry filters, not sure why ceramic media is exempt.


The cheapest high surface area media is seachem pond matrix, which costs about $80 for 20 liters, which would fill up your FX5s plus some.

ceramic media is highly porous, which allows for tons of surface area with all its crevices. scrubbies and bio balls on the other hand, dont have the surface area of ceramic rings are fairly solid materials. they rely on high levels of oxygen to grow bacteria, hence the use in wet/dry filters where water dripping over the media is highly oxygenated.

i had scrubbies on my fx5 and it was a mess. they would clog real bad and are a pain to clean. switched to all ceramic rings and havent looked back since. i even use them in my sumps now. no more bio balls or scrubbies for me ever again.

check out charlie/fish tank factory. he sells bulk ceramic media at low prices.

 

[Angler]

ceramic rings have lots more surface area. No clue about how much is actually usable surface area.

Also people will tell you pot scrubbies/bioballs are only good in wet/dry filters, not sure why ceramic media is exempt.


The cheapest high surface area media is seachem pond matrix, which costs about $80 for 20 liters, which would fill up your FX5s plus some.

Thanks for the input. I'll check out the seachem pond.

ceramic media is highly porous, which allows for tons of surface area with all its crevices. scrubbies and bio balls on the other hand, dont have the surface area of ceramic rings are fairly solid materials. they rely on high levels of oxygen to grow bacteria, hence the use in wet/dry filters where water dripping over the media is highly oxygenated.

i had scrubbies on my fx5 and it was a mess. they would clog real bad and are a pain to clean. switched to all ceramic rings and havent looked back since. i even use them in my sumps now. no more bio balls or scrubbies for me ever again.

check out charlie/fish tank factory. he sells bulk ceramic media at low prices.

Thanks a lot. You're response really helps since you have first hand experience with the two options on the FX5.