Eheim Canister Media shopping list

[solchitlins]

looks like I'm getting 2 used Eheim Canister filters a 2217 and a 2213.

I need all the media, pads ect.. for them.

So I take it I need media bags, what size and how many?
Ehfmech, ehfifix and ehfisubstrat? How much of each for both filters.
Can I use filter floss or the easter basket grass stuff in place of pads?

Is there a much cheaper, but effective alternative set up than using Eheim media?

I use my ac110's for most mech filtration "double sponges that get rinsed every water change"
I usually don't bother with carbon.

I would like the canisters set up for heavy bio filtration and minimum maintainance.

thanks for the help.

 

[WyldFya]

If you want heavy bio, just buy ehfisubstrat pro. There are plenty of medias out there, but none that will last without maintenance like the substrat pro. Don't get the bags, they are a waste.

 

[cchhcc]

If you want heavy bio, just buy ehfisubstrat pro. There are plenty of medias out there, but none that will last without maintenance like the substrat pro. Don't get the bags, they are a waste.

I totally agree...... Sub Pro, no bags..... Add the polishing pads to that and you're set!

 

[solchitlins]

well thats about 10L of ehfisubstrat?
$150?

I can't do that.
I'm sure it's the best but I don't have that kind of money.
Whats the econo options?

 

[TheOscarGuy]

well thats about 10L of ehfisubstrat?
$150?

I can't do that.
I'm sure it's the best but I don't have that kind of money.
Whats the econo options?

How about Ehfisubstrat? Using the CK- product tag, you can have 5 L for $42:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=4327&prodid=6323&catid=113

Or you can also go for pond media which is ~24 for 4 L from thatfishplace.

You can probably mix the bio media with some mechanical media as the first layer -- which will be much cheaper. I would suggest not doing sponge for these filters as they are extremely good if set up as bio filters only.

 

[solchitlins]

Just put ck- in front of whatever number from the site.
I guess I need 5L of ehfisubstrat and 5L of ehfmech and then ehfifix between layers or should I use the pads between them?

or could I just buy 10L of Ehfisubstrat using the link above and then what do I need?

 

[TheOscarGuy]

Just put ck- in front of whatever number from the site.
I guess I need 5L of ehfisubstrat and 5L of ehfmech and then ehfifix between layers or should I use the pads between them?

or could I just buy 10L of Ehfisubstrat using the link above and then what do I need?

I would say later, if you are planning to set it up mainly as biological filter. Or, you can keep half of it as ehfimech to reduce the total media cost.

 

[cchhcc]

There are lots of very similar, and cheaper, options. Cell-Pore makes a similar spherical medium which can substitute for SubPro. Seachem's matrix could replace Substrat.

 

[solchitlins]

Is Ehfisubstrat pro really going to last longer than regular ehfisubstrat ?

Ive have never used ehfisubstrat, whats the problem? is it going to crumble up or something?

I don't want to change media for at least 5 years.

What would you suggest with a budget of under $100 total for media for both filters?

 

[cchhcc]

Is Ehfisubstrat pro really going to last longer than regular ehfisubstrat ?

Ive have never used ehfisubstrat, whats the problem? is it going to crumble up or something?

I don't want to change media for at least 5 years.

What would you suggest with a budget of under $100 total for media for both filters?

It's not a matter of lasting longer (they can both be used indefinitely). SubPro is a consistently sized spherical shape whereas Substrat is an irregular gravel like design. I much prefer the SubPro design as it is better at insuring that the water flow is consistent throughout the body of the canister with no channelling.

For under $100; you can either find a cheap SubPro source (or even a used source that you can clean w/ bleach) or just replace it with the practically identical Cell-Pore spherical media (check out Drs. Foster and Smith for that).

Honestly though, you can't really mess it up. Any porous media would probably suit your needs just fine.