I have 2 fluval 305 canister filters. Just wondering what you guys have had the best success with as far as media goes. I have read a lot of people say that they don't use carbon because of its short shelf life. That they prefer just biological tubes and stones/pebbles and maybe floss. I have also read about using things like your common kitchen sponges/scrubbers. I'm thinking about ditching my carbon. Also, how often to rinse off my biological/mechanical media in a bucket of aquarium water. Any info would be great!
Filter media recommendations?
- Thread starter tats and 2 wheels
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In my 405 I use the following in the 4 trays (not in this order)
Pre filter
Bio Max
Carbon and Ammonia Chips
Polishing Pads
It is in a 120 with a Emperor 400 and undergravel filter w/2 power heads
I use scrubbies in my w/d, but read they do not work well if submerged 24/7
I see posts about having one canister that is all bio and one that is all mechanical. I wouldn't do that. I would I have both mixed so you are getting the impact across the whole tank. My 220 has 2 FX5s and each on is set up the same.
Pre filter
Bio Max
Carbon and Ammonia Chips
Polishing Pads
It is in a 120 with a Emperor 400 and undergravel filter w/2 power heads
I use scrubbies in my w/d, but read they do not work well if submerged 24/7
I see posts about having one canister that is all bio and one that is all mechanical. I wouldn't do that. I would I have both mixed so you are getting the impact across the whole tank. My 220 has 2 FX5s and each on is set up the same.
Brian_Indiana;4732740; said:
Agreed! Plus, when you take one filter down for cleaning, your other filter is now only filtering bio (or mechanical, whichever the case may be).
I rinse out one of my 3 filters (per tank) every week during a water change. Every second time, I take the filter down completely, replace media, scrub it out, etc. Since I have 2 other filters still going, I can get away with this. With two, I would bucket rinse one filter each week and only replace 1 portion of media every 3rd cleaning (or roughly 6 weeks). It really depends on your stocking levels, maintenance, etc.
Good luck to you!
I only use filter floss in all the compartments and some bio-media in the top covered with a little floss. That's it.
I only put in carbon for a couple days to get rid of meds.
I only put in carbon for a couple days to get rid of meds.
I also run twin 305's on one of my growout 55g tanks. Bottom tray on both has sump sponges cut to fit for extra mechanical, the rest of the trays are stuffed with ceramic rings for bio. I rinse them in aquarium water about once a month.
in my 404 and xp3 i use only the sponges that they come with and bio max or some sort of ceramic bio media and some times a little poly wool to polish the water. i will rinse my bio media in a bucket of tank water when ever i clean my filter and i will sometimes wash the sponges in clean water to get them really clean but i never replace my media
Thank you all for the info! Sounds like a few different theories, but pretty similar. Glad to hear that you don't use carbon for the most part unless getting rid of meds or something of that nature. I will probably just get rid of my carbon and use floss and bio rings and ceramic balls. Nice to not have to change out carbon on a monthly basis and always have to buy that stuff. With the media I'll be using its more of a rinse/cleaning rather than constant replacement... easier on the wallet!!!
I have 2 405s on my 125 with each set-up the same way.
Bottom tray: prefilter, seachem hypersorb, filter pad
Middle trays: biomax
Top tray: biomax, seachem purigen, filter floss
Since the purigen and hypersorb are regenerable, the only things I regularly replace are the filter pad and filter floss.
Bottom tray: prefilter, seachem hypersorb, filter pad
Middle trays: biomax
Top tray: biomax, seachem purigen, filter floss
Since the purigen and hypersorb are regenerable, the only things I regularly replace are the filter pad and filter floss.