FX5 media question...

[soulpatch]

stock sponges on the exterior of the trays and then all ceramic media in the trays.

I also have my FX5 hooked up to a Reef Octopus Overflow with its own sponges so I trap most of the larger debris and food in that before it hits my FX5 which allows me to go longer between cleanings of the internal sponges...

 

[Conner]

For you ceramic media guys, do you keep the media in bags in each basket, or just loose in the basket?

Thanks for your responses guys!

 

[jcardona1]

I keep it loose. When I need to clean it out, I pour the old water from the canister in a 5g bucket, and dump in the media. Makes cleaning really easy.

 

[soulpatch]

Loose. No need to add more things to clog and slow flow...

 

[erk419]

I have the pre-filter rings on the top and ceramic on the middle and right now nothing in the bottom but gonna put ceramic in those to. I had the pads in the bottom but they need cleaned about once or more a week which is a pain in the butt. If you buy the fluval brand media like I did your going to pay an arm and leg. If you can find another brand of media or buy it by the bulk you'll save a lot of money.

 

[Conner]

Yeah, I'm thinking I'll go with some bulk Matrix or Pond Matrix, or maybe some bulk Ehfi Substrat, since there's some on Ebay right now for pretty cheap.

 

[azian_kicker]

original sponges on the outside and full ceramic rings inside of the baskets. Works best for me.

 

[Brian_Indiana]

I have two on my 220. I use the standard 6 sponge inserts and load all the baskets with biomax.

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

I keep them in filter bags, so much easier when cleaning them, Just take the bag, dump in aquarium water and agitate it.

 

[DaveB]

When you guys say ceramic rings, do you mean the smooth kind? Or are the jagged ones also ceramic.

I've always thought the smooth ones kind of sucked. But if they have tons of micro holes in them for the bacteria to live, I'm happy to admit being wrong.