Marley is a hottie pants, and even more hot in person. And especially on that bubbler, lol.
Alright, woman. This might be a little wordy...
As far as media for the FX5 goes, it has 3 bins (3 different filtration stages), right? Each one holds media for different purposes. An ideal closed tank (or a tank without a drip system) would be set up similar to something like this:
Bin No. 1: Mechanical Filtration
Top: Ceramic Prefilter (hard hexagon brick things that you sometimes see on the floor)
Middle: If there's room, you can always throw in some extra carbon or zeolite in a nylon filter bag.
Bottom: Filter floss or filter pad (Note: Not the water polishing pad because that will clog the filter up)
Bin No. 2: Chemical Filtration
Top: Some extra filter floss or another filter pad doesn't hurt, but it's okay if you are hurting for space.
Middle: Carbon and / or zeolite. Both need to be replaced about once a month, but not all at the same time.
Bottom: If you have room and you want to lower the pH a little, you can always throw in some peat granules.
Bin No. 3: Biological Filtration
Top & Middle: Ceramic media (BioMax or something) is definitely the best bang for your buck in a canister filter because it doesn't clog easily, and it doesn't need to be cleaned that often.
So, yeah... multiple different kinds of media help develop better and more versatile bacterial colonies. Any other type of media (pot scrubbies, bio balls, or what-have-you) will need to be cleaned about twice a week, which slows the development of the bacteria. If water from a water change is used (don't use tap water because the chlorine will kill your bacteria), it should help offset any losses and is still definitely worth putting in (unless you are determined to find time to clean out your filters). The gunk that builds up in here is also the perfect stuff to use to start up a new filter or tank (because it's absolutely stuffed with colonies of bacteria and straight from the filter! Whoot.)
Bottom: One (1) water polishing pad (not a regular filter pad). How often you clean this pad is dependent on how clear and clean you want the water. If you want super clean and clear water and don't mind a slower output from the FX5, let it clog up (which makes the holes smaller, polishing your water way more effectively) and wring it out and wash it in old aquarium water about once a month. If you need higher flow from the FX5, just clean it twice a week and / or replace it as much as you need to.
Hope this helps, sucka.
And what they said... those hair rollers are sexy. I'm not even kidding.
Alright, woman. This might be a little wordy...
As far as media for the FX5 goes, it has 3 bins (3 different filtration stages), right? Each one holds media for different purposes. An ideal closed tank (or a tank without a drip system) would be set up similar to something like this:
Bin No. 1: Mechanical Filtration
Top: Ceramic Prefilter (hard hexagon brick things that you sometimes see on the floor)
Middle: If there's room, you can always throw in some extra carbon or zeolite in a nylon filter bag.
Bottom: Filter floss or filter pad (Note: Not the water polishing pad because that will clog the filter up)
Bin No. 2: Chemical Filtration
Top: Some extra filter floss or another filter pad doesn't hurt, but it's okay if you are hurting for space.
Middle: Carbon and / or zeolite. Both need to be replaced about once a month, but not all at the same time.
Bottom: If you have room and you want to lower the pH a little, you can always throw in some peat granules.
Bin No. 3: Biological Filtration
Top & Middle: Ceramic media (BioMax or something) is definitely the best bang for your buck in a canister filter because it doesn't clog easily, and it doesn't need to be cleaned that often.
So, yeah... multiple different kinds of media help develop better and more versatile bacterial colonies. Any other type of media (pot scrubbies, bio balls, or what-have-you) will need to be cleaned about twice a week, which slows the development of the bacteria. If water from a water change is used (don't use tap water because the chlorine will kill your bacteria), it should help offset any losses and is still definitely worth putting in (unless you are determined to find time to clean out your filters). The gunk that builds up in here is also the perfect stuff to use to start up a new filter or tank (because it's absolutely stuffed with colonies of bacteria and straight from the filter! Whoot.)
Bottom: One (1) water polishing pad (not a regular filter pad). How often you clean this pad is dependent on how clear and clean you want the water. If you want super clean and clear water and don't mind a slower output from the FX5, let it clog up (which makes the holes smaller, polishing your water way more effectively) and wring it out and wash it in old aquarium water about once a month. If you need higher flow from the FX5, just clean it twice a week and / or replace it as much as you need to.
Hope this helps, sucka.
And what they said... those hair rollers are sexy. I'm not even kidding.
P.S. Congrats on getting the FX5 in. 
