55 Gallon Tank fluval 405 filter media

I just got my fluval 405 and want to set it up. Currently I have a whisper 60 hob. I know to leave it for at least a month or so till my fluval gets the bacteria build up in it. Now my question is. It came with carbon and it comes with bio max for the bacteria. Do you guus recommend I use the biomax and if ibdo how often would I change it or do I just rinse it once a month in syphoned water when I do water changes.

 

I forgot to add I also have ich in my tank. I'm trying to kill it naturally with hotter water and daily water changes. Should I wait on installing the fluval?

 

It doesn't really matter if you use it now or later. Once the ich is dead its dead. Yes absolutely use the bio media. Try and get a box of it and have three sections of biomax and one of carbon or some filter floss for fine filtration.

 

Also, don't EVER change it!! Just slosh it in a buck of aquarium water. You never replace it. Top it up when it's starting to shrink and wear down, but don't remove it or any media until it's falling apart
Carbon is the only thing you replace, and that is every 3-4 weeks.

 

the biomedia (biomax) is the most important thing in the filter. The more you use the better.

You don't need to run both filters - you can put the media from the HOB in the canister and be done with it. You may need a pair of scissors.

 

Cool got it all set up. Thanks for the help.

 

Yeah, use only the sponge and biomax(ceramic media). Don't even worry about carbon, my tanks haven't seen it for a year and a half...

All of my Fluval, 3 basket filters have sponge in the first 2 baskets and ceramics in the last. It doesn't matter if you go 2:1 or 1:2 in the baskets as long as the sponge is in the bottom baskets...You have 4 baskets so just do 2:2. And only clean your canister about every 3 months. And also have an extra O-ring around just in case. It also helps to spread a very light film of petroleum jelly on the o-ring before reassembly.

my 2 cents

 

I stopped using carbon a long time ago - IMO filling those containers with biomax is far more beneficial.

I clean my canisters maybe a few times a year.

those tips are worth way more than 2 cents, JRC3