What Filter Media Do You Guys Use?

And which one is the best and how do you change your filter without killing beneficial bacteria I'm using carbon.

 

What kind of filter do you have?

 

In my hang on filters (aquaclear) I use a sponge, ceramic rings and then pillow stuffing (floss) on top.

In my small 110 gallon pond, I use a home made filter and it’s filled with lava rock and sponges.

To clean, I swish the sponges in some old tank water when doing water changes. The floss I usually just squeeze it out in the same water or replace it if it’s getting real ratty (I don’t replace it all at once though). I don’t do anything to the ceramic rings or lava rock.

 

My filter media is as follows,

Corse pad
Bio balls
Poly pad
Bio rings
purigen
Poly pad

You rinse your media in fish water. When doing a water change save some water from the tank and use that to rinse the media in. Don’t do a water change and clean your filter the same day. Wait two days at least.

Carbon is water clearifier that also removes metals and other unseen things from the water. Avoid carbon if your tank is planted.

Edit: I should note I use an eheim canister filter

 

I don’t use media, only floss and sponges.

 

It's a small thing but I add a fluval intake sponge to all my filter intakes. Collects beneficial bacteria. Every other week swish it around in old tank water from a water change. If water quits coming out of your filter cut a hole in the bottom of intake sponge and just slide it up the tube so the water sucks into the bottom. They're only $2 And some change

 

What kind of filter do you have?

Its a whisper 30-60

 

I just use the cartridges that came with the filter. They are doing the job.

 

I don’t use media, only floss and sponges.

Just for clarification floss and sponges are considered filter media. Anything used to hold the necessary bacteria is considered media.

 

Just for clarification floss and sponges are considered filter media. Anything used to hold the necessary bacteria is considered media.

Ok

 

I just use the cartridges that came with the filter. They are doing the job.

Yea me too

 

It's a small thing but I add a fluval intake sponge to all my filter intakes. Collects beneficial bacteria. Every other week swish it around in old tank water from a water change. If water quits coming out of your filter cut a hole in the bottom of intake sponge and just slide it up the tube so the water sucks into the bottom. They're only $2 And some change

Ok

 

Its a whisper 30-60

You could also get fluval filter foam and cut a piece to fit inside your filter. That should grow some beneficial bacteria and help filter your water. Any would work fluval is just the one I chose

 

Yea me too

Just for future ... when the cartridge gets to the point of water no longer flowing through it freely and you are ready to replace it cut the fiber off of the old one and put that fiber in the filter housing along with the new cartridge.

The old fiber will be holding most of your cycle (bacteria) so you don't want to just toss the whole thing. I no longer use cartridges but when I did I would hold the old cartridge in a bucket of water I had taken out of my tank during a water change. Holding it under the water while cutting the fiber off accomplished 2 things. It protected the bacteria and rinsed off the used up carbon. Once cut off swish it around in the water to get off as much carbon as you can. Squeeze it out and put it in with your new cartridge.

 

Just for future ... when the cartridge gets to the point of water no longer flowing through it freely and you are ready to replace it cut the fiber off of the old one and put that fiber in the filter housing along with the new cartridge.

The old fiber will be holding most of your cycle (bacteria) so you don't want to just toss the whole thing. I no longer use cartridges but when I did I would hold the old cartridge in a bucket of water I had taken out of my tank during a water change. Holding it under the water while cutting the fiber off accomplished 2 things. It protected the bacteria and rinsed off the used up carbon. Once cut off swish it around in the water to get off as much carbon as you can. Squeeze it out and put it in with your new cartridge.

So I cut it into pieces and put it in the new one?

 

I would take what I cut and put into a filter media bag or panty hose and place next to new cartridge. Earliest I would change it is 3 months unless it's falling apart

 

Just for future ... when the cartridge gets to the point of water no longer flowing through it freely and you are ready to replace it cut the fiber off of the old one and put that fiber in the filter housing along with the new cartridge.

The old fiber will be holding most of your cycle (bacteria) so you don't want to just toss the whole thing. I no longer use cartridges but when I did I would hold the old cartridge in a bucket of water I had taken out of my tank during a water change. Holding it under the water while cutting the fiber off accomplished 2 things. It protected the bacteria and rinsed off the used up carbon. Once cut off swish it around in the water to get off as much carbon as you can. Squeeze it out and put it in with your new cartridge.

That sounds like a great idea. I would assume that after a while, you can then take it out and throw it away. Would you put it so the water passes through it first or after the new cartridge?

 

So I cut it into pieces and put it in the new one?

Right just put it in your filter so the water gets to it before it gets to the new cartridge. It can be right up against the fiber on the new one.

That sounds like a great idea. I would assume that after a while, you can then take it out and throw it away. Would you put it so the water passes through it first or after the new cartridge?

You want the water to get to it first. I leave them in there for at least a month.

 

Right just put it in your filter so the water gets to it before it gets to the new cartridge. It can be right up against the fiber on the new one.

You want the water to get to it first. I leave them in there for at least a month.

If I have an aquaclear filter do I want it below or above the ceramic

 

If I have an aquaclear filter do I want it below or above the ceramic

I'm not sure. I would think just as long as it is in the vicinity it should seed the new media.

 

I prefer canisters. In them I use sponges, filter floss, and bio-balls. They came with carbon, but I always take them out and save them for future use, such as removing medication. I like carbon, as it does help with water clarity, but the problem lies in the fact that they need to be replaced every month. Supposedly. I'm not testing that theory.

 

Mostly sponge. A small amount of biomax and filter floss.