I'm not familiar with that brand, but I use Fluval filters that have bio-max, and they are hollow porcelain cylinders. These provide an excellent home to the bacteria, and are well worth using. Is your bio-max similar in shape to what I described? Did you rinse them first? Mine had a lot of dust on them and needed a good rinsing. Also are you using floss in the filter? 'Cuz I have a problem with that releasing a lot of particles, so I stopped using it and use a bonded filter pad now.