How Many Ceramic Rings Needed In A Fluval 205?

[Ken Adams]

I have a pair of Fluval 205 filters and only sponges in them at present. I was going to buy some ceramic rings off Ebay but they're sold by weight and I can't find any guidance to suggest how many I need to fill one of the baskets in a 205.
Can anyone offer some guidance please?

Thanks

 

[ghettofarmulous]

Hey man,

Iv a fluval 205 and the ceramic rings supplied don't fill one whole chamber, providing your not using activated c. Your gonna have a lot if space and ur right ceramic rings aren't cheap. In my line of work we use tons and tons of porous baked clay beads about 3mm in size for biological filtration. Literally tons. I cleaned and filled my baskets with it. All you want is an anchor for the microbes to grow on. If you can find someone ( waste water plant) who uses such media you can ask them for some, or use something that has a large surface area for it's size. As long as it's inert.

Hope this helps.

 

[ghettofarmulous]

Sorry dude I just seen fron your profile you know plenty about filtration with 15 years exp.

On how much you need I'm not sure, I got 500g with mine and it fills 3/4 of a basket. But that's with them stacked neat and tidy

 

[Ken Adams]

Thanks. So could I use something like terracotta beads, or those little plantpot beads that hold water for plants in offices etc?

PS 15 yrs "experience" but never off the beaten track. More than willing to learn anything that helps!

 

[ghettofarmulous]

Yeah why not, give it a shot! By doing water tests it will give you a picture of how your filter is handling the bio load on it.

As long as what your using isnt toxic or degradable then it will harbour bacteria. I don't use activated carbon or anything cuz water changes and testing keeps me right.

Just make sure it won't be sucked into the impeller or float or anything. What type if fish do you keep?

 

[dgwebster]

If being sucked through is a concern, put them in a media net