What kind of media should I have in a canister

[Jen]

I need to replace some of my media as its old and second hand.

I have a fluval 403, which has 3 compartments for media stacked on top of eachother. Currently I have 2 sections with the ceramic o's that are looking a little worn down. Then I have 2 foam blocks on the top.

I will be buying it all at once, but only replacing one section at a time to save my bacteria, unles there is a better way to do it.

Can I get some advice as to what to get and where to put it?

Thanks

 

[freddyk]

It doesn't matter as long as it holds bacteria. Just get some biological substrate for one of the baskets, and filter floss for another. It's all you really need.

 

[The-Wolf]

there is no need to change the ceramic O's,
but if you want to go for siporax (or similar) as this is
covered in millions of glass particles, thus creating a
greater surface area per sq inch= more bacteria can grow
in the same space.

change the other for Ehfisubstrat (or similar)
you could put peat in the third compartment
(the fish in your sig would benifit from it)
and lastly have a sponge and floss on the top

HTH

 

[vantgE]

If your intrested I keep the top one for sponge, about one and a half for biological, half for buffer, then shove in cheap floss everywhere else,

You have alot of freedom in the cannister it's the best part about them, fill it with what you want I would keep at least a third for purely biomedia(biomax ehfi-substrate, siporax, whatever), And I think it would be important to change your biomax I do once a year

 

[Jen]

I don't know how old the biomax is. The guy I bought the filter off of wasn't the best with maintenance. I brobably should change it to be on the safe side.