What Media For Fx5?

[Tstone]

I plan on buying a Fluval FX5 soon.. i've heard that they do not come with media and i've heard so much about what types of media to use and I always tend to get different answers.. SOO, what kind of media do yo need for a Fluval FX5 filter? Like for each "layer" or whatever you wish to call it

 

[Tstone]

Can anyone help meeeeeeeee? /:

 

[ainsy]

Hi,

I use this in the top basket:

My link

This size box will almost fill it.

In the bottom basket I use this:

My link

If you get that size it will fill the bottom basket and give you some left over to put in the bottom of the middle basket. I fill the remainder of the middle basket with sundry things in a filter sock to soften the water and lower the ph.

I know these links are for a UK site but I am sure you will be able to find them in the US.

HTH

 

[kiriyama]

Hi , I am running two at the moment. I have heard of some folk breaking up alphagrog and just filling it with that. In my own ones I use ceramic rings, eheim efilav - thats small pieces of lava rock I out in a media bag, fluval biomax - this is like ceramic rings but not just mechanical but are great for bacteria, have a purigen pouch in one - great for removing harmful toxins and and calrifying the water giving it a bit of sparkle, also in one I usually keep a small sponge filter - it will cycle in here and I can use it on a fry tank later run by air pump, have crushed oyster shell in one (media bag) for buffering pH, they are great work horses and can be crammed with any type of media you like.....


Cheers, Sean

 

[Tstone]

Hmm, sounds like you guys kinda just find random stuff to throw in there that gets the job done.. There isn't like actual media for the FX5 that I can buy? Like filter pads, polishing pads, bio rings, charcoal, etc...

 

[fishguy2727]

Yes, they make two different pads to go in the center of the baskets. One if the fine pad and is blue. The other is polishing and is white. Many complain that these do their job too well and clog up too fast. Seems to be that is the goal of filtration...

I have also used filter floss crammed in the top basket as tight as I can fit it.

I recommend Seachem Matrix as the biomedia (fill the bottom two trays with it). It has more bioavailable surface area than Eheim or Fluval's biomedias. It is also supposed to allow for denitrification.

 

[Tstone]

Yes, they make two different pads to go in the center of the baskets. One if the fine pad and is blue. The other is polishing and is white. Many complain that these do their job too well and clog up too fast. Seems to be that is the goal of filtration...

I have also used filter floss crammed in the top basket as tight as I can fit it.

I recommend Seachem Matrix as the biomedia (fill the bottom two trays with it). It has more bioavailable surface area than Eheim or Fluval's biomedias. It is also supposed to allow for denitrification.

So you're saying the polishing or fine pad in the top basket, and "Seachem Matrix" in the bottom 2 baskets?

 

[fishguy2727]

Yes, fine, polishing, or filter floss in the center of the top and the center of the bottom two should be filled with Seachem Matrix.

 

[Tstone]

Yes, fine, polishing, or filter floss in the center of the top and the center of the bottom two should be filled with Seachem Matrix.

I don't mean to bash you or anything by asking this.. but is that what you use, or does that seem to be what most people use?
I do not mean that in a harmful way, like saying you're not knowledgeable, just trying to figure all this out.

 

[fishguy2727]

Everyone does everything differently. This is what and almost all of my customers and clients do, with crystal clear tanks.

The Fluval pads are made to fit perfectly in their trays so you take them out of the box and put them in. This is simple and easy, but costs a bit more.

Others use filter floss or 100% polyester pillow stuffing and cram it in as tight as it will fit.

Some people don't use any mechanical media besides the foam pads in the outer ring of the baskets.

Some people use Fluval's Biomax biomedia. Others use Eheim's. Others use Seachem Matrix.

Some people don't pay for anything made for aquariums and instead use cheapo alternatives like pot scrubbers and similar things.

Some people will only do the bottom tray as biomedia and fill the middle tray with one or more of the following: carbon, crushed coral, Seachem Purigen, Poly-Filter, peat granules, etc.

 

[Tstone]

Everyone does everything differently. This is what and almost all of my customers and clients do, with crystal clear tanks.

The Fluval pads are made to fit perfectly in their trays so you take them out of the box and put them in. This is simple and easy, but costs a bit more.

Others use filter floss or 100% polyester pillow stuffing and cram it in as tight as it will fit.

Some people don't use any mechanical media besides the foam pads in the outer ring of the baskets.

Some people use Fluval's Biomax biomedia. Others use Eheim's. Others use Seachem Matrix.

Some people don't pay for anything made for aquariums and instead use cheapo alternatives like pot scrubbers and similar things.

Some people will only do the bottom tray as biomedia and fill the middle tray with one or more of the following: carbon, crushed coral, Seachem Purigen, Poly-Filter, peat granules, etc.

Do all the tray's fit the same media? If you get what i'm saying. Like can you put the same media in each tray
& with all that type of media you listed, can you tell me which ones go in which tray
thank you for all the help you've given thus far

 

[fishguy2727]

Yes, the dimensions of each tray are identical.

Each tray has an outer and inner ring.

The water flows up the outer rings and then down through the inner rings.

I put filter floss in the top tray and fill the bottom two trays with biomedia. This means the water goes through all the mechanical before going through the biomedia so that the biomedia is dealing with the cleanest water possible and not being clogged by particulates. Biomedia is loose so simply fills the trays.

 

[Tstone]

Yes, the dimensions of each tray are identical.

Each tray has an outer and inner ring.

The water flows up the outer rings and then down through the inner rings.

I put filter floss in the top tray and fill the bottom two trays with biomedia. This means the water goes through all the mechanical before going through the biomedia so that the biomedia is dealing with the cleanest water possible and not being clogged by particulates. Biomedia is loose so simply fills the trays.

Very helpful answer. Thank you very much

 

[ainsy]

Hmm, sounds like you guys kinda just find random stuff to throw in there that gets the job done.. There isn't like actual media for the FX5 that I can buy? Like filter pads, polishing pads, bio rings, charcoal, etc...

Erm - No I don't just chuck random stuff in. What I do is research and find the best media for the job, what I know works well and don't just put in the manufacturers own brand.

If you only wanted fluval media then there is a list in the manual

 

[Tstone]

Still looking for more input.. /:

What media does everyone use in their FX5? I'll probably be ordering tomorrow and still have not found any media