Equipment Review and Discussion :: Questions about Fluval media.

[Nettle]

**NOTE** I actually meant Rena media. I was half-asleep when I wrote this.

I'm a relative noob and I'm updating my tank from a waterfall filter to a Rena XP2. I have to admit that I'm completely clueless about the whole stars and rings thing. I have absolutely no idea what any of it means. The link to that site on the XP series sticky is broken, so I have no way of finding out.

Could anyone help me? Thanks! ^_^

[octpusgirl8]

Rings and stars are different styles of biological media. Bio media is just a material with a large surface area that nitrifying bacteria can colonize. The bacteria convert ammonia to nitrite, and nitrite to less harmful nitrate. I've always used rings, but there's nothing wrong with the stars, although some people get annoyed that they float.

[TheComputerGremlin]

I have a Rena XP3 and I was annoyed with how many stars it would take to fill the 1 1/2 baskets, so I have one box of stars and I have Fluval ceramic pre-filter in the bottom basket. I just cleaned it last week and it seems like it worked pretty well, all of the gross stuff was at the bottom and didn't go up to the other media. I think as long as you have the pads and the bio-chem zorb in the right places, everything else is user choice.

[marisa]

What question do you have about Fluval media (it's in your title)?

You can use Fluval's biomedia in the XP3 if you want to. If you use Rena's biomedia, you can use either the rings or stars (The stars have a larger surface area for beneficial bacteria to colonize on and a package of them can be used in up to 110 gallons of water, I believe, while a package of the rings is good for up to 55 gallons.) Some people use both. It's up to you.

[Nettle]

I meant just the Rena. I was way tired when I wrote it and I was comparing filters before. Sorry for any confusion! ^~^

[rj.laroza]

i my self use the ceramic rings more than anything else in my xp3. alot of people do get annoyed with how the stars float so i chose to stay away from them. i just did my first cleaning a couple days ago and it seems like the ceramic peices do alot of work capturing good bacteria and keeping them there to grow.

i highly recoment packing as much ceramic peices in ur filter as u can. this is my current set up


TOP OF FILTER---
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micro filtration
bio-chem zorb
_________
1 box of ceramic
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1 box of ceramic
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1 box of ceramic
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30 ppi cell foam
30 ppi cell foam
____
20 ppi cell foam
20 ppi cell foam
BOTTEM OF FILTER---

[Nettle]

rj: Thanks! Just what I needed! ^_^