Equipment Review and Discussion :: filter media

[ohitsmason]

ok so i have been running my filter for a while now i i was wondering if i would ever need to throw/ clean my biological stuff..... i know it sounds a bit nooby but w/e lol!

P.S whats better biomax or the plastic stuff?

[meltedspork]

You don't want to clean your bio media, except to rinse it in the dirty tank water. At some point you will need to replace it, but it can last for a very long time. I've had the same biomax in my filters for a year now. I just bought some plastic bio balls to try in my new FX5. I'm not sure which one is better, but I would imagine that the plastic ones last longer.

[Chrisbarnett]

Biomax is better. Higher surface area for biological bacteria colonization. Also, I think Biomax would definitely last longer because it is ceramic... ceramic would definitely outlast plastic imo.

[ohitsmason]

ahhh that clears things up

[meltedspork]

Biomax is better. Higher surface area for biological bacteria colonization. Also, I think Biomax would definitely last longer because it is ceramic... ceramic would definitely outlast plastic imo.

Hmmm... not so sure because my Biomax, after a year of use, look like they are disintegrating... they have definately shrunk in size and are much more porous than they were before. I'm going to try the plastic bio balls just to see how they work out... and because they were MUCH cheaper than buying more Biomax to fill my new FX5.

[ohitsmason]

Hey guys have you ever tried the Ehiem bio media cuz they look promising.....

[Chrisbarnett]

Which one? Ehfisubstrat, Ehfisubstrat pro, or the lava rock type?

They're all very good, considered by many to be the best of the biomedias. Ehfisubstrat pro is the best. If you want to spend the cash for some of the best bio media around, by all means go for it! There's nothing you will end up regretting.

[CB]

i use both the plastic balls and the ceramic rings, didn't have the loot for all ceramic so i filled in with balls and it's doing great. the pillow stuffing is nice too, cheaper and just as good as the "polishing pads" turtles are expensive so any way i can save a few bucks is always on my mind. i will say the filter is the last place i'd skimp, not having to touch my filter for 6 weeks at a time is priceless.
cb