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I am finally moving so I can get Ichigo set up properly in a large tank and want to order everything before we leave so that we can open everything up when we arrive and just get her settled in her new tank.

I am ordering a Fluval FX5 but was confused about what filter media didn't come with it that I needed to get.

It says it comes with foam filter blocks - this is not supposed to replace mechanical filter media, is that correct? This is basically just what will get most of the poop muck first?

And if it has the 3 media baskets then I just need to get something like

- biomax for biological
- something for chemical like chemi-pure??? or just carbon?
- something else for more mechanical filtration?

I did check out the old post "Filter Media for FX5" - http://www.redearslider.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15781

But I am still confused (Sorry!)

What is a polishing pad? Fine filter pad? Should I get either of them?

Thanks so much
Hanna

in my fx5 i have a prefilter in the top basket, bio media in the middle and a fine filter pad in the bottom along with carbon. a fine filter pad will trap the small stuff.
here is a site that might help
http://www.marineandreef.com/Hagen_Fluv ... _s/228.htm

Here's mine:
Top: Prefilter, old carbon bags for mechanical
Middle: "Fresh" carbon, biomedia
Bottom: biomedia

I tried out the polish pads, but they get clogged pretty quickly.
I've been wanting something other than just the prefilter in the top basket. Someone suggested using pony beads, but I haven't been able to find a big bag of them :/

im looking to change up my filter media. i just used what i had at the time. i might try yours bulldog. do you not have any fine filter pads?

No... I think I need to tweek my "large mechanical" media before I head to the small stuff...

Thank you for the link Daniel, it's very helpful.

And thank you both for your own filter set up lists.

Now things make more sense after seeing all the different media on that one page.

I went with prefilter in the top basket, 2 bags of carbon the the second basket and biomedia in the bottom basket.

I was getting ready to ask a very similar question about what sort of media setup you FX5 owners have / use. Either way I hope a ton more people reply with their FX% media setups and why they like it the way they have it. Always nice to hear some good ideas before buying a $200+ cannister filter ;-p

after asking here and getting great info i realized i forgot to say how i assembled my FX5:

bottom basket has layer of coarse (blue) filter topped with black stars (2 boxes worth) and another layer of coarse filter.

middle basket has a layer of coarse filter topped with charcoal bits (3 bags) and phosphate bits (2 bags). then topped with fine filter (white).

top basket has layer of fine filter topped with ceramic rings (1 box) again topped by fine filter.

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