Aqua sobriquet
Member
What media are folks using in their canister filters these days and in what order? Just interested.
<"Big Foam block"> on the filter intake, and then PPI10 foam and <"Eheim Substrat Pro in the filter body">. There isn't anything wonderful about these, they are just physically robust and low maintenance.What media are folks using in their canister filters these days and in what order?
I wouldn't <"use the floss">, the reason is mainly personally that I don't like any <"fine mechanical filtration"> inside the filter body.Coarse foam, filter floss then Sera Siporax.
if it’s not changed frequently enough
Yes it is absolutely fine if you keep on swapping it out, I'm just too lazy to do that. There is also the cost (both environmental and financial) of the filter floss ("polyester batting"). I don't expect any of the filter media I use now <"to ever need replacing">.I’ve always used floss in my filters and not had any issues.
I'm a big fan ceramic rings as they help flow, with the hole in the middle and the benefit they don't pack tightly together allowing for more flow around them.I have the standard fluval ceramic rings in my FX4, nothing fancy but they do the job!
I use the Eheim pre-filter (in tank) as a direct replacement for the filter intake. It does an amazing job, the canister is kept so much cleaner with a pre-filter. The only thing that i HATE about it is that when i remove it on WC day to clean it loads of the debris falls off and goes back into the tank which i then have to vac out.A pre filter is a good idea but I wouldn’t want one inside the tank.
I've used these, and they are really good, <"but ugly">.I use the Eheim pre-filter (in tank) as a direct replacement for the filter intake. It does an amazing job, the canister is kept so much cleaner with a pre-filter.
I slide a 800 mL plastic lab. beaker. over the pre-filter and that saves a lot if mulm ending up in the tank.clean it loads of the debris falls off and goes back into the tank which i then have to vac out.
Yeah they're not the prettiest thing to have in the tank but mine is 90% hidden behind some giant vallis and hardscape, the only problem i have with that is i can't get anything under it (i have a small plastic jug that the pre-filter just fits inside) when i remove it from the tank!I've used these, and they are really good, <"but ugly">.
Not cheap but the sintered glass rings like Sera’s Siporax seem to have a much larger surface area for bacteria.I'm a big fan ceramic rings as they help flow, with the hole in the middle and the benefit they don't pack tightly together allowing for more flow around them.