Habitat - Indoor :: New Fluval FX6 - what media to replace

[Kirk]

Just unpacked my new Fluval FX6 and what media should I put in there?

I think I should remove the black foam filter stuff and use the ceramic cilanders provided. What else should go in the other two trays?

[ljapa]

Check out

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=30145

For recommendations on filter media, including the fx5, which is what you should use for the fx6.

[Kirk]

Check out

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=30145

For recommendations on filter media, including the fx5, which is what you should use for the fx6.

Thanks. Great info. I appreciate it. Happy New Year!

[Kansasslider]

I set mine up differently. I'm not saying its a better way just another option. Hagen recommends chemical media to be in the bottom tray. This made scence to me so I followed that advice.

Top tray~ceramic rings and the black sponges on top
Middle tray~full of ceramic ring's.
Bottom tray ~ceramic rings and carbon and purigen on top

I also had an FX5 set up as suggested. To be honest I can't tell the difference of doing it one way or the other. I clean my filter monthly.

[VeipaCray]

Hagen wants you to buy their expensive media so they can increase their profits Remember they tell you to replace your inert expensive bio media 2x a year. :/

Following the water flow, your filter media should always be in this order: 1. Mechanical. 2. Chemical 3. Biological
Here's the logic why:

1. Mechanical first is obvious. Remove the large debris so that the other filtration stages don't get as clogged with gunk.
2. Chemical should always be 2nd. Carbon can remove things like chlorine, chloramine, medicines, and toxins that will kill off the nitrifying bacteria in the biological filtration stage. Removing any of this stuff before it gets to harming the bio stage is a good idea. Having the chemical media second also acts as a secondary mechanical filter... smaller bits of crud get stuck here instead of clogging up porous biological media thus killing off some of the nitrifying bacteria.
3. Bio media is last. This media is nothing more than super porous material to house colonies of nitrifying bacteria. It needs to be kept the cleanest to yield the most benefit. This is also your most expensive media in your filter. When it gets clogged & gunked up really bad you need to wash it (or replace it if you follow the manufacturer's word). Keeping this material as clean as possible as long as possible decreases your frequency of filter maintenance, keeps the bacteria colony as large and as healthy as possible.

OR you can follow the manufacturer's advice. Put the most expensive media where it will get dirty and stop working faster. Also replace it 2x a year... yeah that's fun. Oh and if you really don't understand water / aquarium chemistry they (Hagen) will be happy to sell you a bottle of toxic magic potion to cure whatever is ailing your tank.

I'm definitely not saying Kansasslider is wrong, he's chosen to follow the manufacturer's advice. I'm just saying the manufacturer has THEIR best interests at heart and not yours. Also, these are turtles... completely different filtration needs than a regular freshwater fish tank where I'd assume is the sweet spot majority of where their product is used.

Kansasslider isn't seeing a difference because he is disciplined enough to do monthly cleanings. Most of us are a bit more lazy

[Kansasslider]

Just unpacked my new Fluval FX6 and what media should I put in there?

I think I should remove the black foam filter stuff and use the ceramic cilanders provided. What else should go in the other two trays?

Carbon placement aside, one of my points was why would you throw away the black sponges? I think they work better than the blue pad. Once again great advice from VeipaCray. I'm just an odd duck

[VeipaCray]

I'm just an odd duck

Now you're a duck? I thought you were a wagging turtle dog?!? ... so confused

[Kansasslider]

[PridgNYC]

I'll stand by VeipaCray's advice. I happen to be one of the lazy ones that doesn't clean my filter every month (or every year for that matter). I set up my 75 gallon tank with an FX5 with the recommended loading here and haven't cleaned the filter or tank since it was set up Sept 2011. Wow, I just realized I haven't cleaned my filter or tank in 4 years... Water is still crystal clear and Jordtim is still healthy.

[Kansasslider]

I'll stand by VeipaCray's advice. I happen to be one of the lazy ones that doesn't clean my filter every month (or every year for that matter). I set up my 75 gallon tank with an FX5 with the recommended loading here and haven't cleaned the filter or tank since it was set up Sept 2011. Wow, I just realized I haven't cleaned my filter or tank in 4 years... Water is still crystal clear and Jordtim is still healthy.

I really don't know what to say about that.

[steve]

The foam media might be deteriorating. Granted, it would probably deteriorate faster if you do regular cleanings but after many years I'm not sure what condition it would be. The bio media should be OK, but any chem media (carbon, Purigen) has long been exhausted or saturated. It would be pretty interesting to see what happens when you do open it up.

[VeipaCray]

If the water is clear, not smelling, and the measurements are still at 0... that's really cool. If he's prefiltering the top off and water change water with carbon outside the canister then there isn't much need for carbon inside the filter. The foam in those filters will last years and years but it does clog. I'd mostly be worried about water flow reduction and strain on the pump.

[Kansasslider]

Being that long I would suspect the outer pads are so clogged that the water is bypassing them. Any pads actually. Its really has to be a reduced flow and extremely hard on the motor and impeller. I wouldn't recommend not cleaning a filter for that long.

[Turd]

what are the black pads mentioned here?

[Kansasslider]

Carbon pads/waste of money.