[VNCNT]

what do u prefer and why? i want to use either ceramic rings or ehfi-substrat pro in my xp3's.

 

[SearunSimpson]

I'm sure both are just as effective as the other one, but my only concern is that the shape of the Ehfisubstrat will reduce flow. From what I can tell, the granules/grains will sit too close together, sorta 'interlocking' or 'joining' in a sense, reducing the channels in which water can flow through.
I personally use ceramic rings. I have no preference, it's just what I had on hand, and it does it's job.

 

[Indignation]

I'd like to try the seachem matrix, it looks decent and is cheaper than substrat-pro. (Which is round now, to help water flow)

 

[EdTheEdge]

Noodles. Easy to clean and last forever.

 

[crossbow]

Anyone notice the new "G-nodes" for the G3/G6 look exactly like the eheim substrat?

One thing I've started to notice is that it doesn't seem to really matter what you use for bio media...as long as it has a decent surface area, and you never clean it with tap water. Bacteria WILL grow on almost anything!

Case in point!

 

[lauraleellbp]

I like Ehfimech and the Eheim coco puffs (Ehfiflav? I never can remember what they're called...)

 

[wadesharp]

Anyone notice the new "G-nodes" for the G3/G6 look exactly like the eheim substrat?

One thing I've started to notice is that it doesn't seem to really matter what you use for bio media...as long as it has a decent surface area, and you never clean it with tap water. Bacteria WILL grow on almost anything!

Case in point!

are you saying thats what you use in your filter is those beads??

 

[wkndracer]

Minimal need really for bio media in a planted tank, the fine floss does most of the work in your filter.
The lower baskets in my pro3e and proII are now left empty with the coarse sponge, fine floss and only one tray filled with Ehfimech (ceramic cylinders).
One of my tanks is a Walstad styled 55g with only a power head fed into a DIY spray bar. The power head is equipped with a sponge that's cleaned when ever reduced flow is noted (about every 3 months). This tank is reasonably stocked and seriously ridiculous as far as being so low maintenance.

Sorry to go long on the post but I wanted to explain my responce.
You need only maybe 25% of the media most filter companies claim you require.

 

[OverStocked]

I have used everything from lava rock, to pore media slabs, to beads and now pot scrubbers too. I prefer the items like beads and aquaclear media as they don't get that dirty.

 

[bigboij]

i love my dollar store pot scurbbers

 

[DavidZ]

second the pot Scrubbers, cheap and come in different colors, nice!
enjoy great values, these are tough times.
lol

 

[mgamer20o0]

pot scrubbers light weight and cheap thats what i would pick.

 

[tnsser]

Post a pick of the pot scrubbers you use please. I need to get something for my new xp3.

 

[DavidZ]

go to any 99 cents store the plastic ones with no chemicals added

 

[FSM]

you don't need high surface area biomedia (ceramic or sintered glass). Plastic stuff works fine. Get whatever is cheap, pot scrubbers work great.

 

[archer772]

I have about 3 gallons of bio balls collecting dust so those would work fine for me, after I clean them of course??

 

[crossbow]

Oh I'm not using those beads personally. I just found a link and a discussion of someone saying they worked just as well as most of the manufacturers stuff.

I am personally using...

The bio cylinders and bio stars from the default rena XP3 setup, with my few month old bio media from my aquaclears. (Just got the XP3, and am using the previously established bio media to prevent a cycle, as well as continuing to run the AQ 70 for a week or two).

 

[OverStocked]

I have used beads and found them to work great. I think pot scrubbies are great in wet dry filters, but they really are not nearly as space efficient as many, many other diy options.

 

[Bill W]

My canister filters hose walls.