Habitat - Indoor :: URGENT: XP3 Biomedia Crisis

[Lovegasoline]

Unless I can find a good deal on a used filter I’m about to purchase a Filstar XP3.
I cannot for the life of me find a direct clear answer or guideline as to how much Biomedia I’ll need to buy to fill the XP3’s baskets. I searched a few forums and also the manufacturer’s site, but with NO luck. Frustrating.

For example, I’m looking at Fluval Bio-Max Ceramic Ring media…it comes in a 500 gram box for $10, mail order. 500 gram equals roughly 1 pound (I do not know what volume that equates to).

So, how much media (in weight) will I need to fill: a.) one basket in the XP3 filter and/or, b.) total media to fill two baskets? Also, how often will I need to replace and/or add more media to the baskets?
Tank size will be between 30-40 gallons, one RES currently 2.25” in length, likely to be fed in his tank.
Some folks say you need 5+ pounds (=$50+!); others say only few ounces???!!!!
I REALLY need some guidance here….real world numbers if possible please.

The turtle rescue was unexpected but I saw the little guy kept in a ‘death bowl’ (I’ve since learned a bit of terminology and some very basic care) without a proper diet, no place to swim, no basking area, no UVB, no heat lamp, cold water, poor water conditions. I need to be mindful of my expenditures so I am buying mail order (local stores are too $$$) and am only going to make ONE order, so I need to get it right and I need to do this NOW(!) as I’m going out of town for 2-3 months in just under a month…so I need to get a tank up, running, and cycling with any snafus ironed out so that when I leave town my roommates can easily perform the maintenance & cleaning.

Thanks a bunch for any help from me and Mr. T (aka: Little Man).

[steve]

Don't have any real world #s, but if I remember correctly, one package should be enough for one basket. Depending on how you have your media arranged, you might be able to have 2 baskets available for biomedia. I should note that biomedia should not need replacement and it does not expire (in case you have extra).

How much water you have in there and how often you conduct water changes also must factor in how much bio media you use. The more you have, the better. I'd say with your setup, one basket should be enough with a partial water change every 1-2 weeks.

[CountryGirl68]

I think I read in another post a while back that the poster just added a loose amount of the ceramic rings because s/he felt it was causing the filter to not work at its fullest capacity.

Anyone else can probably correct me if I'm wrong but I think the purpose of the rings is to have a place for the bacteria needed in the tank to grow. So you shouldn't have to fill the basket all the way (stuff it).

[scripta_elegans]

I believe that big al's.com has the xp3 for 89.99 right now, and they recommend 1-2 package of ceramic rings for it. I just bought the filter myself, and will probably be back here as I am struggling to set it up.

[Lovegasoline]

Thanks for the replies.
Yeah, I'm eyeing that $89 price at BigAl's as well. It looks like I'll need a couple of boxes...maybe I can get by with a single box of Bio-Max and if needed, buy a second box down the road.