Equipment Review and Discussion :: Filter media for FX5

[imderanged]

I got my FX5 last night! It came with a box of carbon and water polisher pads. I had bought the prefilter ceramic pieces when I first order the filter. I accaully meant to get the Biomax media, but they looked similar. Right now my plan is to use the ceramic pre filter pieces in the top basket, the carbon in the second and get some biomax for the bottom basket and put the polishing pad ontop of the biomax. Does this sound like a good plan?

What media do those of you who have FX5s use

[TheComputerGremlin]

I don't have an FX5, but I use the Fluval prefilter ceramic rings in my Rena XP3, I love them. They are the nastiest part of the filter, but it seems like they trap all of the nasties before they get to my sponges. You can also use Rena parts in your Fluval, so you might want to buy some BioStars.

[imderanged]

I have 1 750g/26.450z box of prefilter rings already. How MUCH media am I supposed to use anyway?
Biostars? do you think the biostars are a better product than the biomax?

[BullDog]

That's pretty close to what I've got in my FX5.
I've got prefilter in the top, carbon + biomax in the middle, and biomax in the bottom.
I got the microfiltration pads with mine too. I tried them to start, but forgot about them. A week later, I was worried because there was no output! But then I remembered the pad. I would say skip the microfiltration pad since they get clogged really fast.
However, I didn't get any cloudy water from new tank syndrome when I first set the tank up (brand new tank and filter). I don't know if the microfiltration pad helped, or if it was because I put some biomax from Ralph's tank in there.
You can try it if you like, but just don't forget to change or remove it in a week or less!

[BullDog]

And for how much, for prefilter, I think I have just a bit more than one package. There's more than one pack because I took some from my 404, since it was too full.
I use two bags of carbon, and I bought the large container of biomax. I can't remember what size it was, just that there was the normal sized box, and one that was larger. The more biomedia the better

[Spookster]

I've had my FX5 set up for 2 weeks now and the tank is as clean as the day I put the new filter in and cleaned the tank. I reused my ceramic rings and stars from my XP3 and filled the bottom basket with those. I put one activated carbon pouch in the middle and top basket.

[grey goose]

Instead of the micro pads, try a thin layer of filter floss. I use it in the top two baskets and it works great! I clean it every 3 weeks to a month.

[grey goose]

What media do those of you who have FX5s use

Top Basket:
Seachem Bio (Old stuff I use as a prefilter) with filter floss on top.
Middle Basket:
Biomax with a bag of charcoal (about 10 tablespoons) underneath and more floss on top.
Bottom Basket:
More Biomax with a bag (again, about 10 tablespoons) of Seachem Purigen to remove nitrates, but save your money, it doesn't really lower the nitrates all that much.