Filter media?

[EchoMN]

Other than Purigen, what does everyone put in their filters? I'm starting a 26 Gallon bowfront, and I was able to score a Marineland HOT Magnum 250. It suggests putting in charcoal, and it's going to be a planted tank. I don't use charcoal in my other tanks. I plan to to some purigen, possibly poly stuffing. What else could be used?

 

[Gregg]

I depends upon what I need for a specific aquarium.
I prefer activated carbon over charcoal and even then I do not always use it in established aquariums.

I do like Purigen, and use it often, but be aware it can mess with your Redox Balance

A few others I use include Matrix by Seachem, Algone, volcanic rock.

Here is a Ref. that lists many filter medias:
http://www.aquarium-pond-answers.com/2007/05/aquarium-filter-media.html

 

[Slappy*McFish]

I use biomedia in the carbon basket of my HOT Magnum.

 

[FreshyFresh]

To me, the most important component of an aquarium filter is it's bio media. I run sponge and various types of soft/hard bio media in my canisters and HOBs. Two of my tanks also have sponge bubbler filters in them.

I wouldn't waste the space in a filter with chemical media if I didn't have to.

 

[apastuszak]

The Hot 250 has the media canister in the center with a floss sleeve that slides over it? I'd just use the floss sleeve with bio-media in the media container.

 

[discuspaul]

For maintenance of your overall bio-filtration, you should use a large medium-mesh sponge, along with some ceramic bio-balls or similar product, as your 'more or less' permanent housing media, to be rinsed occasionally.
For mechanical filtration, nothing beats double-layered filter floss, replaced with new product fairly frequently - suggest every 2 weeks or less.
I don't like the term 'chemical filtration', but Purigen is the best in this category, and it's all I use 24/7 - re-charged on a rotating basis (2 filters) every 2 or 3 weeks.
This, along with the filter floss, and fine mesh pre-filters on the filter intake tubes, provide the optimum water clarity, and pick-up/disposal of impurities.

 

[Slappy*McFish]

Purigen is great stuff. I used to use it religiously in my saltwater tank.