"Media", in this instance just means "stuff", The filter media is, the stuff that does the filtering.
So in the picture, the white pad is designed to do most of the biological filterring. ~it is the biological filter media. The blue thing I suppose does mechanical filtration, and has carbon in it. Supposedly the carbon is for chemical filtration. but as I understand it, is useless after 2 weeks or so.
A lot of bacteria also grow on the blue pad and the carbon, if they are left in.
If you test your water for ammonia shortly after you change your blue filter and see no rise, then cool.
I myself just use it all as bacterial filter media and rinse it out in tank water. I will need to replace the blue part one of these days though because i can see that it will clog. Good to know that I Might get away with it with out trying to preserve its biofilter. I will test the water when i remove it.
So in the picture, the white pad is designed to do most of the biological filterring. ~it is the biological filter media. The blue thing I suppose does mechanical filtration, and has carbon in it. Supposedly the carbon is for chemical filtration. but as I understand it, is useless after 2 weeks or so.
A lot of bacteria also grow on the blue pad and the carbon, if they are left in.
If you test your water for ammonia shortly after you change your blue filter and see no rise, then cool.
I myself just use it all as bacterial filter media and rinse it out in tank water. I will need to replace the blue part one of these days though because i can see that it will clog. Good to know that I Might get away with it with out trying to preserve its biofilter. I will test the water when i remove it.
