Rena XP1 media??

[lucy42083]

Hey all, I have a Rena XP1 canister filter which has been working well for me for the past couple months. I have been using the media that came with the filter - a course mechanical filtration pad, fine mechanical filtration pad, micro filtration pad & bio-chem zorb. I only just realized that I don't technically have any 'biological' filtration in there. I just wanted to know if it is worth it to get some of those ceramic rings to put throw in the media basket, or if the filter pads are good enough without them. Thanks!

 

[Squawkbert]

If the 'zorb stuff is like carbon, in that it will work for a while, then be inert, replace that layer w/ some nylon pot scrubbers (or put them at the inlet end of the stack & shuffle other layers accordingly) or ceramic media (more expensive, less surface area option).

 

[j_chicago]

Technically, you do have biological filtration in there, the sponges hold bacteria as well, just as would a filter pad in a HOB filter. With the XP1 you are limited to only one compartment for filter media. So when I ran mine, I just left it stock (coarse and medium, fine until it stopped the flow in about a weeks time), sans the carbon.

 

[lucy42083]

Yeah that's why I was a bit confused about which media exactly I was 'supposed' to use, since there was only 1 media compartment. I've heard yes and no on using the carbon but I figured I'd use it -- the only thing it can really hurt is removing medications from the water, right?? I have been changing out the bio-zorb and micro pad monthly, and rinsing the coarse and fine pads in tank water.

 

[Mgamer20o0]

unless your adding meds give carbon a shot if you wish. pot scrubers work good too for bio media. j_chicago is also right. bacteria will grow on anything.

 

[Bnoble]

I agree with Mgamer..i allways run my filter with carbon,..really clears up the water!

 

[j_chicago]

I personally never run it with carbon (besides setting up a new tank), but then again I never medicate (besides melafix sometimes). Fine filter pads will clear up the water better as long as you replace/clean often enough. If I wasn't running a planted tank and there wasn't so much "it will" / "it won't" leech back to the water, I would use carbon.