Chalk Like Tube Shapes For My Filter?

[Neon.Tetra]

Bought a new fishtank the other day for the betta =] The filters alot bigger so I transfered all of the existing filter stuff from the old filter to the new one with the new filter stuff left in there.

The filter came with a small mesh bag of -the only way i can describe them as- rough chalk like tubes/rings. There are also others that arent as chalky that sat in the back compartment of the filter being the last part in the stages of filtering and these were less perfect in shape and more rough. I removed them because I wasn't 100% sure, I knew they were safe I just wanted the water to be similar to that of my bettas old tank water. I thought at first they could be to change the hardness or softness of the water but now I don't think so.

Any ideas what they are and what they do?

Thanks.

 

[JustKia]

Sounds like bio-max or other ceramic "noodles".
Basically they last pretty much forever and give a huge surface area (all the rough surfaces) for you friendly bacteria to live in/on =)

 

[Neon.Tetra]

Sounds like bio-max or other ceramic "noodles".
Basically they last pretty much forever and give a huge surface area (all the rough surfaces) for you friendly bacteria to live in/on =)

Thanks, I'll put them in =]

 

[JustKia]

I've got one basket of the cheapo looking stuff that came with my filter and one basket of the actual bio-max stuff in mine =)
Oh just a quick thought - make sure you give it a good rinse first (old tank water is best).

 

[juanveldez]

sounds like the set up that comes in the Aqua clear filters. I have the same set up in all of my tanks, in fact I bought extra sponges and with a razor blade cut them down to fit in the non Aquaclear fitlers that I run.