Fluval 205 Media

Roseanna · Dec 12, 2011

Hello everyone

I've just bought a 2nd fluval 205 external filter and was wondering what media would be best to put in? This is my 1st external filter so I'm new to it all so any tips would be great also

Regards
Rose

minnnt · Dec 12, 2011

Is there anything in it Rose?

Roseanna · Dec 12, 2011

Just old sponge which have dried out and small bits of carbon. Wasn't sure if I should keep the sponge or not

also came with an unopened box of hydor zeolith media but none in the filter its self!

minnnt · Dec 12, 2011

Have you got any current media in use? If so and the external is going to be used instead of that then transfer everything across. The usual setup of things is ceramic in the bottom, then a sponge with a bag of carbon or similar in the little blue tray then finally sponges and filter floss i think. It's a long time since i had my 205, but i believe it was set up in a similar way to that.

fishprotector · Dec 12, 2011

I think that the 205 has three trays, so I would get a couple of boxes of the Fluval Biomax for the bottom two trays and some filter wool for the top one :good:

Roseanna · Dec 12, 2011

Just old sponge which have dried out and small bits of carbon. Wasn't sure if I should keep the sponge or not

also came with an unopened box of hydor zeolith media but none in the filter its self!

Roseanna · Dec 12, 2011

Oops phone send old reply sorry ><

I'm going to run it along with other filters on my 3 ft till I get my new 4ft tank home and set up, then move everything over? Okay thanks

I'll write down the names & pick some up next time I'm at the pet shop!

Aqua Tom · Dec 12, 2011

Ceramic rings will work very well.

Roseanna · Dec 12, 2011

I think I might have some ceramic rings knocking about somewhere

how much would I use? Also anyone know if hydor zeolith media is any good? Or should I just bin it

CezzaXV · Dec 12, 2011

I'd just go to your LFS and use whatever media takes your fancy.

fishguy2727 · Dec 12, 2011

I would do Seachem Matrix, it has more bioavailable surface area than Biomax or Eheim's biomedia. It is also supposed to allow for denitrification (nitrate reduction).