Hob Filters

[This Old Spouse]

So, what's the best way to set up HOB filters? In some of mine I have the ceramic media plus floss bags, others I have sponges, others just floss bags. I'm trying to find out what the best combination is to have the cleanest, healthiest water with the least amount of cost. The ceramic rings were a little pricey at first, but they'll pretty much last forever, and I like that thought. What do all you experts out there use??

 

[Smells a bit fishy]

A bit of each is what I use, ceramic to hold most of the bacteria, sponge to remove large partices and cotton to remove small particles. However that is what I do. I'm sure many others have different views

 

[Plecc]

Hi,

Nice pic of your Corydora's!

I'm by no means an expert!
and never had a HOB filter just internals and externals, but the principal is the same for any filter.
This is just my opinion, you want mechanical filtration first say 2 or 3 types of foam running coarse to fine, to pick up most of the solids entering the filter.
But don't use the floss or very fine foam at this stage or the filter will block up really quickly.
I don't ever use carbon unless removing some nasty treatments.
Then just loads of bio media! the more the merrier.
Then at the final stage use the floss to catch the really fine bits, but honestly I don't even use the floss anymore it just blocks up too fast and the difference in water clarity is very small.
Bio media all the way, any sort will do, rings, pebbles, balls there is all sorts to choose from.
I use quite a bit of the Seachem one, i think its called matrix but its pricey.