What Does Filter Media Look Like?

[Fintastic!]

How do you identify your filter media? Is it the green gunk on the sponges?

 

[dh058977]

The sponges are your filter media. Those, ceramic noodles, carbon etc are all examples of media.

 

[OldMan47]

Some examples of media.

HOB filter cartridge

Sponge filter, the whole thing is media.

Polish filter in a canister filter.

Sponge media in a canister.

Bioballs

Scrubbers used as biomedia

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Never seen the scrubbers used before! That's a new one. Thanks Oldman!

 

[Fintastic!]

Interesting, thanks guys! I'm just wondering as I've read on some posts about people saying they notice a good build up (or lack of) filter media. I thought this was the bacteria on the sponges. I'm aware that this is possibly a silly question. Thanks Oldman, those pics are good!

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I think they mean a build ON or IN their filter media. Or, they say they have a build up of filter BACTERIA. I have a feeling you were getting confused by the terminology. It can be confusing, we use a language all our own! Usually bacteria is considered a bad thing, but we go out of our way to encourage and protect bacteria growth.

 

[Fintastic!]

I thought filter media was the bacteria. Now I know! Can you see the bacteria then? On your sponges? I'v got green gunk on mine.

 

[Tizer]

I thought filter media was the bacteria. Now I know! Can you see the bacteria then? On your sponges? I'v got green gunk on mine.

Well you wont see it waving back to you. But if you clean off the gunk from your sponge the sponge will be stained a brown colour, thats the bacteria clinging on.

 

[This Old Spouse]

I thought filter media was the bacteria. Now I know! Can you see the bacteria then? On your sponges? I'v got green gunk on mine.

That green gunk is called "mulm" and that's accumulated food and poo and whatever else that's floating around in your tank that gets caught. That's the stuff you want to gently rinse off when you do your water changes.

 

[ripil]

rinse off in old tank water that you've just took out when doing a water change. the lingo is hard to pick up at first i found. trying to read the names of fish is the worst. i want to get a lamprologus sexfasciatus so just when people ask what fish it is i got an excuse to say it.

 

[Fintastic!]

I'm impressed you can even spell that one Ripil! I'm thick. I was gently squeezing my sponges in old tank water so i wouldn't disturb the mulm! Thanks for clearing that up.....