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Recommended Fluval Media and Placement

What is the best media to use in the Fluval Canister Filters, and how should the chambers be loaded?

What is the best media to use in the Fluval Canister Filters, and how should the chambers be loaded?
The multiple modules provided by the Fluval Canister filters allow a vast array of filter media options for maximum versatility. There really is no right way to load the filter for every aquarium situation. One of the greatest advantages of the Fluval Canister series is that the aquarist is allowed to mix and match any of the multitude of filter medias to match the requirements of a particular aquatic environment that is needed or desired.

First of all, here are some basic facts about Fluval filter media:

Fluval Foam Inserts capture large particles for effective mechanical filtration, the crucial first stage in the filtration process. In older systems, the Fluval Pre-Filter was used in the lower chamber of the Fluval 03 series and before. The foam pretty much does the job and Pre-Filter is very rarely required in any filter of the 04 or later generation.

Fluval Carbon provides chemical filtration and some fine mechanical straining of particles that may have passed thought the foam as well. It improves water clarity and color, while also removing odors. It is highly porous and provides large amounts of internal surface area for adsorption of dissolved impurities. It effectively traps heavy metals, removes odors, discoloration, organic contaminants and pollutants to leave your aquarium water crystal clear. Replace monthly to ensure that active adsorption is maintained.

Fluval Ammonia Remover is a natural ion-exchange media that effectively removes toxic ammonia as water passes over it. Controlling ammonia and locking it within the resin's structure reduces stress on the fish. Ammonia Remover gradually becomes inactive. It can be recharged, but it quickly loses this ability to hold ammonia after repeated recharging. It should be replaced regularly as it does not show any difference between the charged and exhausted stages. Replace regularly with fresh or fully recharged product, at least once a month.

Fluval BioMax ceramic rings have a complex pore system where beneficial bacteria can thrive. With more capacity to support large populations of beneficial bacteria than most biological filter media in each compressed ring, BioMax helps reduce ammonia and nitrite. Replace BioMax every 6 months. Replenish only half at one time to allow proper seeding from older media to new. The first replacement of half should be after three months, then the other half replaced three months later with new rings. With proper rotation of the rings, the biological activity remains adequate to control the amount of ammonia and nitrite produced in the aquarium by the fish and other inhabitants even right after a media change. The older media also tends to seed new material faster with the right bacterial strains required to do the job.

If foam is relatively clean when the unit is disassembled to change media, then in most cases, additional mechanical filtration such as Pre-filter is not necessary. Pre-Filter is a solid ceramic ring that does not have much surface area when compared to Bio-Max. It should not be thought of as a biological media. Rather, it was very important in older versions of the Fluval systems where there was no foam used in the initial stage for mechanical filtration of particulate wastes. It is used as a very coarse mechanical filter in tanks where large particles may be allowed to enter the filter system. Optimally, it should always be followed by something like carbon or Zeo-Carb to remove any fine particles that may pass though the rings.

In most common aquarium situations, the normal filter media arrangement, working from bottom to the top as the water current moves, is to rely on the foam pads before the beginning of the filter stack to remove the gross particulates that enter the siphon assembly. Most aquarists use carbon in the bottom chamber, then ammonia remover under the basket and Bio Max in the basket of the Fluval 105, the same stack order works for the rest of the Fluval Canister filters, but there are more possible chambers and space allotted the larger the units get..

If you prefer, you could use the mixture of carbon and Ammonia Remover listed as Fluval Zeo-Carb on the bottom chamber if there are other media that is preferred for specific jobs. The chamber under the basket is useful for more exotic media should the aquarium require different filter media such as Fluval Nitrite or Phosphate Remover. Peat Granules can also be considered for its ability to soften and acidify the water for certain species. There are many other medias as well, but like those just mentioned, they are best used in the center of the filter where the water flow has been purified of smaller particles by the foam and carbon. This allows these more exotic materials to last as long as possible with minimal debris contamination.

One final comment about carbon, it has been shown to remove many discolorations in the water, to polish the water to crystal clear clarity. This is quite useful for most standard aquarium communities. However, the powerful ability of carbon to remove trace elements form the passing currents can be a problem when dealing with a planted aquarium. In cases where plants are the major interest for the aquarist, carbon is probably not a good idea. it will remove many of the trace elements that plant fertilizer provides.

Bio-Max is best used in the cleanest water flow to prevent premature clogging of its pores, so if it is to be used, it should always be placed on the top of the media stack. It can be bagged in a couple of bags to allow replacement of half at a time. Proper rotation of the rings is vital to ensure that they provide uninterrupted biological filtration of ammonia and nitrite at all times.

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