Media for CRS

[hongxia]

Would like to seek advise whether it is safe to use ceramic and plastic media that comes with Atman external filter for CRS keeping? Or should use only branded media like eheim or biohome only?
Thanks for any views provided.

[hyun007]

Would like to seek advise whether it is safe to use ceramic and plastic media that comes with Atman external filter for CRS keeping? Or should use only branded media like eheim or biohome only?
Thanks for any views provided.

It will depend on how serious are you in this shrimp hobby.
How big is your tank, number of shrimps and are you using a chiller?

I do not think Atman external filter comes with ceramic or plastic media as I am currently running one. Which model are you talking about?

[hongxia]

It's complete set DF 700. Using for 2ft tank with Hialeah 100a chiller. Thks

[xconnect.]

It depends on your budget.if you have a deep pocket you can use power house soft type available at green chapter if not.
Biohome is also a very good media

[hongxia]

I think power house is out of my budget though I heard it is very good. I probably go for Biohome, which is popular and not use the ceramic and plastic media from Atman.
Thanks guys.

[alvinchan80]

I think power house is out of my budget though I heard it is very good. I probably go for Biohome, which is popular and not use the ceramic and plastic media from Atman.
Thanks guys.

Can try Eheim substrate pro... Not bad too...

[hongxia]

Can try Eheim substrate pro... Not bad too...

Ok will consider that too. Thanks.

[rascal]

mine set up runs fully on eheim substrate pro.. good luck

[Spid]

erm, at the end of the day how well do you think all these types of media help in your filtration?

If one really googles and source around, the best item that able to house lots of BBs are just tiny pores sponges.

Personally I feel if you fill your cannister with all those green scrubs/pads that can be easily obtain from any hardware store will do you good. Cheap and good ill say.

[alvinchan80]

erm, at the end of the day how well do you think all these types of media help in your filtration?

If one really googles and source around, the best item that able to house lots of BBs are just tiny pores sponges.

Personally I feel if you fill your cannister with all those green scrubs/pads that can be easily obtain from any hardware store will do you good. Cheap and good ill say.

Do you fill your canisters with scrubs/pads bro?
How often you do maintenance to your canisters with these scrubs/pads?

Just my cents in thinking..
I am really curious because most shrimp keepers are using canisters with at least ceramic rings to treat as biomedia.. But if sponge is really that good then everyone who I have spoken to will be using sponge and not media..

[Spid]

Yes and no- I put all sponges and pads in one of my pre filter. The main filter is filled with medias though.

Only clean the filter when flow is slow.

It own preference bro. Up to you to believe and try. I have not try a all sponge/pad cannister at the moment. May do so in future however as of now mainly I only have sponge filtration for my tanks.

[alvinchan80]

Yes and no- I put all sponges and pads in one of my pre filter. The main filter is filled with medias though.

Only clean the filter when flow is slow.

It own preference bro. Up to you to believe and try. I have not try a all sponge/pad cannister at the moment. May do so in future however as of now mainly I only have sponge filtration for my tanks.

Yes, It is a norm where prefilter is filled with wool and canisters with media so as to facilitate clean up by just changing the wool or washing wool in the prefilter without touching the canisters with medias..

But to fill green scrubs/pads, they will clog easily and end up will need to clean/wash the canisters much more often then bio-media right?

Sponge filters which are in tanks are air driven? I have them in every tanks/partitions I have too.. But those are not in canisters and easier to clean..

But guess different shrimp keepers/breeders have their own set up ways.. Just wondering why you suggest put green scrubs/pads in canisters..

[Loudness]

using only wool for cannister isn't a bad idea, it has lots of surface area for BB to grow, and you don't really need to change all the wool at once. maybe after 2 months, just remove the top layer, and move the rest of the layer up. the new one will be place at the bottom.

furthermore in shrimp tank, inlet are usually covered with sponge, so what's really dirty most of the time is that sponge, not the one in the canister.

i have seen people set up sump tank for monster fish with only japanese mat. placed in orderly way, which the water are allowed to flow through fast and obtained faster flow rate.

well, this is just my 2cents opinion, but i still use mr aqua CR in my canister.

[hongxia]

Thanks for all the input guys! I guess everyone has their preferences and the bacteria would like to have a comfortable place to stay.

[Spid]

Yes, It is a norm where prefilter is filled with wool and canisters with media so as to facilitate clean up by just changing the wool or washing wool in the prefilter without touching the canisters with medias..

But to fill green scrubs/pads, they will clog easily and end up will need to clean/wash the canisters much more often then bio-media right?

Sponge filters which are in tanks are air driven? I have them in every tanks/partitions I have too.. But those are not in canisters and easier to clean..

But guess different shrimp keepers/breeders have their own set up ways.. Just wondering why you suggest put green scrubs/pads in canisters..

Yes scrubs may jam the flow and have to clean the canister frequently. But some scrubs have bigger pores and allow water to pass through easily. One example is the Japanese mat type of material. Actually can look out for these type of material in hardware store. I have those as my prefilter.

Anyway for tanks with substantial shrimps, I will place few pieces of green scrubs in the tank for additional bacteria colonization.

[kiantkh]

The media that comes with the filter does not look like it can house much bacteria. The ceramic rings are so smooth compared to other medias that lfs sells.