What are Japanese Mats and where to get them?

[toledosun]

Hi all, read about japanese mats in the arofanatic forum but can't post there for some strange reasons so I thought I'll try my luck here.

Anybody knows what are japanese mats? It's supposed to be used as a filtration media. How is it used? Where can I get them and how much does it cost?

Thanks a million

[Jungle-mania]

C328 and any LFS selling pond equipment from my knowledge. It is a big sponge mat.

[Shadow]

what so special with Japanese mats?

[toledosun]

what so special with Japanese mats?

Yep, that's what I'm curious to know too, what's so special about it, as compared to normal sponges/wool?

[bossteck]

Hi folks,

Japanese mats are more rigid and have bigger 'holes' compared to sponges/wool. Most folks use it as a prefilter, that is, place it before the filter wool. It can help to break down larger pieces of poo, into smaller ones so the wool / bio media doesn't gets clogged up too easily. However, bear in mind that because it is more rigid, it takes up most space in your filter compartment.

Typically, it is use by pond folks, with large capacity filter boxes, where space in the filter is lesser of a concern. I have yet to know of anyone who uses it in a cannister filter.

I have some in my sump tank, I cut them to size and place them above the egg crate of each sump compartment, and have biohome / ceramic rings sitting on top of the japanese mat, it prevents the biohome / ceramic rings from slipping through the egg crate to the bottom of the sump tank. Like any other filter media, it also serves as housing for beneficial bacterial.

My verdict on japanese mats? Use it
1. If you need prefilter (if you keep fishes that produces lots of large-sized waste)
2. If you can afford the space (e.g. if you have a hugh sump tank and don't know what to put in it)

Otherwise, you are better off sticking with filter wool and other more effective bio media. Hope this helps.

[toledosun]

thanks Bossteck,

that helped a lot and defnitely rules out japanese mats for me.