fx5 fluval filter question

i have a fx5 filter on my 75gal reef tank with fish and i wanted to know whats the best stuff to put inside the filter. i have the 3 layers of foam the a huge 64oz bag of carbon and the bottom try then two full baskets of ceramic bio balls. is there anything else i can put in to bennifit my tank or leave it the way it is.

 

Hi ranger,

I run a Fluval (not the kick ass Fx5 though). At first I used two types of foam (rough and "polish"), one carbon and two chambers of ceramic rings. What I noticed was that all of my 'pods were getting stuck in the foam and dying.

After cycling the canister for a while, I started slowly removing media. It now has only the ceramic rings. This allow the little critters that are thriving in the canister to get safely sucked back into the main tank as cleanup/snacks. I do use carbon in the skimmer.

 

i got the fx5 from a guy i knew for $90 with everything and it was only used for 5 months. i got all new stuff for it and it does a great job. man you know your stuff. i feel like i should be paying for all this help.

 

Nah, lots of help from the people here and LOTS of mistakes. Plus I'm impatiently waiting to restock my tank after the Great Heat Wave '08, so I have a lot of time on my hands....

 

lol im sorry to hear that.