Hi guys, just a quick question as to whether you think it is worth switching from ceramic cylinders and filstar biochem stars to sintered glass media...specifically Eheims SubstratPro or Ehfisubstrat. Has anyone made such a switch and noticed a significant difference in duration of optimum water conditions between cleanings? I am currently using an external cannister filter. Thanks!

The specs I have read on each of the two products both claim to have approximately the same amount of surface area available for the beneficial bacteria to use as a platform for colonization. THat is all you are looking for in a media - loads of surface area.

The ceramic cylindars are easier to handle, rinse and deal with because they are not as sharp. The sintered glass is a very good media.

The larger ceramic cylindars (1 inchers) are made to break up the water's action so the large particles will drop out of the water as it goes through the filter. THese larger ceramic cylindars are probably not the best for general bacterial colonization, but the ones that are made for that (about 1/2 " to 5/8 inch big, I guess?) seem to do a fine job.

I have both and have never seen a significant difference between the two in bacterial cycles between them.