Hey Gang, I was wondering what types of media are you using in your filters? I have an Emperor 280 and would like to know what your filter houses. I've heard things like more bio filtration, no carbon, some use extra filter pads, some use sponges cut to fit. My filter came with an extra media basket and the filter was filled with ammo chips (in the extra basket) along with the replacement filter (carbon?pad) . Everything is great but now I'm out of media and wanted to know what works best for you guys.

Hello and

If you want to establish a true biological filter (beneficial bacteria that convert fish waste into harmless byproducts) you need to remove your ammo chips. They remove the food source (ammonia) that the beneficial bacteria need to multiply. Also, using ammo chips prevents you from being able to use salt to treat disease (because the salt causes the ammo chips to release all the ammonia they've absorbed). If you elect to pursue this route, please read up on cycling your aquarium (lots of info on this site).

In my Emperor 280, I have the original blue and white filter pad which I've cut at the bottom and knocked all the carbon out of (I periodically rinse the "gunk" off this filter in tank water in a bucket). I have filled the clam shell thingie with pieces of sponge from a filter I had on another tank and in the back I have crammed a net bag full of ceramic ring biomedia. The ceramic rings should never need to be replaced and you only really need to replace the filter pad when it really begins to fall apart.

Good luck!

Thanks Acupunk, the Ammo chips have been in there for a bit and I kept slightly cleaning both the basket and original filter pad in my changed water for the past couple of weeks. I totally forgot about feeding the bio-wheel. I was thinking about putting a filter pad, then sponge, then bio-something and possibly a polish filter (when I need it). So, the ceramic rings lasts a while. I was wondering what kind to get. Thanks for the prompt reply. I just recently started my golfish hobby about a 3 months ago when I inherited a Fancy Goldfish (5") I now have a white and red Ryukin (4") and a red and gold Oranda (3") in my 30 gallon tank i also inherited. This site taught me a lot! At least I new to get an Emperor and not too many other fish. So far so good with weekly water changes and no ammonia.

there are all sorts of biological media that come in all shapes and sizes you can get for your filter.

there's bioballs which are about 1 - 1 1/2 inch plastic sphere of protrusions for biological growth

there's mini-bioballs which are about 1 - 1 1/2 centimeter plastic spheres with protrusions for biological growth

there's ceramic rings which are like cylindrical rings kind of like macaroni elbow noodles (except not bent)

there's porous media like matrix or eheim substrat which are porous "rock" type media to help increase surface area for beneficial bacteria to grow on.


i had originally started off with the bioballs, but i find that they take up a lot of space, so i have recently switched to seachem matrix in my power filters and eheim substrat in my canister filters. you can get media bags or make your own to make little pouches which are easier to move the media around in and rinse off. i think a good piece of filter floss and a few baggies full of something like matrix or ceramic rings would be great!