Ok I have a feeling I shouldn't be asking this... I should allready know, but here goes.

Im going to give my 65 gallon away to a buddy of mine and im going to give him my Emperor 400 also. My Emperor combined with my FX5 is really going and doing really well. But im not going to have it anymore which means less filtration power.

What filter media can I use to offset the lack of filtration power? Right now I have in my FX5 from top to bottom.

Carbon
Filter pads with some Biomax
Biomax

I know Carbon can be detrimental to my Oscars, HITH, so what can I use to get that same filtration power without using Carbon.

I don't like the water polishing pads because they can really hinder the output flow rate once they become full, even if you rinse them out.

So again, what can I use to really boost my filtration power with out carbon.

this link will give you one good discussion about alternative media
www.oscarfishlover.com/index.php?option=...p;limitstart=6#27682

Scouring pads huh, I like that idea. Basically its anything that can catch small and large particles of fish poop, muck, and just about anything.

I use scotch brite for dishes, It has the greenie weenie side to it and on the other its got a sponge.

www.3m.com/us/home_leisure/scotchbrite/p...rubbing_sponges.html

I use the middle set of pads. I think the next time I do my water change im going to add those in except the carbon.

IMHO I think the greenie weenie surface is a whole lot intricate and dense than the regular filter pads I use in my Emperor 400.

the problem with the scotch brite with foam is that,
the foam is so dense and easily get clogged and will
impair free flow of water. i had constructed a DIY
canister to have more media (10X) in the system that keep
water crystal clear even if directly under the sun.

s386.photobucket.com/albums/oo308/PAULHD...ent=osk20apr09Va.flv

I could always poke holes all through out right take make it easier for water to go through. Or I could get some of those foam pads and attach that to some greenie weenies via rubber bands.

That way im not worrying about clogs and I will have the greenie weenies catching all the bad crap.

i have my fx5 set up basically the same way you do with the exception of the top basket. in it i use fluval prefilter.