What are the types filter medias that can be used in an HOB filter? My current HOB filter is installed with the sponge media that came with it and I added another sponge media as additional filtration. Those ceramic balls or the hollow ones, can they be used in a HOB? I'm hoping to have a range of selection from you guys. Thanks in advance.

obodobo wrote:


absolutly. fill it up!

How's the maintenance with those hollow ones? Which of the two would you prefer? Do they have the same effect?

i use fluval ceramic rings in mine. they are like hollow cyinders.



i would guess is personal choice, the end result is the same. they both work obviously

the only maintenence issue ive ran into is sometimes its a pain in the butt to get the filter cartridge back into the hob with those rings in it too, they tend to get under the cartridge. so when i clean my hob's i just get a bucket with a few inches of tank water, and dump the contents into it, wash out the sludge from the hob (NOT THE RINGS), put the cartridges back (or replace them), and then scoop the rings back into the hob. they seem to help alot for me.

Ceramic rings it is. I'll get some soon. Thanks for the info.

np! gl! let us know how it works for you! also remember your not going to see an immediate improvement, you gotta give it some time for the biotics to culture on the rings!

Yeah I learned about that here too. I'm gonna leave the older filter sponge, and replace the newer one. I just had my weekly water change earlier today and replaced one of the sponges. That got me thinking about those rings.

why replace the sponge? does it contain carbon??? if not you only need to clean them with tank water and replace them.

No. It's a cheap one that I bought from our LFS. The HOB I have, got 2 slots for the filter medias but only one media was included in the box when I bought it. The guy from that store told me that only one media is included and the extra slot is for additional if I would buy one, separately. I kinda think I was tricked but the box doesn't say it's contents so he may be right.. or not. Anyway, the sponge I'm about to dispose is not a waste really because you can buy about 2 square feet of it here for about 20 cents(US). The one that is included is the one I keep and clean with water tank during maintenance but the cheap ones are disposed.

on the marineland hobs i used i cut off the plastc plate where the carbon was at to take it out and just left the outer frame with the catridge.