fluidization

[plantman3]

Recently set up a 225 gallon planted discus aquarium. Attempted to fluidize Kaldnes media in an AquaMaxx Bio-Reactor. No luck. If Kaldnes will not fluidize (for whatever reason) What other media would be appropriate to use in the AquaMaxx.

[rickztahone]

how long have you been trying to make the media tumble?

[DC Discus]

I don't really see a way for K1 to work in an Aquamaxx, unless you flip it over so the water down-wells on the floating media. But that's really a temporary solution. Takes my K1 about a month to seed and become more neutrally buoyant, that's the problem with K1 is they need seeded with bacteria to actual perform. But they work great after seeding. Also, they won't function properly without a rich oxygen supply. Not sure if you can run sand and fluidize that in a Aquamaxx. Really the Aquamaxx is design for use with bio-pellets in a reef tank.

Good luck and let us know if you figure something out using that reactor.
Cheers,
DC

[plantman3]

DC Discus. Are there freshwater Bio-pellets That I can use in the AquaMaxx.

[DC Discus]

Not that I know of. I run these marine-pure balls in all my sumps and canister filters (fresh and marine);

http://www.cermedia.com/marinepure-products.php

These things have a ton of surface area compared to the ceramic media that comes with typical canister filter, since basically you'd be turning the aquamaxx into a canister filter, since these don't fluidize.

I have no experience with seachem matrix, but it could be an option;
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_viewitem.aspx?idproduct=SC3171&child=SC3171&utm_source=adwordsfroogle&utm_medium=cse&utm_campaign=adwordsfroogle&utm_content=SC3171&gclid=CLCWur_O8scCFVGCfgodebcMQQ

You might what to look into purigen, several people on here run it and it fluidizes easily and it's rechargeable;
http://forum.simplydiscus.com/showthread.php?120563-Purigen-Media-reactor&highlight=purigen

Cheers,
DC