#shorts A 300x view of fake Chinese filter media.
This stuff blights the internet and while it may look good from the outside the story is very different when you take a look INSIDE the filter media ..... which nobody seems to bother doing.
It is made from a ceramic dust which will register a huge surface area but the vast majority of structure is inaccessible for water or bacteria.
Added to that it is extremely soft and breaks down quickly when moved / cleaned. More on that in the full video.
When ammonia, nitrite AND nitrate is processed it is a full cycle.
Most filters and filter media only allow for half a job which results in high nitrates which have a long term debilitating effect on the fish .
The eyes don't lie and when you get a zoomed in view of filter media you can make your own decisions......why do no other channels show INSIDE filter media they (are often paid to) promote?
Because "trust the science".
Nope, trust what you see.
Full video here:    • Looking INSIDE Filter Media for Aquar...  
A guide to how much media to use for various stocking scenarios to achieve a FULL CYCLE can be found on the Q&A page of the FilterPro site: http://www.filterpro.co.uk as well as lots of other useful information.
Avoid using conditioners which bind / detoxify / remove ammonia, nitrite and nitrate as they prevent bacteria populations from thriving (by starving them). A normal water conditioner makes the water safe for life and allows the bacteria to achieve a full population in line with the available food.