What kinds of media should go in my canister?

[Sharkman]

I have 3 baskets or trays inside my canister and I am wondering what to put in each of them. I was thinking of using either a sponge or filter floss in one of the tray and put that in the tray closest to the top. Maybe some carbon in the 2nd tray and ceramic rings in the 3rd? I'm not sure if that is my bst option or if i should switch the order or what. Any help would be great. I am also running a whisper 30 on this 55g tank. The stocking is listed in my signature if that matters.

[Dave66]

Shark,
You can put in whatever you like. Usually the ceramic noodles are in the top basket so they don't get so clogged with debris so the nitrifying bacteria in and on the noodles can do their job. Below that, you can do a bag of carbon, or a poly filter to take out algae nutrients, or peat moss, or whatever you care to.
Reason I said peat moss is the hatchets, serpae, apisto and bumblebee would really dig it, as they are all black water fishes.

Dave

[Northernguy]

My aqua clear instruction said Foam on top ,Carbon in the middle and the last of it on the bottom. I like to use them in that order but whatever works for you.:c3: As long as you have it in there I don't think it matters.
I like having the foam on top to catch any debris before it returns to the tank.Besides the refills I buy have both carbon and amm.pellets all mixed together.You just stuff your own bag with as much as you need!

I guess I buy extra bags as well! :hmm3grin2orange:

[BigMac]

My cannister has 4 trays. In my first tray is the filter floss. The next 3 are ceramic rings. It also ahs a huge sponge section so the floss isn't the only mechanical filtering

I am probably a little over stocked, hoping to get some pairs and then thin down, and my water is perfect. I get consistant 0-0-5 readings.

[smaug]

I have course sponge filtration in my lowest basket,then all bio media in the 2nd with layer of poly fiber on top as a final pollisher.If I had 3 I would have a basket full of finer sponge media in between the 2.Just my 2 cents.

[gm72]

With the use of a sponge prefilter you could pack the media with bio-media. Otherwise you generally want the most course mechanical filtration first with progressively finer filtration, ending with the bio-media last.

[Sharkman]

thanks for all of the advice.