I just recieved my AC 30 filter and i want to set it up tonight but i dont want to add the bio max stones or the carbon yet if i dont have to. Could i possibly run two sponges and the stones with no carbon? Also how long do i need to run 2 filters for before this new one should be set up? THANKS GUYS
aqua clear 30
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I would run the new AC-30 with your current filter for at least 2 weeks.
Lots of people use 2 sponges and do not use the carbon.
I have mine setup with 1 sponge on the bottom, then a double layer of filter floss (100% polyester hypoallergenic quilt batting), and then the biomax (mixed with Seachem Matrix).
It Biomax is a perfect home for the bacteria you want to grow in the filter, and you probably should consider using it. However, a second sponge would provide ample surface area for the bacteria so you will be fine however you want to run it.
Lots of people use 2 sponges and do not use the carbon.
I have mine setup with 1 sponge on the bottom, then a double layer of filter floss (100% polyester hypoallergenic quilt batting), and then the biomax (mixed with Seachem Matrix).
It Biomax is a perfect home for the bacteria you want to grow in the filter, and you probably should consider using it. However, a second sponge would provide ample surface area for the bacteria so you will be fine however you want to run it.
Aquaclears worked great for a decade or more before they came out with "biomax", so yes, you can run double sponges.
You don't need carbon. All it does is remove color from the water (caused by lots of driftwood), remove meds, and remove odor (if you tank smells, running carbon is the least of your concerns).
What filter are you curently running? If it is a whisper or some other type of hang on back, just remove the media (rinse in dechlorinated water while you have it out) and sandwich it between the sponges on your new aquaclear. The exsisting media will continue to act as biofiltration, and the bacteria will quickly (couple weeks) colonize the new filter media.
You don't need carbon. All it does is remove color from the water (caused by lots of driftwood), remove meds, and remove odor (if you tank smells, running carbon is the least of your concerns).
What filter are you curently running? If it is a whisper or some other type of hang on back, just remove the media (rinse in dechlorinated water while you have it out) and sandwich it between the sponges on your new aquaclear. The exsisting media will continue to act as biofiltration, and the bacteria will quickly (couple weeks) colonize the new filter media.
why 2 sponge and 1 biomax instead of 1 sponge and 2 biomax? wouldnt that gave much more surface area/better envirnment for the bacteria to colonize? People used to use 2 sponge because aquaclear didnt have the biomax stuff. Now that it does, why would you use a sponge instead of another bag of biomax? am i missing something?
gagaliya said:
The 2nd layer of sponge still gets a lot of coarse waste material. If the biomax saw this much coarse waste it would get clogged and become useless. Biomax is harder to clean than the sponge.... after all, you can't just squeeze and rinse biomax. So, the bio-max (or carbon) goes on top, above the multiple layers of coarse filter material so it only sees the cleaner water and does a better job of colonizing denitrifying bacteria. In this case, the biomax is only a "biological" filter. The "physical" filter is the 1st layer or two of sponge. ..and as yet, I haven't needed a "chemical" filter.
(since I do get bags of carbon with filters, I often throw carbon on as the final/top layer in an AC hob. If nothing else, it does make for good colonizing media. Like biomax, I never replace it... it just doesn't get dirty on the top layer.)
I've also used the carbon as a bio layer..the only problem is the fine mesh which surrounds the carbon clogs quickly..like the foam filter I just rinse it out.