I just got a Aquaclear 50 for my 20g. I'm using the stock setup with media right now. What are some good recommendations out there? I know that carbon isn't necessary and is there something I can use that will a better material for mechanical and biological?
Aquaclear 50 setup
- Thread starter moss2k
- Start date
lots of options. when i had my aquaclear 70, i had it rigged like a canister. bottom layer was a wad of cheap floss followed by a bag of biomax, then the foam block, then another thin layer of floss then the top layer of biomax. was awesome in bio-filtration and did a kikc a** job in keeping the water clean. for the 50, you could do a wad of floss then biomax, then the foam block, then biomax. tinker with it though till you get it the way you like it.
On my aquaclear 50 I have 2 layers of the foam and a bag of biomax on top. Seems to work well the water is clear and the fish are healthy.
i run 2 sponges and some floss. it really just depends on what you need. could to two sponges and bio media.
each take is different. like with me i have plenty of plants so i only use the filter for polishing. higher bio loads you might want 2 bio media and a sponge. it really just depends on the tank. everyone is different.
In my AC50, I have some of the coco puff looking media from Eheim, and then 4 layers of DIY filter floss.
you should always run the foam block first. putting filter floss first is actually a bad idea. mechanical filtration first, then biological filtration.
and in mechanical filtration, you want to get the larger particles out first (foam block) and then the filter floss.
putting biomax before any foam blocks is just going to foul up your biomax a whole lot sooner, as well as having most of the larger particulates decomposing in the foam block that are after the biomax.
2 foam blocks and then biomax is going to be the best option for most tanks, more biomax would be considered for barebottom tanks.
and in mechanical filtration, you want to get the larger particles out first (foam block) and then the filter floss.
putting biomax before any foam blocks is just going to foul up your biomax a whole lot sooner, as well as having most of the larger particulates decomposing in the foam block that are after the biomax.
2 foam blocks and then biomax is going to be the best option for most tanks, more biomax would be considered for barebottom tanks.