How do you stack your canister?

[JoelB]

I'll start. Mine has four trays (first tray is on the bottom).

First, course sponge and course pad, next ceramic bio media, then carbon, and then polishing pads.

[jbradt]

I have 2 baskets. The bottom one has quilt batting and a course sponge. The second has way more than necessary bio-media... the type that comes with Eheim's.

[BettaFishMommy]

Rena XP2, bottom basket has two of the coarser XP sponges and a couple of big handfuls of assorted different biomax, top basket has more biomax and topped with quilt batting.

[Cory Keeper]

C-160 is my filter.

Bottom is the first tray (its piped down and then back up), and is filled with course pads (OE), second is two Rena XP 30 PPI pads for second stage mech filtration, and then polyfill for clear water. I've found this combination works really well too.

[fineexampl]

Fluval 204
bio sponges on the one side where the water enters
(and from the bottom up)
pre-filter ceramic media
biomax
carbon/ammonia reducer mix
water polishing pads

[thrak76]

Marineland C-220 from the bottom:

coarse sponge
bio-balls
poly-fil
ceramic tubes
polishing pad

In my Fluval 205 from the bottom:

bio balls
ceramic tubes
poly fil
And one whole half of the canister is the coarse sponge that's included

[Chrisinator]

Rena XP2

From bottom: Coarse Filter Pad > Fine Filter Pad > Bio Media (and old sponges from AC 20) > Microfilter. Gonna add more biomedia though.

[MySpace Mike]

Jebao 912 4 stage Canister Filter - Bottom to the top baskets - #1 Biomax covered with Fiber Fill, #2 Carbon Pads, #3 more Fiber Fill, #4 Polishing Pad. Keeps my tank crystal clear.

[CWO4GUNNER]

Almost all basket filters today have water flowing from the bottom of the canister basket to the top motor lid housing where it get picked up. So its important to know the direction of flow, especially bottom flow canisters which can lift media up off its strainer and bypass since there in nothing for the media to support against except the next top basket strainer which usually has a large gap. So bottom flow canister owners consider this when packing trays.

The FX5 which beside having a superb 1st stage circumference filter before reaching the baskets also incorporates 3 large baskets separated by O-rings completely isolating them from one another and the rest of the canister except for the direction of proper water flow. Because it is a bottom pump motor design, canister water flows from top to bottom baskets pinning all media against the strainer using both water pressure and gravity which ensures no bypass (lifting media off its strainer) which cannot happen. It is a very well engineered designed and extremely effective.

[kyryah]

HA HA, prolly gonna get laughed at for this, but I just fill it with poly fiber. :) It keeps the water uber polished.

Kristina

[CWO4GUNNER]

Let me add that I do own 2 type stack-basket filters the Fluval 4040 and now the SunSun 302. The 404 I have never been able to get to filter effectively without major bypass, the reason is the side sponge section that doesn't work letting massive amounts of water to bypass and the 1/8" gap around all the baskets which also allow allot of bypass no matter what the media basket config. Of course this doesn't serve me when Im trying to sell my 404's, but I have to be honest.

The SunSun because of its tight basket config not allowing bypass plus is short stout large surface area basket config (as apposed to tall and skinny), this and its incredibly reasonable price make it an overall great filter.

Having said all that, because the SunSun filters from the bottom up I have to be careful how I configure media. starting with the bottom where water comes in I place porous media like rings, lava rock, or balls, this so that the water has a chance to quickly get started in the basket path without initial restriction.

The second from the bottom basket I place my polishing media but never batten or solid woven media because it tends to block and clog prematurely due primarily to the limited surface and footprint of the single basket which can in turn clog the rest up the line. What I use in the 2nd or middle basket is expanded Poly wool because Poly wool (as opposed to Poly batten) is high volume but low density. Low density still catches allot of debris through its entire volume but still allows flow of water much better then high density. However I sandwich this Poly wool between two tailor cut pieces of Blue/white bonded pads so that the Poly cannot mat when filthy and strangle flow through the bottom and top basket strainers.

The last and top basket I once again use porous media to allow the top motor pump enough free floating water for pick up back to the tank without restriction, usually carbon bags with rings underneath to allow better flow and keep carbon bags from matting against the basket strainer.

[Sounguru]

Well I too run Sunsuns and pack a different way.

Bottom:
Sponge course
Filter floss enough that is is compressed by the basket above

Middle:
Plastic pot scrubbies 8 if I remember right

Top
100 Micron reusable cut to fit
50 Micron reusable cut to fit
Bio balls Came with the unit
Rings came with the unit
Topped off by more scrubbies.

Seems to work wonders for me and the balls and rings I could pull but instead of another thing stuffed in the tank cabinet I just use them. 6+ months on one tank and 3+ month another but I have a tendency to clean before there is a noticeable flow restriction.

Replacement filter media $15 for 3 years worth that is just a big bag of filter loss and cost of the reusable cut to fit pads spread out over a 3 year time. Not having to hear the wife complain about the cost of filter pads priceless.:laugh:

[Ozymandias]

right i think most of my filters are as followed (eheim 2211, 2213, and 2222) from bottom to top

1: Ceramic pre-filter
2: Sponge
3: bio-media (eheim substrate)
4: polly stuffing (polishing pads)

means to work out pretty well so far.