Filter Media Suggestion - Kindly Guide me

Hi Friends,

I have this Tank-Top Filter on my 4 Feet Frontosa tank and just wanted to request you Friends, to kindly guide me on what filter media should be the best considering my current situation. I'm attaching a few pics for you to have an idea what the filter exactly looks like (mine infact is the same one) and its scope of media.

My Current Filtration on this tank

2 x Eheim 2217s - with Eheim Substrat Pro and Other Eheim Mechanical Media
2 x Eheim Internal Filters - with the normal filter media that comes with them

Now, I've configured this Top Filter in such a way that on of my Eheim 2217's output feeds the Spray bar of the Top Filter.

I totally have 3 Filter Media Baskets in this Top Filter and I've planned to use it as follows -

Basket 1- Activated Carbon ( Will be Replaced Monthly or once in 2 months)
Basket 2 - Crushed Shells and Coral Pieces to raise & buffer the pH and Hardness
BAsket 3 - I'm not sure what to put in (Ceramic Rings / Cylinders ?), but I plan to put Eheim Substrat Pro when I can afford it.

Will be a great help if you can kindly suggest me a good media for the Basket 3 and please advice if my above stated plans are ok.

Kindly guide and help me Friends - Thanks a lot !
Lots of Regards and Care to everyone !
Kush

Friends, Kindly guide me...

Hi Friends,

I've decided to use the Ceramic Cylinders in one of the baskets. Sadly we dont get good branded Ceramic Cylinders here. Only small packets of unbranded cylinders are available. Just wanted to know if these will still be effective - I mean I would like to know how exactly do these cylinders work - I've heard that they're good for both mechanical and biological filtartion. Is it because of the center hole in them ? Will be a great help if someone can kindly explain a little on their working... Thanks !

Hi there !

Thanks a lot for the kind replies.

I have 12 Fronts in a 4 feet tank I know its overstocked and people wont be happy with my setup but its all I have space for. Would have loved to have a large tank for these guys... The fronts are about 3.5" now...

So will the Ceramic Cylinders be ok for the bio-filtration - would have loved to get some Substrat pro but I guess I will not be able to afford it now.

Hi Friends,
Thanks for caring and for the replies. Just wanted to ask if the idea of having crushed freshwater clams shells ( the ones which look like these - http://blog.midwestlakes.org/freshwater clam.JPG ) and crushed dead coral pieces in a basket is good ? I mean will it help me in buffering and achieving a high pH ? Also will it help me in atleast some filtration ?
Kindly guide me...
Thanks again !
Kush