Filter media for Red Sea Nano?

[H2Ogal]

Helping my sister set-up a 5.5g for live plants (emersed pothos, submersed marimo moss and Java fern) and one of the betta girls that somehow came home with me the other day.

I picked up a Red Sea Nano filter and am looking for ways to utilize filtration media we already have. Options are AC ceramic rings, polyester batting, yellow grouting sponge from Home Depot, gray weatherproofing foam from HD. And, of course, the dinky sponge and charcoal packet that came with the filter.

I know people around here use the yellow HD sponge, but I’m not sure about the gray foam. It’s open-cell but the pores are pretty teeny. Anybody here ever tried it in a tank? How well did it work?

If she combines media, how should things be positioned inside the media compartment?

FYI, yes, she'll cycle the tank before betta goes home with her.

 

[H2Ogal]

Correction: The filter included a very coarse black sponge and batting. No charcoal.

 

[Jspigs]

I would use the media that comes with it and add some ceramic rings.

The filter media that comes with it should be positioned in the recommended place (the area right in front of the outflow) and the ceramic rings should be placed in the area behind the filter media that comes with the filter.

 

[H2Ogal]

Thanks, Jspigs!

 

[echoofformless]

It really depends more on what you're trying to accomplish with the filter.

Basic mechanical - anything really. Sponges, scrubbers, foam, etc.
Basic biological - Rings, hammered lava rocks. (Buy the ones meant for a gas grill - you get pounds and pounds of the stuff for next to nothing.)
Chemical - carbon, etc.

For a 5.5 I would say go with something that doesn't restrict flow all that much. The nano isn't very powerful. But then that's great for a betta and plants.

 

[H2Ogal]

Thanks, echoofformless. My sister is using the foam and batting that came with the unit for now. Turns out that batting expands a lot in water. Now I know why it was looked dinky to begin with!

You're absolutely right about the nano's flow. It's very soft, but will be perfect for her needs.