Filter Media Question

Smoke to Fire

AC Members
Apr 5, 2008
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Fort Drum, NY
Currently I have a Aqua Clear 50 on a 20 gallon using stock filter media suggestions of sponge, carbon, ceramic balls. I was thinking of removing the carbon in order to add either more bio balls or another sponge. Any suggestions as to what you all have found to work the best? Any DIY'ers that have made improvements to this filter?
 
I personally use two sponges and the bio-media on my Aquaclears
 
I dont have an aquaclear, but in my HOB filters I take out the carbon after the first month of use. It gets replaced by assorted biomedia. some pot scrubbers if its a large filter, and the tiny cereal-looking bio media if its smaller.

The answer to whether you shoudl get a sponge or more bio depends on your observations. Is your tank cloudy? Does it smell? Are your fish dying? Hows your ammonia levels?
 
Many people replace the carbon for Filter floss. Or you can buy "polyester fill" from Wal-mart in the fabrics section. Its basically filter floss in fluff form.
 
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