Aquaclear filter question...

[BigSteve]

I'm thinking of trying an Aquaclear filter on a new 20 gal tank. I
like the fact that you can customize filter media, unlike the Penguin BioWheel
on my 15 now.
New tank will be mostly tetras, and I tend to push the limits on fish stocking.
I'm thinking of using filter floss in place of the carbon in the filter basket.
In the top position in filter basket, I was thinking of using a product called ChemPure.
It comes in a 10 oz bag, which I think I'd have to cut open and put part of the
contents in the smaller Aquaclear filter media bag. Is this a good idea or no?
Any suggestions on what to put in the top portion of filter basket would be appreciated.

 

[Doggfather]

you could try some peat maybe? if your keeping south amrican fish that is

 

[suemack]

hiya Steve

I've got aquaclears on my 2ft and 3 ft tanks.....just love them and the ease of maintaining them.......I rinse the sponges out in the siphoned out old tank water most w/changes to get the sediment out and keep the filter flowing freely.

I just have the sponges in the filter baskets......I use 2 in each basket so if I need to set up a tank I have a spare.........and if one has to be thrown out then still have the other with the bacteria. I don't use the carbon inserts unless I want to remove something (e.g. meds) from the water.

Have been using the aquaclears like this for bout 3 yrs now and haven't had any problems with them. My tanks are often overstocked as I have guppies - have a fluctuating population and when the babies are getting bigger the filter certainly needs to work well.

good luck with them

sue

 

[BigSteve]

Doggfather and Suemack... thanks for the info

 

[Where the river goes]

I'd fill the top space with another filter sponge. I did this with my aquaclear mini, I just had to cut the top sponge in half so it would fit.

 

[thecichlidaddict]

I use Two sponges and then a layer of filter floss for finer water polishing. Double sponges won't really help any more for mechanical filtration, but it will double the bio-filtration of the filter, which is great for overstocking.