Got A New Fluval 304. What Should I Fill It With?

[cooledwhip]

I was at a garage sale and got a steal!! 
 
30 gallon bowfront, Fluval 304 with pipes, lots of other stuff including air pumps, air stones, bubble walls, 5 gang valves, lots of fake plants and crap rocks (ugh), smaller things like nets, scrubbers, lights, hood, versa top, lots of filter floss and small carbon pads. 
 
I paid $30.
 
I also had to pay another $30 for a repair kit for the fluval 304 though. It just had a broken impeller, but lets say I paid $15 for tank and $15 for filter.. $45 for a fluval 304? I'll take it!!
 
Anyway. What should I put in the boxes? It has a vertical thing which I think you put in sponges.
 
I was thinking some bio media, the API bio stars as well as the fluval ceramic media, some filter floss, some carbon pads, then the sponges for the side.
 
Help on what to put in here> Thanks

 

[Munroco]

I go with the traditional water

 

[DrRob]

Personally, sponges, they're cheap, they last, they work. If you need more surface area for bacteria than you're probably better buying a second filter than paying lots for expensive media.
 
Nothing wrong with the expensive stuff, apart from the price.
 
Question, why carbon? What do you want it to do? If there's no specific reason for it, then more sponges.
 
Unless you already have some media, in which case, that's the cheapest option. I have a fair amount lying around and most of it lasts for a number of years so gets pressed into service whenever I need anything.

 

[cooledwhip]

I'll go lots of sponges then as well as filter floss.
 
I will get some cheap fluval media as well though. And for carbon, I just thought I might as well use it. Doesn't it clean the water or polish it or something? I am new to canister filters. VERY new.

 

[NickAu]

My canisters are full of coarse sponge and ceramic noodles, I do not bother with polishing water.
 
I know its not a canister but it gives you an idea of what sponge to use.
 

 

[Far_King]

Carbon is generally unnecessary unless you're trying to remove medication for example.
 
I don't run any of my filters with carbon and if I get a new tank and new filter the carbon is removed and more sponge or coarse media added in its place.

 

[cooledwhip]

Sponges it is then! I'll also use the filter floss.

 

[ZoddyZod]

cheap, ceramic 'noodles'. Best place for bacteria colonies to establish.

 

[cooledwhip]

cheap, ceramic 'noodles'. Best place for bacteria colonies to establish.

I got 500G of ceramic noodles from Fluval. Any cheaper alt.?