HOB filter media

[Chandra]

What filter media do you use in the Aquaclear HOB ?

I saw Cory's optimization videos but wasn't sure if I should use matrix and biorings still. Do you also use poly pads and purigen additionally?

 

Edited July 28, 2020 by Chandra

[Frost]

For an aquaclear I'd pretty much just use what they give you, I'd trade the carbon for more sponge though and add a pre filter

Nothing against carbon really but I'd rather just save it than use it all the time

Edited July 28, 2020 by Frost

[StephenP2003]

In all my aquaclears, I run the included sponge, some bulk filter pad media (https://www.amazon.com/Aquarium-Filter-Pad-Premium-Density/dp/B01AHIOM8A), co-op pre-filter sponge, and seachem matrix. I only replaced the included fluval bio media because I falsely believed the seachem matrix was some magical nitrate reducer (it isn't, at least not in a filter with high flow). In some where my driftwood is still slowly leaching tannins, I use a bag of purigen. 

[Pete]

I use a Co-Op pre-filter sponge on it. In the filter area, I kept the stock white foam in the filter holder, and then maxed out the rest of the space in it with coarse foam. I topped the foam holder with bio rings. 

[Bill Smith]

From the bottom-up, I use a cut-to-size piece of blue & white floss pad (blue side up), followed by a couple layers of AC coarse foam, and topped off with the white foam block. This ensures the water flow goes from coarse to fine on its way back into the tank. No rings, no carbon.

I replace the piece of floss every week or so, and rinse the rest in tank water.. I can get over 30 such pieces by cutting up a foam pad I picked up at PetSmart for $7.

It's a 3- to 5-minute operation to keep this filter clean. 🙂

Edited July 28, 2020 by Bill Smith

[beaka]

Two sponges and a bag of biomedia on top. That answers your question, right? 😉

 

[DaveSamsell]

I use 2 layers of the Co-Op's black coarse foam, cut to size for the bottom.  The included foam block is next, followed by a piece of the Co-Op's fine poly pad that sits on top.  No carbon or bio-rings.  Outside the filter is a pre-filter sponge on the intake.  This configuration seems to work for me quite well.  One thing to remember is don't pack or jam too much media inside the filter, because it can potentially flood.  

[Nancy K]

I run top to bottom the ceramic bioballs and two sponges and keep my intake wrapped in filter pad that i change every 3 or 4 days. Works great for me

[Errk25]

Co-op pre filter, two aqua clear sponges, then a bag of crushed coral. I keep a Co-op sponge filter in one too for my quarantine tank for when I need to set it up.

[Chandra]

On 7/28/2020 at 5:19 PM, StephenP2003 said:

In all my aquaclears, I run the included sponge, some bulk filter pad media (https://www.amazon.com/Aquarium-Filter-Pad-Premium-Density/dp/B01AHIOM8A), co-op pre-filter sponge, and seachem matrix. I only replaced the included fluval bio media because I falsely believed the seachem matrix was some magical nitrate reducer (it isn't, at least not in a filter with high flow). In some where my driftwood is still slowly leaching tannins, I use a bag of purigen. 

Do you put bulk filter media at the top or bottom?

[ChefConfit]

Prefilter sponge on the intake the the included course sponge and then about double the amount of biorings they included. 

[ange]

On AquaClears the only modification I've ever made was adding a prefilter sponge  + removing the carbon and replacing it with biological media. For me carbon is only really necessary if there are meds in the water that I want to filter out, and that usually won't happen in my main tank. Some people use carbon for improving water clarity or reducing odor.

If you want to you can add a floss/polishing pad on top of the first sponge in your media basket but it's may going to make a significant difference.

[StephenP2003]

2 hours ago, Chandra said:

Do you put bulk filter media at the top or bottom?

Top, or at least above the sponge. From bottom to top:

Aquaclear Sponge

Cut bulk filter media

Purigen

Seachem matrix 

[Speakeasy]

I turned my AC110 into a glorified sponge filter the bottom half is for mechanical filtration consisting of 20ppi, 30ppi and 45ppi  (corse, medium, fine) sponge then the top block is the original aquaclear sponge for bio. The top sponge never clogs because it all gets caught up is the bottom. The whole thing takes a few minutes to clean.