Sandra the fish rookie Posted March 25, 2021 Share Posted March 25, 2021 I have a 20 gallon with a aqueon quiet flow HOB filter. I wanted to try Purigen after my next water change/aquarium clean but have no idea how to use it. I have the ones that are in a bag that state it treats 100 US gallons. I was concerned if was more that what I needed. I would also like to add some bio media as well. I have a coarse filter, but am thinking I would like to add some kind of bio media to help more with bacteria. The HOB filters are not deep, and this one is narrow too.. so not sure how I can get everything in there. I saw Cory's video for my exact filter, and was wondering if there is smaller bio media that would take a bit less room, but be just as effective. Look forward to everyone's experience and suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaneFishGuy Posted March 25, 2021 Share Posted March 25, 2021 Sandra - I recently added the small-pre filled bag of purigen to my Aquaclear 20 on a nano tank. It was a tight fit but I was able to make it work. I did shorten up my block of course filtration and replaced what I cut off with some finer media to get everything I wanted packed in. I will leave it to the experts to answer the part about whether its more than needed - maybe ill learn I should have asked before buying like you did and wish I had my 10 bucks back 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingFishKeeper Posted March 25, 2021 Share Posted March 25, 2021 (edited) Hi, as far as I can tell it doesn't really matter how much it says on the package, Purigen seems to be pretty standard across sizes. The bag, and actual resin seems like a good spot for nitrifying bacteria to grow, so unless you need a LOT of biological filtration you might be able to not use as much, or non at all. I have a Quiet Flow right now, and I agree that the compartment is pretty small, maybe try doing something like this? I've done this configuration, just without the bio media. (In the picture it's ceramic rings, however you can probably use whatever you choose, feel free to ignore if you would like, this probably isn't the most efficient use of space) Key Red: Unusable space Brown: Purigen bag Orange: Sponge Grey: Biomedia Edited March 25, 2021 by FlyingFishKeeper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJV Aquatics Posted March 25, 2021 Share Posted March 25, 2021 Purigen is simply a resin that adsorbs organics from the water, reducing total dissolved solids. Once it turns brown it is recharged by soaking in a 50/50 bleach water solution, then dechlorinating before reuse (the bleach burns off the organics). So there really is no such thing as too little or too much as a larger amount in a smaller tank simply means it will last longer before becoming saturated with organics required recharging. As to bio-media, I find that sponge material is every bit as good or better than plastics, ceramics, or rocks sold as "bio-media". 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra the fish rookie Posted March 25, 2021 Author Share Posted March 25, 2021 @FlyingFishKeeper okay.. so we have the same filter. Is your picture above a side view? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJV Aquatics Posted March 25, 2021 Share Posted March 25, 2021 5 minutes ago, FlyingFishKeeper said: The bag, and actual resin seems like a good spot for nitrifying bacteria to grow, so unless you need a LOT of biological filtration you might be able to not use as much, or non at all. No, not so. When the resin adsorbs organics and turns brown, it gets recharged in a bleach/water solution - death to any biology! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra the fish rookie Posted March 25, 2021 Author Share Posted March 25, 2021 @MJV Aquatics Thanks! Now how to I FIT it in there? I have a blue thing I have the coarse filter in it slides down into the filter box. So where do I put the purigen? behind that? Or remove the blue holder thing, and just have the black coarse Aquarium Co Op sponge and purgen in front or in back of it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingFishKeeper Posted March 25, 2021 Share Posted March 25, 2021 (edited) @MJV Aquatics sorry, yeah, that will definitely happen sorry about that. @Sandra the fish rookie, sorry for the lack of explanation. Yeah, it's a top view. (Feel free to ignore too, someone else would probably have a better layout than me!) Edited March 25, 2021 by FlyingFishKeeper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJV Aquatics Posted March 25, 2021 Share Posted March 25, 2021 6 minutes ago, Sandra the fish rookie said: Now how to I FIT it in there? I have a blue thing I have the coarse filter in it slides down into the filter box. So where do I put the purigen? behind that? Or remove the blue holder thing, and just have the black coarse Aquarium Co Op sponge and purgen in front or in back of it? With or without the blue piece, I would place the Purigen packet after the coarse mechanical sponge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiclid addict Posted March 25, 2021 Share Posted March 25, 2021 10 minutes ago, Sandra the fish rookie said: Aquarium Co Op sponge and purgen in front or in back of it? Maybe try a pre filter sponge that goes on the filter straw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra the fish rookie Posted March 25, 2021 Author Share Posted March 25, 2021 @Angelfishlover and @MJV Aquatics See what I have below. I usually put some filter floss in the front of the coarse filter but maybe I am doing that wrong? Actually its not an ACO filter, its another one I purchased before I started ordering stuff from ACO. Its an Aquaclear. This filter comes with a specialty filter section, which I like because I can put carbon sponge in it as needed, but it too has a piece of aquaclear coarse sponge in it I cut to fit it, AND I have a filter on the return as well because I have shrimp and don't want them to get sucked into the filter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingFishKeeper Posted March 25, 2021 Share Posted March 25, 2021 @Sandra the fish rookie Ohhh, my apologies, randomly I thought you weren't using the blue holder thing. Feel free to completely ignore my previous posts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra the fish rookie Posted March 25, 2021 Author Share Posted March 25, 2021 @FlyingFishKeeper No worries.. it just makes it easier to get in and out..LOL 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiclid addict Posted March 25, 2021 Share Posted March 25, 2021 (edited) 4 hours ago, Sandra the fish rookie said: @Angelfishlover and @MJV Aquatics See what I have below. I usually put some filter floss in the front of the coarse filter but maybe I am doing that wrong? Actually its not an ACO filter, its another one I purchased before I started ordering stuff from ACO. Its an Aquaclear. This filter comes with a specialty filter section, which I like because I can put carbon sponge in it as needed, but it too has a piece of aquaclear coarse sponge in it I cut to fit it, AND I have a filter on the return as well because I have shrimp and don't want them to get sucked into the filter. Yeah I have that exact filter in a 30 and 75 I don’t have one just because I’m to lazy but I would also add a pre filter on the filter straw Edited March 26, 2021 by Angelfishlover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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