Modified my Penguin 150

[Chris1212]

20 gallon. I was treating for ich with meds so I got rid of the standard carbon cartridge. Replaced it with the below setup: bag of seachem matrix below two aqua clear sponges behind the biowheel that comes with the filter. Hoping this does the trick for bio and mechanical filtration. All working good except the sponges are now blue from the residual meds that were still in the water.

Is this the wrong setup? Should the matrix bag be ontop of the sponges instead of below?

 

[charliebankston]

Usually in order of water flow, first thru mechanical, then biological, then chemical (if you use carbon). So yes, your matrix, which grows bb, should be after your water is cleaned. Just keeps the media for bb cleaner, as it gets full of detritus it doesn't work as well

 

[Chris1212]

Good to know, I'll try that set up, thanks. My hope is I can eventually use one of the sponges for an instant cycle in a quarantine tank.

 

[charliebankston]

That's a good idea for the qt tank!