Aquaclear 70 media choices

[itsgracia]

Hello everyone! I'm not sure if this should be here. I currently have the AC70 and it came with a foam pad, carbon, and some hard rock like things in a net? (sorry don't know what they are called. Anyway, all this time, I thought that carbon is a necessity. Recently I learned this is really only for removing medicines? Anyway, question is what other medias would you put in this filter. I will have lots of space if I remove the carbon part.

I have a 29 gallon tank FW by the way.

 

[Trout11B]

I'm curious as well, I have the AC 110 and would like to know as well.

 

[redfisher1139]

Fresh or salt? If it's salt, look into converting it to an HOB refugium (just search around, I found the link to it here and on google.) If it's fresh, then it really depends on if you're planted or not. If not, then I say leave the carbon in, as it help clear the water, but if you're planted, take it out, get some better quality bio-balls (the rock-like things), and that's it. Just my 2 cents based on what I have done with my 2 AC 50's and my AC 70.

 

[itsgracia]

FW here and no plants. Thanks for your input.

 

[BigJim]

The "rocks" are ceramic biomedia. There are tons of little holes making a lot of surface area to support beneficial bacteria populations. They're definitely good.

ACs suck up the water and pump it through the media from the bottom up. I put the sponge on the bottom and the biomedia on top. I save the carbon for removing tannins or medication from the water. I don't usually run it.

Here's what I run:
AC30 - AC50 impeller, AC30 sponge, AC30 biomedia bag
AC50 - AC70 impeller, two AC50 sponges, two AC50 biomedia bags
AC70 - two AC50 sponges, AC70 sponge, two AC70 biomedia bags
AC110 - AC110 sponge, two big bags of some generic biomedia

The only extra filter media I needed was the second sponge for the AC50. The other stuff I just had lying around so I put it to use.

 

[Coleallensmom]

I have an AC50 on my 20 gal and an AC70 on my 37 gal.

The AC50 has: 1 AC50 sponge, 1 AC50 biomedia bag, then another AC50 sponge on top. The AC70 currently has one AC70 sponge, one AC50 sponge, one bag of Purigen, and one AC70 biomedia bag.

 

[itsgracia]

Cool suggestions. Im gonna look into getting more of those ceramic medias. I might put my carbon back since I don't have any plants. Thanks guys!

 

[Coleallensmom]

If you have already been running the carbon for a few weeks, I'd just throw it away. I'd recommend replacing it with a 2nd sponge.

 

[itsgracia]

Do you think it will be ok even if I only have fake plants? I was thinking of another sponge instead at first. Choices...choices.

 

[Coleallensmom]

Unless you have a specific reason to run the carbon, (for example removing meds or tannins like BigJim mentioned) I wouldn't bother with it as it needs replaced often. IMO You're better off with another sponge, more biomedia, or some other filter media like filter floss.

 

[itsgracia]

Sounds good! I do have the filter floss from my Aqua-tech that I shoved in there when I changed filters. I think im just going to keep that one in there and maybe get more of those ceramic biomedias.

 

[itsgracia]

Bought some bio rings today. So I have (from bottom to top) AC70 foam pad, ceramic rings AC70, another mesh of bio rings (different brand), floss filter from my old aqua-tech. I took the blue sponge thing that I cut out from my aqua tech cartridge out today.