Aquaclear Filter, add extra sponge or extra biomax, which is better ?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Adding extra sponge on top with the biomax sandwiched in between = brilliant.

The only thing is the LFS did not carry the sponge for AC 110 so I used filter floss in a bio media bag. I was disappointed because it's so light and it would not stay down with the water flowing. I put a rock on top but that didn't keep it down. The other filters are good to go with the extra sponge, just have to wait to find some for the AC110. I'm really loving the AquaClear much better than my canister filter.
 
Umm... The best way is to have the sponge on bottom, then the filter floss, then the biomax/biomedia on top. This way the filter floss stays down and further helps keep the biomedia from getting clogged up. Having the filter floss after the biomedia works ok I guess, but not as well as if it were before the biomedia. The more porus sponge that comes with the aquaclear filters/traps mechanically the bigger particles, then the filter floss traps the smaller itsy bitsy tiny particles. This allows the biomedia mostly particulate free water that is full of nutrients for your good bacteria to grow on without being hindered by particles that could get stuck in the tiny holes/crevices (homes of the good bacteria) which would prevent the bacteria from being able to get the oxygen it needs inside of the pores and crevices (essentially suffocating the bacteria and stuffing up their home/living area or to put it simply exhausting your biomedia)...
 
I think it depends on your tank and if you have other filters runing it. On my 75g I have an XP3 setup for mostly bio and a AC110 setup with 2 sponges for more mech. On my 20g I only have an AC70 so its one sponge and then a crap load of matrix. So depends on what you need.
 
As long as your ammonia/nitrite is 0 add another sponge without a doubt. I messed around with cutting my own finer filter pads for my AC110s, but it's a lot easier to just spend the $5ish on another properly sized sponge that fits perfectly. 2 AC sponges in the AC110 fit nice and snug, and have amazing mechanical and some biofiltration.
 
I would go extra sponge. I don't know why people seem to think sponges aren't partially bio media as well? Lots of space for beneficial bacteria to grow.
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Good question? AC sponges not only offer excellent mechanical filtration, they also provide bio-bacteria a ton of area to colonize.

In my AC 500's (old school 110's) I use one large sponge, a couple of thin blue/white filter pads (for finer particulates), topped off with an AC media bag full of Bio-Max rings. I get superb mechanical filtration out of the large sponge, the blue/white filter media helps catch the finer material, and the Bio-Max rings provide additional biological filtration.

Having said that, 2 sponges will get the job done as well, and still provide plenty of biological filtration. A LFS near me has a 325 gallon display tank that is typically packed with adult cichlids. There is always a hefty bio load in this tank, and all of the fish look very healthy, and the water very clear.

The filtration ......... 3 AC 110's

No bio-max rings, no pot scrubbers etc ...... just sponges, and some floss to catch the finer stuff. The maintenance routine is approx 40% water change weekly, with the filters only getting cleaned when they get gunked up. (as in the water flow slows down) That tank has been filtered & maintained like this using the same AC filters for the past 20 yrs or so.
 
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