filter media help

[the big kahuna]

can someone please walk me step by step as to what type of media goes into the baskets of 2 rena xp3 and one cascade 1500 to make my water crystal clear---can i stuff the blue/white filter pads into the sides between the baskets and the canister or will this slow the flow rate is it good to use activated carbon in any of the baskets----i have these 3 filters and 2 ac110 and the water is NEVER clear

 

[Nic]

can someone please walk me step by step as to what type of media goes into the baskets of 2 rena xp3 and one cascade 1500 to make my water crystal clear---can i stuff the blue/white filter pads into the sides between the baskets and the canister or will this slow the flow rate i know several people doing this really helps on the mechanical filtration is it good to use activated carbon in any of the baskets carbon needs to be replaced very often so it turns into a hassle in canisters----i have these 3 filters and 2 ac110 and the water is NEVER clear

every person i know just uses bio media.... you could stuff the baskets after you pack the sides with filter floss that will polish your water

 

[Bderick67]

I run 6 XP3s on various tanks, this is what I have found works best.

Bottom basket is filled half way with either Eheims ehfimech or fluvals prefilter. the rest of the lower basket is filled with two 20ppi sponges. The middle basket has two 30 ppi sponges and then is filled with either biomax or ehfisubstrat. The top basket is completely filled with the biomax or ehfisubstrat.

On most my tanks I run one AC110 in tandem with the XP3. The sponge of the XP3 get washed in hot tap water until clean every week or two during water changes. There is also biomax in the AC110s which is just rinsed in tank water, this provides a little extra biofiltration.

I have positioned the intakes of the ACs to pickup as much particle as possible and do just the opposite with the XPs. My goal is to use the XPs strictly as a bio filter and they only need cleaning every couple of months.

 

[Pharaoh]

I run on mine:

Bottom: 2 30 PPM sponges & 2 20PPM sponges
Middle: Ceramic bio media
Top: Ceramic bio media & Fine filter media/floss

Works great.

 

[CHUPA CABRA]

i have a cascade 1500; the instructions said filtration starts from the bottom so i put tha black sponge that came with the canister at the bottom then the carbon on the next basket up, then the next 2 basket i put that white and blue filter pads (2 layers on each basket) the next two with biomax. thats how i have mines, and my water is crystal clear on a 75g tank

 

[LouieV]

Lorenzo...Just put the sponges in the bottom,then on the next one up put some Bio.Rings or Ehiem substrate..on top put the carbon and the blue white pads...

 

[Pharaoh]

How many PPM does the black sponge filter?

You always want your mechanical filter media before you bio media. this will reduce the frequency that you have to clean the bio media.