I'm currently running a marineland 360 canister filter and I've been thinking about changing the filter media. I'm using what came with the filter; from bottom to top: coarse foam, carbon, bioballs, ceramic rings w/ polishing filter pad on top. I've been doing a lot of research on canister filters and I'm beginning to understand why people think they are "nitrate factories" but realistically they are not, as long as you have the right media & good cleaning/maintenance habits. Which is why I'm thinking about changing up the media, and making my canister filter work as best as possible.
So, anyway I'm thinking about taking the ceramic rings that cane with the filter and using them as a pre-filter. Then instead of using 2 coarse foam pads, using 1 coarse, 1 medium and 1 fine. I'm going to leave the bioballs. They've already been in the filter running for a month w/ a cycling tank so, they've already got some bacteria growth, plus it would be another level to help catch any and all debris and help get the water as clean as possible before my top 2 levels. Which will consist of biohome ceramic filter media. I'm also debating about putting a nitrate filter pad on the very top, just to help keep nitrates as low as possible.
Ok, so any suggestions, opinions, ideas to make it better. I'm still new to this hobby, so any advice is helpful!
So, anyway I'm thinking about taking the ceramic rings that cane with the filter and using them as a pre-filter. Then instead of using 2 coarse foam pads, using 1 coarse, 1 medium and 1 fine. I'm going to leave the bioballs. They've already been in the filter running for a month w/ a cycling tank so, they've already got some bacteria growth, plus it would be another level to help catch any and all debris and help get the water as clean as possible before my top 2 levels. Which will consist of biohome ceramic filter media. I'm also debating about putting a nitrate filter pad on the very top, just to help keep nitrates as low as possible.
Ok, so any suggestions, opinions, ideas to make it better. I'm still new to this hobby, so any advice is helpful!