Aqua Clear 50 Media

[GreenDad]

I am running running an aqua clear 50 on my 20 gallon tank. I have 3 mollies, 2 glowfish, and a BN pleco. I am going to be upgrading tank size soon, but before that I was wondering about how much media I should put in the filter? I have been told I have a high bioload and wanted to maximize area for BB growth.

I currently have the sponge in bottom, a thick layer of Poly-fill in the middle, and the mesh bag filled with Biomax on top. However the biomax does not completly cover the entire surface of the poly-fill.

Is that ok? Or should I had more media? If so would adding a different type of media to cover the whole surface area be helpful be or should I use more of the same biomax my filter originally came with?

 

[david1978]

You could add another bag of biomax. A sponge prefilter on the intake will also add surface area.

 

[Donthemon]

Or add a separate sponge filter to the tank.

 

[abarb]

What species of glofish do you have?

 

[GreenDad]

What species of glofish do you have?

They are both black skirt tetra Glofish

Or add a separate sponge filter to the tank.

Is that just an attachment for the intake ?

 

[abarb]

I would add some more biomax or other media. You can add lava rock or ceramic rings too for anaerobic bacteria (nitrate to nitrogen gas). A sponge filter is separate from the hob but an intake sponge will help too.
Also you might want a few more tetras.

 

[GreenDad]

Awesome! Thank you guys for the help! I think I will add the intake sponge and some ceramic rings to start with and upgrade if needed

Also you might want a few more tetras.

My daughter and I are going to add 2 more as soon as we upgrade our tank size!

 

[Donthemon]

Is that just an attachment for the intake ?

No, it is a separate filter that has a airline hooked to it. Google it, amazon has them pretty cheap and they hold a lot of beneficial bacteria.

 

[r5n8xaw00]

I really like my Aquaclear 50, best HOB I have had so far. Having said that here is two dis tractors. The intake tube is way short and two skinny, I have tried a sponge on the intake but the only way I could get it to stay was using a rubber band. If you do get a separate sponge filter, which is a very good idea, then get a double sponge filter like this one...

Put the double sponge filter in your present tank and let it seed, then when you setup your new tank use a second sponge filter and take one sponge off your seeded one and use on the second one in your new tank. This will help to seed your knew tank.

 

[GreenDad]

Thank you for the advice!

 

[Islandvic]

Welcome to fishlore GreenDad

I use a sponge pre-filter on all of my 4 Aquaclear HOB's and a Top Fin HOB.

I cut the foam sponge block in the bottom of the media tray in half, so it was half as tall. This allows me to put additional media of my choosing into the basket.

What I lost in sponge material volume when I cut it down in height, I gained back when adding a pre-filter.

Here are some methods I use....

ATI Filter Max III

ATI Filter Max III

• Islandvic
• Nov 15, 2018

ATI Filter Max III with Aquaclear 70/110 intake tube

ATI Filter Max III assembled

• Islandvic
• Nov 15, 2018

ATI Filter Max III pre-filter coarse sponge attached to Aquaclear 70/110 intake tube

TopFin sponge from Petsmart and a zip tie.

Top Fin Sponge used as pre-filter on intake tube

• Islandvic
• Dec 24, 2018
• 1

Top Fin MF20 Internal Filter replacement 2-pack sponges, perfect to use for a pre-filter on your...

Top Fin Silenstream Intake Assembly w/ Top Fin Sponge Filter

• Islandvic
• Dec 24, 2018

Top Fin Silenstream Intake Assembly, Top Fin Sponge Filter and zip tie (impeller is upside in...

Top Fin Silenstream w/ Sponge Pre-Filter

• Islandvic
• Dec 24, 2018

Both are very effective.

Here is a link to a thread on the forum for adding DIY filter media to your HOB.

It gives ideas for effective and inexpensive ways to boost mechanical and biological filtration in your HOB.

 

[david1978]

I really like my Aquaclear 50, best HOB I have had so far. Having said that here is two dis tractors. The intake tube is way short and two skinny, I have tried a sponge on the intake but the only way I could get it to stay was using a rubber band. If you do get a separate sponge filter, which is a very good idea, then get a double sponge filter like this one...

Put the double sponge filter in your present tank and let it seed, then when you setup your new tank use a second sponge filter and take one sponge off your seeded one and use on the second one in your new tank. This will help to seed your knew tank.

They sell extensions for the intake.
AquaClear Extension Tube for 20, 30, 50 Power Filters

 

[NYFishGuy]

I really like my Aquaclear 50, best HOB I have had so far. Having said that here is two dis tractors. The intake tube is way short and two skinny, I have tried a sponge on the intake but the only way I could get it to stay was using a rubber band.

It came with 2 tubes, I found 1 to be long enough for 13" tank depth on my 20L's.
I use the same aquaclear foam to cut intake sponges, cut the size you want and cut a "X" in the top for the tube.
I have these on 6 different intakes, never fall off, easy to take off and put back on

 

[Dawn Michele]

Welcome to Fishlore!!!