Aquaclear 70 - How Much Matrix And Purigen

So, I currently have an Aquaclear 70 which will be running for about a month in my 40gal Breeder before I add a 2nd one. I plan on using the sponges that come with it, bonded blue filter pads, seachem matrix, and purigen.

My questions are:
1. How much Matrix should I purchase in total? How much should go in each filter?
2. How much Purigen should I purchase in total? How much should go in each filter?

 

The Seachem Tidal 75 Filters come with about 350 ML of Matrix. Comparible sized filters, I'd say it's not a bad number to start with so for two I guess 700 ML? Give or take.
I saw on the Seachem site that 100 ML can effective treat up to 100 gallons but you could use more if you like. So going by that a single 100ML pre filled bag would be fine or you could put aa bag in each if you want. or you can buy the jug and pit like 25 or 50 ML in each one too I guess. You probably won't need a ton of it anyhow and it can be recharged a bunch of times.

 

So, 2L would be way overkill correct? It will also be a planted aquarium. Should I just get the 1L and split it between the two?

 

And how much purigen would you recommend?

 

I have 4 Aquaclears myself, one of which is the AC70.

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

Halfway down the thread it has some examples of using sponge pre-filters and som examples of how my AC30 and AC110 were filled with media.

On my AC's, I use sponge pre-filters on the intake tubes.

I then cut down the sponge foam blocking the bottom of the AC's media tray. They are half as tall now, allowing me to add more media into the media basket.

You might as well buy a mininum of a 2 liter container of Matrix, if not get a 4-liter. Larger the container, the price per liter goes down. If you look at the right place online, a 2 liter bottle of Seachem is the same price as a 1 liter bottle from another store.

Plus you can have more on hand for future tank builds.

Also, either 1 or 2 of the Seachem Purigen 100ml bags would work. You might as buy 2, if you're going to run two filters.

If you haven't used Purigen before, regenerating it is very easy. The key is to agitate the container with the Purigen bag and bleach solution a few times throughout it's soak period. Then rinse it very well under tap water and let it soak in dechlorinator water as per directions. Again, agitate the bag during the dechlor soak. This allows all of the resin beads to be mixed around inside the bag, and let's it have ample surface contact with the bleach and the dechlor solutions.

Look at Kensfish.com for pricing on everything you're getting.

Also check out Seachem's Pond Matrix. They are larger pumice stones compared to regular Matrix.

I have 4 liters of Pond Matrix + almost a full 2 liters of regular Matrix in my Hydor canister.

The bonded blue filter pads work well, and I have bought different brands of bulk 12" x 60" rolls of filter pads from Amazon.

I have used the loose Polyfil stuffing + the bulk roll pads from Amazon.

I recently bought another bag of loose Polyfil and a bag of the batting version.

I have found that a few layers of the Polyfil batting + some of the loose Polyfil stuffing makes for excellent and cost effective fine filtration.

By the way, what are you stocking in your 40g?

 

I'd say 1 or 2 of the 100 ML bags of purigen is plenty. You may decide not to use it in the future anyway. I used to use it myself but no longer do as I don't really feel it is necessary.

I run a Tidal 55 with a coarse sponge pre-filter, Coarse sponge at the bottom, then a layer of poly and then the bag of matrix they included. So far it was worked great. Once in a while I need to replace the poly when rinsing it no longer works, and same with the sponge. The matrix gets rinsed in tank water and goes back in. Easy & effective.

I would say for the matrix 1L minimum but 2L is fine or like mentioned above, check prices, if you can get a bigger amount without much price difference, it won't hurt anything to have extra. I would say put your other layers in the filters and see how much room you have for matrix, fill the bags up and add it in. You may be able to add way more matrix than what they include with the tidal 75, so better to have more I guess.

 

Is this tank planted? If it is, then purigen is not really needed, as the plants want to eat up as much nitrate as possible.

 

Can't pass up a good number challenge. I have 2 brand new AC 70's in the basement I bought about 10 years ago, as spares. Never needed one. I have since switched to Seachem Tidal filters for the more benefits. With that said I opened a new AC70 and measured the media basket. 5.5L x 3.5W x 5.5D for about 50 cubic inches.

Assume the entire basket is full that equates to .82 Liters of Matrix, or about 1 full Liter. If you use a prefilter sponge on the intake and say 2 layers of Pinky Floss at the bottom, 1 Liter should be just fine for 1 AC70.

Shouldn't need any Purigen if you have no water issues.

 

I'm still playing around with my stocking, but here is what I have so far (not all of them together of course, still trying to decide):
Ember Tetras (definite)
Corydoras - TrilI or Habrosus (definite)
Otos (definite)
RCS
Amano
Bolivian Rams
German Blue Rams
Neon Tetras
Pearl Gourami
MTS
Apisto
Mystery Snail

 

I have 4 Aquaclears myself, one of which is the AC70.

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

Halfway down the thread it has some examples of using sponge pre-filters and som examples of how my AC30 and AC110 were filled with media.

On my AC's, I use sponge pre-filters on the intake tubes.

I then cut down the sponge foam blocking the bottom of the AC's media tray. They are half as tall now, allowing me to add more media into the media basket.

You might as well buy a mininum of a 2 liter container of Matrix, if not get a 4-liter. Larger the container, the price per liter goes down. If you look at the right place online, a 2 liter bottle of Seachem is the same price as a 1 liter bottle from another store.

Plus you can have more on hand for future tank builds.

Also, either 1 or 2 of the Seachem Purigen 100ml bags would work. You might as buy 2, if you're going to run two filters.

If you haven't used Purigen before, regenerating it is very easy. The key is to agitate the container with the Purigen bag and bleach solution a few times throughout it's soak period. Then rinse it very well under tap water and let it soak in dechlorinator water as per directions. Again, agitate the bag during the dechlor soak. This allows all of the resin beads to be mixed around inside the bag, and let's it have ample surface contact with the bleach and the dechlor solutions.

Look at Kensfish.com for pricing on everything you're getting.

Also check out Seachem's Pond Matrix. They are larger pumice stones compared to regular Matrix.

I have 4 liters of Pond Matrix + almost a full 2 liters of regular Matrix in my Hydor canister.

The bonded blue filter pads work well, and I have bought different brands of bulk 12" x 60" rolls of filter pads from Amazon

I have used the loose Polyfil stuffing + the bulk roll pads from Amazon

I recently bought another bag of loose Polyfil and a bag of the batting version.

I have found that a few layers of the Polyfil batting + some of the loose Polyfil stuffing makes for excellent and cost effective fine filtration.

By the way, what are you stocking in your 40g?

What are the benefits of having the larger Matrix vs the smaller version? Are there benefits to having the smaller Matrix at all?

 

Is this tank planted? If it is, then purigen is not really needed, as the plants want to eat up as much nitrate as possible.

Yes, it will be a planted tank. My first one actually. So, Purigen isn't good for planted tanks? Does it absorb the nutrients that the plants need to thrive?

 

Larger Matrix may allow the growth of nitrate consuming bacteria. Some have seen this happen, some have not.