Foam Into Cover And Foam Inside Filter?

Hello,

In the next few days I will be doing a fishless cycle on my 10 gallon with a aquaclear 20 filter. My question is if I place foam on the intake would I still have to have the foam inside of the filter?

I'll be using lava rock as my bio media and I kind of just want that in the filter box.

 

That would be fine. I prefer sponges on the intake and with sponges inside as well.

 

I put a prefilter on mine and cut the inside sponge in half so I can add more bio media to my AC70

 

Thanks so much. I will add a little foam

 

Yeah I prefer sponges but as long as you have decent mechanical filter befor your bio media( sponges work as bio media. It is all about surface area for bacteria growth). The pre filter sponge works as mechanical filtration.