What To Put In My Canister Filter????

So I have this Fluval canister filter for my 55 gal tank but I am not sure what all media should be in it. I know using carbon or not is controversial but I would like to target the purpose of this thread by assuming that I will be using carbon whether I end up doing that or not. What else would I need to put in the filter for things such as bio media, carbon, and filtration and water clarity?

 

So I have this Fluval canister filter for my 55 gal tank but I am not sure what all media should be in it. I know using carbon or not is controversial but I would like to target the purpose of this thread by assuming that I will be using carbon whether I end up doing that or not. What else would I need to put in the filter for things such as bio media, carbon, and filtration and water clarity?

Is this a new filter? They come with a good setup of sponges and bio media already. You can add filter floss if you don't mind the monthly cleanout. I guess you could add more bio, but it isn't needed.

 

Is this a new filter? They come with a good setup of sponges and bio media already. You can add filter floss if you don't mind the monthly cleanout. I guess you could add more bio, but it isn't needed.

It is not new. I have had it for a year or so but have never really payed mind to what's in it before now I just kinda threw it in there and did what it said. I am kinda just wondering what setup could make it the best and would lead to the cleanest, good water. I also use live plants and don't want to use anything that would remove ferts. Also, what exactly is filter floss?

 

It is not new. I have had it for a year or so but have never really payed mind to what's in it before now I just kinda threw it in there and did what it said. I am kinda just wondering what setup could make it the best and would lead to the cleanest, good water. I also use live plants and don't want to use anything that would remove ferts.

Then I would just keep running it the way it is. I like the way my fx4 is setup and the only thing I added was filter floss. It was a mud pit after 2 months so I will likely toss it in my next cleanout. I'll probably just stuff my ac110 with filter floss and run its bio in my fx4.

 

I use what came with my canister filter.

In my opinion, the best media for a canister filter with 3 trays:

Tray 1: Corse filter pad THEN finer filter pads.
Tray 2: Bio media like bio balls and ceramic rings.
Tray 3: Up to you. Feel free to experiment. The first two trays should keep the tank clean and cycled. I started with carbon but stopped using. Now I just have random filter sponges and ceramic ring bangs for my spare AquaClear HOB filters in there so I start a cycled quarantine tank whenever I'm getting new fish.

 

So I have this Fluval canister filter for my 55 gal tank but I am not sure what all media should be in it.

The Pond Guru has covered this one in his "<word not allowed here> My Filter" series. He goes over it in quite a bit of detail and has some good ideas on how to max it out.

Very nice filter.

 

thanks for the feedback guys!!!

 

I keep my 206 and 406 pretty basic with the sponges they come with and the ceramic media they come with in the 2 bottom trays and that side slot. Then I add polyfill ( same as filter floss ) to the top tray in my 206 and top 2 trays in my 406. I might even have a couple plastic pot scrubbers in there just to take up some space and get a little extra BB growth area. Also hey catch a lot of the bigger things that flow through. Haven't touched either filter in at least 2-3 months so a cleaning is coming up soon At least on the 206.