The Puffer Forum

fish 4 life wrote:

Arny wrote:The bio media needs to be below water. Airstones can also help the water flow around your tank

Well most are below the water put the top is sticking out.. This okay?

If the majority is under water you should be ok

If it's just the filter outlet poking out the surface that is ok

If the bio media is sticking out, you either have too much filter floss or you have the bag of media in too tight of a ball. It should be more like a layer.

You only need a one-inch layer of filter floss. Any less might be ineffective, any more can reduce your filter's flow. There is plenty of room for one sponge, one inch layer of floss, and the bag of media in your AquaClear. If your bag of media is in a ball, try putting it in a nylon stocking so that it's more of a layer.

kcartwright856 wrote:If the bio media is sticking out, you either have too much filter floss or you have the bag of media in too tight of a ball. It should be more like a layer.

You only need a one-inch layer of filter floss. Any less might be ineffective, any more can reduce your filter's flow. There is plenty of room for one sponge, one inch layer of floss, and the bag of media in your AquaClear. If your bag of media is in a ball, try putting it in a nylon stocking so that it's more of a layer.

Well i have the 1" sponge at the bottom, 1" of carbon, 1" or filter floss, Then the Bio media one top and most of the bio media is under water.... I will most i pick when i am done with my Homework....

Scrap the carbon, it's only needed when trying to remove meds etc from the tank

OK, there's your problem! Toss the carbon, you don't need it. Keep it aside, in case you ever need to remove meds from your system.

I have to tell you all how proud I am of all the advice on here! I've taught you well...

Okay so here is a pic of the Bio Media in my filter.. How does it look?

Okay taking carbon out right now !! thanks here is the pic of my tank Still cloudy from sand =[

Here is the Bio Media with no carbon..
The bottom is sponge then 2" of filter floss then the bio media.....

Only use 1" floss. Any more is a waste.

In the mean time, go ahead with the cycling. Btw, fw or bw? The cloudiness is really nothing to worry abt.

No. Under water means under water.

Pufferpunk wrote:OK, there's your problem! Toss the carbon, you don't need it. Keep it aside, in case you ever need to remove meds from your system.

I have to tell you all how proud I am of all the advice on here! I've taught you well...

scpion wrote:In the mean time, go ahead with the cycling. Btw, fw or bw? The cloudiness is really nothing to worry abt.

Its bw the Ph is 8.2 .. Thanks for your help guys

LOL! Now that is team work. I also agree with everyone else. And you can add a good "bacteria in a bottle" like Tetras "Safe Start" to your Bio Max (bio media). Helps get things started.

But also want to add one thing about carbon. It is also good for smelly tanks. Sometimes water changes dont help with smelly water. Some of us dont have the greatest water coming out of the tap and some dont have RO units either. So carbon has another job, other then removin meds but only use when needed though, imo.