Equipment & Supplies • AquaClear 110 Media

[jparker98]

I just got my 55 gallon going last week and when I was at the LFS I seen they have "Ammonia Remover" media for my AC 110. My question is does this work and is it worth using? 2nd question if you do use it do you still use the carbon media?

[GTZ]

With a cycled tank there is no need to remove ammonia. This is what nitrifying bacteria feed on. Is your tank cycled?
You'll find that most people only use carbon to remove odors and medications from tank water.

[jparker98]

It's cycled, what do people usually use in place of the carbon or do they just remove it and run just the sponge and bio-max?

[jparker98]

Another question about filter media while I'm thinking about it.

I have a Whisper 60 on my tank also and I noticed my LFS sells empty bags for it...could I run crushed coral in the bags to buffer my PH since the Carbon doesn't sound like it's needed?

[Mike_G]

I run the sponge, then a layer of bonded poly pad for finer filtration, then the bio-max on top- no carbon.

[GTZ]

Another question about filter media while I'm thinking about it.

I have a Whisper 60 on my tank also and I noticed my LFS sells empty bags for it...could I run crushed coral in the bags to buffer my PH since the Carbon doesn't sound like it's needed?

Crushed coral or aragonite will work, yes.

[jparker98]

I run the sponge, then a layer of bonded poly pad for finer filtration, then the bio-max on top- no carbon.

I seen some Marineland bonded pad at Petsmart is that similar to what you're talking about? Also, since my tank is freshly cycled would it have an adverse affect on it to swap out the carbon right now or should I wait till the first time I clean the filter?

[littleolme]

It's cycled, what do people usually use in place of the carbon or do they just remove it and run just the sponge and bio-max?

I use filter floss (quilt batting from Walmart) for water polishing where you'd normally place your carbon.

[jparker98]

I was sitting and watching my tank for quite some time last night (added some new fish) and while my AC 110 is pumping out quite a bit of water, it seems like stuff will float right by the intake tube and it won't actually suck it up? I have the thing on high, but it seems like my Whisper 60 is picking up more suspended waste than the AC 110?

Granted this isn't scientific analysis or anything, but it just seems the Whisper is picking up more waste than the AC 110 which seems backwards to me.

[Mike_G]

I seen some Marineland bonded pad at Petsmart is that similar to what you're talking about?

Yes, although mine isn't the Marineland brand, it is very similar. I use cheap unbonded poly quilt batting in my smaller HOBs (AC70s) because I can sandwich a layer of it between two of the sponges to keep any loose fibers from entering the tank, but the sponges in the 110 are too big to really do that, so that's why I went with the bonded pad in the 110.

Also, since my tank is freshly cycled would it have an adverse affect on it to swap out the carbon right now or should I wait till the first time I clean the filter?

Removing the carbon shouldn't have any adverse effects.

[jparker98]

Cool, thanks man!

[jparker98]

Quick update, I ended up removing my carbon bag last night and replaced it with 2 sheets of Marineland bonded poly pad cut to fit and it seems like my AC 110 is REALLY kicking out the water now.

I decided to just keep using the standard bio bags in my Whisper filter so there will still be some chemical filtration on the tank, but the AC 110 is now Foam, Poly Pad x 2 then Biomax.

[13razorbackfan]

Quick update, I ended up removing my carbon bag last night and replaced it with 2 sheets of Marineland bonded poly pad cut to fit and it seems like my AC 110 is REALLY kicking out the water now.

I decided to just keep using the standard bio bags in my Whisper filter so there will still be some chemical filtration on the tank, but the AC 110 is now Foam, Poly Pad x 2 then Biomax.

Yeah...the carbon pouch really slows flow through the filter and creates a lot of bypass. First thing I noticed when I set mine up. I ended up doing what you did with the marineland bonded pads.