[rjugas]

Hi guys, so after a month waiting for my tank being made, I finally got it.
What I am thinking about,as I have zero experience with hang-on filters, is this a good setup?
I attached photos at link: photos.app.goo.gl/uMqNkKGBiVRXahiz2 (cant add link yet)

There was a charcoal in those plastic bulkheads, but I fit another layer of sponge into them.
Will it work? Thats seachem matrix aka pumice :smile2:
Im aiming at enough waterflow and effectivity of cleaning.

 

[MCFC]

Just keep your eye on the Matrix closest to the outflow. Some pieces can get air trapped in them and float, so you might see one or two in your tank after you first start it up.

 

[Nubster]

I'd scrap the cartridges and replace with a big hunk of sponge. Place the sponge in a position so the water goes through it first for mechanical then place the matrix after the sponge for biological. Honestly though...unless you are going to be heavily stocked, sponge offers plenty of area for bacteria to grow. I've never ran any bio media in my tanks (unless I'm seeding some to use to seed a new tank) and never had any issues. I usually just double up the sponge and that provides more than enough surface area. But some people feel better using the bio-media and there's nothing wrong with that for sure. Just make sure it's after mechanical so that it doesn't get all junked up with crud.

Is that one of the Azoo filters? I have an Azoo Migon 60 and I tossed the media that came with it and shoved a sponge from an AquaClear 20 in there and it works perfect. You should be able to do the same with the appropriate size sponge block.

 

[rjugas]

Thanks, I will give it a try. I still have a big piece of sponge for re-setup. Its some chinese made filter, imported in EU. Aqua Nova NF-450 (450l/h)

 

[Nubster]

Ah...ok. If you look up the Azoo filters you'll see they are very similar in design. It's a common "upgrade" to toss the cartridges and replace with a foam block.

 

[rjugas]

So made it the way proposed by you:
imgur.com/FaILLSg.jpg

 

[StevieD]

I must admit I do wonder why the pebbles?

Not criticizing in any way I am just wondering what they would do as opposed to any other form of filter material.

 

[Quagulator]

I must admit I do wonder why the pebbles?

Not criticizing in any way I am just wondering what they would do as opposed to any other form of filter material.

Erm.... those are Seachem Matrix bio media "pebbles"

 

[StevieD]

Erm.... those are Seachem Matrix bio media "pebbles"

Thanks for letting us know as I said it wasn't a criticism. I looked the Seachem Matrix bio media up via our good friend Google and this is what I found.

I understand why people look at Matrix and compare it to the pumice they can find at the garden center; they are both porous stones. The difference is that not every porous stone is the same; Matrix is a specific type chosen for its porosity, pore size, durability, and inert nature. When you buy Matrix, you know what you are getting. It has been tested in the lab and in thousand of hobbyist's aquariums for more than a decade with excellent results. You aren't just purchasing the physical material when you buy a container of Matrix; you are purchasing the research which has sourced and tested this specific type of stone, and the assurance that it is safe for use in your aquarium. You also get support when, like now, you have questions about the product or if you need aquarium advice. You can't buy any of those things at a garden center or rock yard.

Anyone wanting to read the full article it is available below.

Matrix vs Pumice - Seachem Support Forums

 

[rjugas]

Yeah, I have read the article too. I ordered the smallest package (not more than 5 USD). I decided to use some porous material instead of foam/sponge just because I have hang-on and I wanted maximal filtering volume.
Looking for pumice would cost me another time and they sell bigger volumes. Its pretty funny that Seachem sells it as something special and they are excusing its price with "research" cost
But for my purpose it saved the time of looking for some suitable pumice.
Actually, I planted today and I have to say that because the water was flowing back through input chamber I needed to get sponge away and replace it with one cartridge - thinner layer of sponge. Thats it.

 

[Letsfish]

I run sponges on all of my intake tubes.