40 aio start up help

[Codfather_az]

Looking for the best setup for the back of an aio. Whats the best to put in the 3 chambers? If I ditch the sponge and replace with a media basket/filter sock (flow down) in chamber one, I'm left with an empty chamber (flow up) inc hamber two, I have a few media trays in chamber 3 (flow down). seems to me that would be best for bio media but what? xport blocks? matrix? Chemipure? Chemipure? Rock rubble? Ceramic rings? I planned on running a n external chaeto reactor leaving chamber two open, but if I end up leaving it empty would it be better to use the reactor for gfo and or carbon and use chamber two as a fuge? Also trying to track down an HOB protein skimmer right now which ill crowbar in there somewhere someway. Any input is greatly appreciated.

 

[EvanDeVita]

I’ll tell you what I have in my IM NUVO 30 Long.
Going from left to right:
Filter sock and chemi-pure - protein skimmer - empty (may add some chaeto now - UV - filter sock. I would not recommend adding chemipure until your tank is well cycled.

 

[Codfather_az]

dually noted, do you have any other bio other than what's in the dt?

 

[EvanDeVita]

I have some algae, sponge, and what seems to be feather dusters in the middle container, but I didn't put any of it in there.

 

[Cheeze]

I have a 38 gallon AIO that I just finished cycling. To give you some ideas, my 3 chambers have (from intake to output):
- Media basket which I plan to use for Filter Floss and either ChemiPure or Purigen
- Heater (Cobalt, which is flat) and a small skimmer (Tunze 9004) that fits
- Return pump and ATO sensor (XP Aqua Duetto) with the top-off tube pointed into this chamber

Either way, I would put any media into the inflow chamber and not the outflow if space permits, so it catches everything before going through all the other chambers.