Need help with built in filtration

[Caleb1266]

I have a 150 gallon fowlr tank I recently started that has built in back filtration. The entire right side of the filter is empty and I am looking for suggestions on what to put in the three chambers. I have some carbon in bio bags some nitrate, phosphate, and nitrite pads on the left side already. I could put more above those pads. Just looking for any tips on what to use that isn’t super expensive or high maintenance. (The water level fluctuates in the back fairly quickly and is low in the picture.)
Thanks

 

[bevo5]

You can put whatever you want in there. There's really no right/wrong answer.

Depending on your rock situation in the display, maybe some additional bio media. If you go that route, put it in a filter bag so it's easy to remove later as needed.

I'd fill the first chamber with cheap mechanical filtration like filter floss. Carbon etc. in the others. Whatever you want.

Could you fit a skimmer in there?

 

[Caleb1266]

You can put whatever you want in there. There's really no right/wrong answer.

Depending on your rock situation in the display, maybe some additional bio media. If you go that route, put it in a filter bag so it's easy to remove later as needed.

I'd fill the first chamber with cheap mechanical filtration like filter floss. Carbon etc. in the others. Whatever you want.

Could you fit a skimmer in there?

I have been looking for a skimmer that would fit but there isn’t anything that fit that size and is suitable for the tank size.

 

[Jonify]

If it were mine, I'd do filter floss in the top of both the 1st and 2nd chambers to keep most of the detritus out of the back and keep your water crystal clear (I'd alternate swapping each one out every 4-5 days), then would throw a bag of chemipure blue in the bottom of one the chambers, and add a skimmer over in the 3rd. I'd maybe throw some additional bio media down there so I could pull out and use in quarantine tanks when needed, but that would probably be at the bottom of my list if you've already got sand and a reasonable amount of rock in the tank already.

 

[Jonify]

I have been looking for a skimmer that would fit but there isn’t anything that fit that size and is suitable for the tank size.

What are the width/length dimensions for one of those chambers?

 

[Caleb1266]

What are the width/length dimensions for one of those chambers?

The opening is 3.5” wide and 8” long

 

[AcroNem]

if it were me, I'd probably throw some of those phosphate reducing pads in one, purigen/chemipure blue and carbon in one and ceramic media in the last one.

 

[Jonify]

The newest Innovative Marine Nuvoskim (midsize) would fit ... rated at 50 gal, but that's about as high capacity as you can get while still fitting in that back space. Other options for much higher capacity are hang-on-back skimmers (like the CoralVue Octo BH-2000 and the AquaMaxx HOB 1.5), then all you'd need to do is make sure there's that much clearance between the back of your tank and the wall.

 

[Caleb1266]

The newest Innovative Marine Nuvoskim (midsize) would fit ... rated at 50 gal, but that's about as high capacity as you can get while still fitting in that back space. Other options for much higher capacity are hang-on-back skimmers (like the CoralVue Octo BH-2000 and the AquaMaxx HOB 1.5), then all you'd need to do is make sure there's that much clearance between the back of your tank and the wall.

There is plenty of clearance I will look into that one.