This is my first time setting up a canister filter so I need some help on it. Here is a pic of the box:



Here is what came in the box.







In the instructions it says there is two methods of setting up the inside of the filter, I just wanted to ask you guys what is the best way.

a ) Have 6 coarse filter pads blue, then 1 fine filter ad white and then 1 carbon filter pad black as top layer.


b ) Eheim MECH (Is that the noodles that came with it?), 1 coarse filter pad blue, Eheim SUBSTRAT (Im guessing thats the hundreds of white balls I got with the filter?) , 1 fine filter pad white and then 1 carbon filter pad black as top layer.



Also what is the point of those balls and noodles? I have only used a Hang On Filter before which never used them. Do they run out? or do you just have to wash them?


Thanks for your help and advice.

option b is the best, imho.

the 'noodles as you call it are a biological media, this is where a lot of the bacteria
will colonise. once established this media should only be cleaned in tank water.

sponge keeps the next layer separate from the first, it also acts as mechanical media, trapping the larger parts of detritus.

the substrat is also a mechanical media and traps the finer particles of detritus.

the fine pad(sponge) is the final part and captures what has been missed before (in theory).

the white floss is a polisher. all the ultra fine particles that have made it this far should be caught by the floss.
I've found the tighter this is packed in the more efficient it is.

HTH