Best Media For External Filter? Also Peat & Carbon Question

[tnfishlady]

I got a Fluval 205 for my 36 gallon a couple of weeks ago. I put carbon and peat pellets in the bottom media box, filter floss in the middle media box, and Bio max in the top media box. Although it doesn't say on the peat pellet box I have I just read recently on another brand of peat pellets that peat should not be used with carbon. Is using peat and carbon ok, or not? I was hoping to lower the PH with using peat; however, I think that peat releases tannins that turn the water brownish, although so far that hasn't happened and I'm assuming it's because I am also using carbon. How brown does peat turn the water? I had a piece of mobani wood that I took out because it turned the water too brown. Does peat need to be used long term to keep the PH stable, or once the PH is down can I take the peat out?

I do intend to remove all carbon from my filters, possibly only using temporarily such as a week out of every couple of months, or as needed such as after medications.

But the main question I have is, what is the best filter media to use, if it's primary purpose is for biological filtration? With 3 (or really 4, one has smaller media box to use to split one into two chambers), what is the best combination of media to use? I read on one internet site of setting up a box filter with gravel in it -- could gravel be used as a filter media in an external filter? Also, the ceramic media I've seen it says it needs to be replaced every few months -- is that really a necessity? What could I use for long term biological filtration?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[minnnt]

Filter floss should be the last thing the water passes through before it enters back into your tank.

Carbon will remove tannins over time so probably best to take it out, especially as it is pretty useless anyway unless wanting to remove meds.