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You need to check alk asap. If you don’t have a test kit, please do a ( or multiple) water change . 0 nitrate is not idea but alk is the most importance. Water change can resolve alk, ca and mg deficiency quickly especially with small tank like yours . Get the alk, ca and mg test kit .

I have been dosing sodium nitrate for over a year. Cheap. The smallest bag can last you many lifetime.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0190TOJUS?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

Nothing. I have a larger tank , so I have total of 5 chambers. I have all my bio media, carbon in the 2nd chamber. You can have media under the pads but it’s a hassle to remove /clean .

I use a 5g empty salt mix container . Any bucket would do. Mine is under the tank , enclosed in the cabinet. Looking pretty is not a requirement!

It’s not a drain. It just a bypass the filter pad. It allow water to move from the filter pad chamber to the middle chamber unrestricted.

Seachem Matrix is the best cost effective bio media in my opinion. Basically pumice rock.

For those with AIO tank, cleaning the back chamber is painful at least in my setup. I can see the reason to bypass any mechanical filtration if you have a sump

Here is the picture i hope explain my setup. I 3D print a filter pad holder, with an overflow. Hope the picture is self explanatory. The overflow ensure the water level in the filter pad compartment will only rise to a max level, regardless if the pad is 100% clog. ATO will take care of the...

I’ll draw some pictures to explain my setup later. In the meantime, do you have an ATO - auto top off? Also, if you remove the filter socks , is the water level in the middle chamber get back to level? If no, then something else in the chamber that is restricting water flow.

The rectangular overflow is to the left.

I have the 65g AIO. The problem is the filter socks or whatever mechanical filter media get clog, dropping the water level in the center chamber. I have been fighting this issue for the first year until I figure out the solution. Have an overflow which allow water to bypass the dirty media...

I bought this from Amazon. $12 https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0BKQF7DYN?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

Thanks. Just bought some

I plan to 3d print a light cover for the intake. The keyword is "plan". :) haven't get to it yet.

Yeah, no space in my setup

Maybe I’m doing something wrong. Most of the 3/16 fuel filter results in Amazon have magnets build in. There are a couple of smaller packs without magnets but they are $4 each.

Since my intake is at the back AOI chamber, it gets exposure to the lights and algae can mess up the pre-filter quickly. I have been changing the prefilter every couple of months. Anyone aware of cheaper alternative compared to the $8 a pop original replacement?

Back in my freshwater days, I had good experience with diatom filter. Haven’t seen those for sale recently.

If I get the reservoir a tad too low, air get into the tube. I disconnect the tube from the pump, and reinsert the tube while the pump is on. Always works.