Simple question.....why? Why do I need one? I set up a 14g Biocube in my sons room. I'm just trying to figure out why people buy these. What does it offer over just putting a bag of Purigen, Chemipure or both in that section without the basket? Just trying to figure out why I'd need to spend $45 on it, lol. I'm OK doing so if there's a legitimate advantage....I just can't think of it.
InTank Media Basket
- Thread starter Milhouse
- Start date
TL1000RSquid
New member
More convenient then nothing, probably helps with the flow too. Their Aquaclear basket certainly improves the flow through the media forcing the water to go through all of it.
But it is pricey for what is you could build your own rather cheaply.
But it is pricey for what is you could build your own rather cheaply.
TjwBlake
New member
I'd have to agree with everyone.
They are completely optional and are really about convenience and increased efficiency. Its nice to be able to pull out the basket when doing maintenance and have everything in the chamber pop out at once without having to fish for stuff.
If you are handy enough, a bit of plexiglass and some eggcrate would let you build one of your own.
They are completely optional and are really about convenience and increased efficiency. Its nice to be able to pull out the basket when doing maintenance and have everything in the chamber pop out at once without having to fish for stuff.
If you are handy enough, a bit of plexiglass and some eggcrate would let you build one of your own.
I hear what you guys are saying about the convenience factor. I guess you weigh the cost vs. the small (at least to me) convenience/performance improvement. $20-30 sure, just not sure I'd pay $45 plus shipping. I was just curious if the consensus was that it made a pretty substantial improvement in performance. I will probably just go without one and see how it goes. If need be, maybe try to make something myself.
HaKs310
Forever Learning
The biggest reason to get the basket is the fact that it forces water through the media. Chemical filter media works the best when when water flows around and thought it. This is why those PhosBan Reactors an whatnot are popular. You want to maximize the surface area contact made on the media, that's the main goal.
scubasamdo
New member
You may be able to find a used one. Be patient. I just found one for my Solana 34. Half price of new, no shipping. Convenience and flow.
Irshhooligan
Member
Having an upgraded media basket is definitely a plus. My opinion is, InTank makes a great high quality product, well worth the cost.
You definitely have to consider whether it's worth the cost in your particular situation and how much funds are available to you. For < $5.00 worth of actual acrylic material and some drilled holes, at 59.99 normal price for the ac70 basket you have to wonder if it's really worth it.
Worth is always relative, and definitely in this case. I have a bag of Chemi-pure in the middle chamber right now, with a few bags of Purigen on their way to me. It's not an issue as to whether I'd want to buy it or could afford it, it's really just if it's worth the money. For now I will probably just put the bags in the chamber and see how it goes.
Not sure if the basket serves much of a purpose other than just holding the media in it. It doesn't force the water through, so really you can't even say it makes it more efficient. The bags will be surrounded by water for the most part in chamber 2 regardless. And water will take the path of least resistance, which is the same with or without the basket. Not to take credit for it, but I saw in another thread that someone put it best. It's like putting a pipe inside of another pipe and thinking it's going to make it more efficient. The chamber already is a media basket. Adding the intank is purely convenience it seems.
Scffvariable
New member
Built my own. Picked up some acrylic from HD and took about 20mins and less then $10.
Sidefunk
New member
I think a lot of the time its seems that people profess gospel based on pure ancedote. I think the bio cube is very well designed and although I have not tried those baskets I can't imagine an appreciable difference. I don't use one and don't see the need, but to each his own.
ange062
New member
I have one in both my NC28 and my AC70. It not only is larger then stock (allowing more room for media), it's much better built, increases flow through media (and overall flow through filter). In the case of the NC28 prevents spillover and noise that the stock one causes since it directs 100% of the water from the overflow THROUGH the media rack.
Definitely worth it IMO, been using the one in my NC28 for well over a year and AC70 for over 6-mo and never regretted either. Good company to deal with, shipping is cheap and fast. I think they have the best bonded floss also, I just placed an order from them JUST to restock on floss because I haven't found the same stuff anywhere else for as cheap.
Definitely worth it IMO, been using the one in my NC28 for well over a year and AC70 for over 6-mo and never regretted either. Good company to deal with, shipping is cheap and fast. I think they have the best bonded floss also, I just placed an order from them JUST to restock on floss because I haven't found the same stuff anywhere else for as cheap.
Mhayes462
New member
It's funny how much misinformation people can give. It DOES increase flow through the media. Water goes in the top, with four sides giving the water nowhere else it can go, where do you think it will go then? That's right, down through the media and out the bottom. It's not rocket science. It helps to trap more detritus because it forces the water to flow over the floss. It helps water quality because it forces water to flow through the media. Then you have convenience, it gives you a place to put all your media without floating it in your tank. Very easy to install, very easy to maintain and change media, and filters. If you keep the stock setup, those filters clog fast and you need to replace about twice a week. They're not cheap. So it would pay for itself in no time by not having to buy biocube filters. Even if you don't want to buy one, you could build one like I did. It's a good thing to add. Like a sump on a bigger tank, not necessary, but makes it much better. Here's the one I built.
hope all this helps. Another advantage is that it also frees up half the second chamber. I put a fuge basket with chaeto in there, or it gives you room to run a skimmer. To me, that's a HUGE advantage. I have 0 nitrates, and undetectable phosphates.
Mike Hayes
hope all this helps. Another advantage is that it also frees up half the second chamber. I put a fuge basket with chaeto in there, or it gives you room to run a skimmer. To me, that's a HUGE advantage. I have 0 nitrates, and undetectable phosphates.
Mike Hayes
It's funny how much misinformation people can give. It DOES increase flow through the media. Water goes in the top, with four sides giving the water nowhere else it can go, where do you think it will go then? That's right, down through the media and out the bottom. It's not rocket science. It helps to trap more detritus because it forces the water to flow over the floss. It helps water quality because it forces water to flow through the media. Then you have convenience, it gives you a place to put all your media without floating it in your tank. Very easy to install, very easy to maintain and change media, and filters. If you keep the stock setup, those filters clog fast and you need to replace about twice a week. They're not cheap. So it would pay for itself in no time by not having to buy biocube filters. Even if you don't want to buy one, you could build one like I did. It's a good thing to add. Like a sump on a bigger tank, not necessary, but makes it much better. Here's the one I built.
hope all this helps. Another advantage is that it also frees up half the second chamber. I put a fuge basket with chaeto in there, or it gives you room to run a skimmer. To me, that's a HUGE advantage. I have 0 nitrates, and undetectable phosphates.
Mike Hayes
I'll let you in on a secret if you promise not to tell......the second chamber of the Biocube has 4 sides too (again, you're putting a pipe inside a pipe). Promise not to tell anyone please. :fun4:
That and the fact that it doesn't FORCE the water to do anything that the stock chamber doesn't do. I'd love to hear it explained. Forcing would imply it's sending the water somewhere it wouldn't normally go. Again how is it doing that? The default chamber has a top, 4 walls with no way for the water to escape, and then a bottom. You put the bag in the chamber, it fills the chamber, water goes through the chamber, and through the bag to get out the bottom. The one thing I would applaud is the water direction piece. The stock system does suck. But do I need to pay $45 for that piece alone? I don't think anyone is using the stock filter pads, so that point is moot. I don't disagree that there is some merit to having it, it's just the cost vs. convenience thing. I don't want to sway people, I was just curious what peoples thoughts were.
Mhayes462
New member
Your absolutely right. It does have four sides. BUT, I don't know that you can get chemi-pure or purigen in a size big enough to fit the whole second chamber to make sure the water passes THROUGH it and not around it. So YES, the media basket does force the water to do something. It forces it to go through a channel where you have your media. Because water, like electricity, will take the path of least resistance. So if you have a huge chamber with the a little bag of media in it, then the water will take the easier route and flow around it. Granted, there will be some contact with the media, but not as much as if it were funneled through a channel into the media with nowhere else for the water to go. AND, like I and others stated, you don't have to spend 45. If you are a tad handy, you can buy the materials at the hardware store and make one yourself. Not trying to be rude, just trying to help a fellow reefer.
Mike Hayes
Mike Hayes
No, I did agree with you on the point of building vs. buying it. I think it serves a purpose for sure(convenience). My question though was specifically in regards to the Intank basket and if it was worth the money.
On to another point though....if you are building your own and not building the water director that they sell, then you are truly losing the benefit (the piece of the equation that makes the most substantial difference). I'm not here to change opinions and it's clear that some people think it's worth it. One last thing to think about. If you look at the Intank basket, it looks like it's pretty snug in the chamber. Maybe a half inch smaller. Does that make that much of a difference, lol? I think not. I can flatten out the bag of Chemipure to fit in that chamber well enough that a half inch smaller chamber won't make a substantial difference(keep in mind we are talking about the 14g and the chamber is probably only 3.5" across).
I agree and did this. I would never of paid the price they are asking for a new one. I just waited for a used one to pop up. Think I got it for 20 bucks maybe 25
