Boyu Ef-10 External Cannister Filter

I have just bought a Boyu ef-10 for my new aquarium set-up. but the instructions for fitting it are total gobbledegook. Hopefully we will work it out eventually although I can find nothing on the web. My question is this. is anyone familiar enough with this make and model to be able to tell me if there needs to be some kind of media added to the lower basket? and if so, what?
Thanks

How many baskets are there, and what media was supplied with the filter?

I've searched google but there seems to be no info out there whatsoever!


With externals in general, the water usually runs from the bottom to the top of the cannister. The bottom basket usually has something to remove the debris in the water - this is normally either a sponge or in the case of Eheim, ceramic tubes called Ehfi-mech - then comes the biomedia, which could be coarse sponges or ceramic noodles, balls, plastic balls etc. Last will be a pad like filter wool to remove the fine particles. Some filters include carbon, it is usually preferable to replace the carbon with more sponge/ceramics

That sounds like a typical carbon sponge with a bit of filter wool attached. I've seen them in internal filters. You don't actually need carbon. One of the big advantages with externals is that you can alter the media to what you want. I'd be inclined to get different things from what it came with.
In the bottom (assuming the water flows upward through the baskets, so it goes through the bottom basket first) I'd put some coarse sponge. Have a look a pond filter media, see if there is a sponge just slightly bigger than you'd need and cut it down - you can use black sponge you have as a template.
In the upper basket, either another piece of sponge or ceramic noodles or even Eheim Substrat Pro. You could leave enough space on top to put a layer of filter wool to catch any tiny particles. Just buy a roll of that and cut to shape.
The filter wool would need to be changed regularly as it clogs easily and filter wool doesn't wash properly. But sponge and ceramics will last for years, they just need washing.


I should point out that I don't have any external filters, only internals, so if anyone with an external advises something else, go with what they say 

Ah, I hadn't realised it was for a marine tank!!!


In that case, I'd see what Julia has to say about filter media before doing anything. I have no idea if you use the same type of media as for freshwater tanks, or if you need anything extra.

Yes sorry it is for my marine tank. No the tank isn't very big. On my research it suggested that for marine 60 litres should be the absolute minimum.  Unfortunately the only space we had has a funny shaped surface and we didn't think overhang would be a good idea, so we bought a 65 litre as it fits perfectly in the space. Yes I have put in some live rock (see the pic on the welcome page) but looking at it I think another bigger piece may be added. At the moment the water reading is 1.020 which I realise is perhaps slightly low but I did only set it up yesterday and am hoping to do a lot more research before adding anything at all. haven't found out yet whether I can just add salt to the tank, or whether I change a little water evr day for a slightly stronger solution until it stabilises? The man at the aquarium centre said a protein skimmer isn't totally necessary at this point but I assume I will need one once stocked. I am hoping eventually to have soft corals and a small amount of fish but currently I can find no books on setting up a marine tank hence why I'm on here and have no intention of rushing things at all. I was imagining maybe having a fish or two in there by New Year, but it depends on my earlier question of whether it is better to get coral established first. I get a great deal of pleasure from my tropical tank so I want to get it right

As a follow up to my previous post, please be aware some species of fish will happily eat your corals.....just something to take into consideration when stocking your tank....
 

Firstly, can I suggest that you get a good basic book on marine fish keeping ? There are loads available on the market these days but get one of where it's easy to digest. Some of the books can be a little high brow and that's not what you need in the beginning.

The rules of marine keeping are basically the same as tropicals-get the water correct  and most things will be fine. Unfortunately you will not be able to use the same test kits for a marine as a tropical as there are some different things you will need to consider.

Ammonia,  nitrates and nitrites come into play, but you will also need to consider things like phosphates and calcium and the KH as well. This is why I'm suggesting getting a book.

The same rules apply....once your water parameters are stable with no fluctuations, then you can start to add corals. Corals do sulk if something is not quite right and you will notice this and more importantly, corals are expensive to buy so if you do lose them, it will really dent your wallet or purse strings!

Have you a refractometer?  Best and easiest way to test your salinity. Are you using RO water and what sort of salt (please note you cannot use house or table salt for marines. Doesn't work that way.)

Each tank is different and with yours being smaller it may move quicker but do your water testing and all should be fine.

At the moment I don't have any kind of testing kit apart from the item that tests the salinity. Also after reading the info on here I think I may have been mis-informed - which surprises me because my local aquarist has a very good reputation for knowing his stuff and not over-selling. He asked whether I was going to buy the water from him or use tap water. I said I was hoping to use tap water and he replied that's fine as long as I add the sea salt and I can use the same chemical for dechlorinating as I use for my tropical tank. (Nutrafin Aqua plus - removes Chlorine and Chloromine). I have since found out that I should be using RO water - I don't even know what that is, but I do know we don't have enough electric sockets to run a system for doing it, especially if I will need a protein skimmer. Please can you enlighten me? and tell me whether I actually need to buy any other testing kits or whether getting the water tested regularly at my local stockist is adequate?

So RO water bought from the shop can just go in with the seasalt but nothing else added? What if I use sea water? - my local source is the North Sea which is often murky. would I need to add anything to that?