Maybe a dumb question, but I wanted to double check you all of your expertise. I picked up a used cascade 1000 filter a while back and just got some tanks big enough to use it. It came with plenty of floss, sponges and bio rings. Am I supposed to have all 3 media types in there at once? I was thinking so but the sponge and rings seemed redundant. Floss to catch the junk and sponge or rings for bacteria, no?

Reason for both sponge and rings is rings are not typically something that is ever removed from the tank. Where as when a sponge is replaced, care must be taken that you are not actively removing most of the beneficial bacteria that is in the tank. Else you may kick of a mini cycle. (Ie, replace all the sponges, and do a major gravel vacuum.)

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100 Dirt + Stuff. To be Angel baby tank.
37 Planted. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f45/pla...nal-20774.html
29 Tall community tank. 5+ Years up and running.
15 Soon to be RCS tank.