Advice on IM Nuvo 15 Additional Equipment, What to put in filter media basket?

[Amber.]

Hello,
I have two newly setup IM Nuvo 15 aquariums and I am in love. They are both currently running stock return pumps, I believe they are around 130~ gallons an hour. I have added on the tank lids, and one has a freshwater Ai Prime, the other will have an AI Prime reef.

I recently purchased the filter media baskets for both of them. I’m currently running what they came with which was Cottonballs, GFO and rox carbon. I was recommended to put poly filter in them both since I run tap water.

What additional purchases should I look into getting for these two tanks?

One is going to be a green mantis tank, and the other a pistol shrimp and small goby tank. Macros in the mantis tank and softies and lps in the pistol shrimp tank.

For the filter media and the baskets, should I be using the cotton balls, gfo and activated carbon? On top of Polyfilter? Should I swap, drop, or add anything additional to the three little chambers? (I don’t have a clue about what I’m doing.)

One additional question I just saw - it states refugium ready - what does that mean?


Thank you!

-Amber

 

[Propane]

I added a Sicce nano to mine to increase circulation. I also put ceramic bio media in instead of those other products. I wouldn’t use those packs while you are cycling but hopefully someone with more experience will confirm.