external filter media

what is the best order to put the media in

in my fluval it was 6 compartments 3 baskets tall

on the bottom was noodles type

next was carbon

on the to was blue filter pads

but what is the ideal setup or is the above the best ?

again it depends on what the filters are doing - generally its best to have the coirsest media first and gradually get smaller as the water gets nearer to going back to the tank.

I hated the fluval for those four pads that were 1st stage running top to bottom - they were not efficient.

so in my externals (all are basic basket types - water enters the bottom and is drawn up to return to tank) I have bioballs (TO CATCH THE BIG CHUNKS) then I have course media foam - then medium foam, then the ceramic noodles or whatever, then fine foam then floss and carbon (if im using it)

However - my biggest filter actually only has three baskets - so the middle one is full of noodles etc etc, the top one has foam and floss, theo bottom one has biobals and course foam.

My smaller XP700 has four deep but narrow (looks like a tower block) baskets so I have a reasonable mix i there.