While both of these materials have been proven to work as bio media, they have their disadvantages. How much actual surface lava rocks, scrubbies, and ceramic rings have is really unknown..........by anyone here anyways. Because of lava rocks and scrubbies large size and shape, they are better suited for sump systems. For canisters and HOBs, ceramic rings are the better choice just because they are much, much smaller and strategically shaped to maximize fit and flow. The design of ceramic rings also allows for better channeling of water flow even when they are tightly packed, basically allowing the maximum surface area in a constraint space. Another advantage to ceramic rings is the ease of cleaning. I don't particularly care for handling lava rocks due to its sharp and jaggedness, and scubbies just takes way too much time to rinse clean due to waste matter getting trapped deep within the core area.Has anyone thought of using lava rock (100% natural charcoal) for submerged and pot scrubbies and emerged? Alot cheaper
They do trap alot of detritus if you dont have really good metchanical prior but are not hard to clean at all. Takes me about 20 minutes to clean 160 pot scrubbies every 3 monthsScrubbies seem like they would trap alot of detritus.
I do use pot scrubbies and are said to have 3 times the surface area per square inch compared to bio balls. I clean 160 pot scubbies every 3 months all I do is run them under water in the tub (well water) and hit them against the side of the tub just hard enough to dislodge all of the detritus.While both of these materials have been proven to work as bio media, they have their disadvantages. How much actual surface lava rocks, scrubbies, and ceramic rings have is really unknown..........by anyone here anyways. Because of lava rocks and scrubbies large size and shape, they are better suited for sump systems. For canisters and HOBs, ceramic rings are the better choice just because they are much, much smaller and strategically shaped to maximize fit and flow. The design of ceramic rings also allows for better channeling of water flow even when they are tightly packed, basically allowing the maximum surface area in a constraint space. Another advantage to ceramic rings is the ease of cleaning. I don't particularly care for handling lava rocks due to its sharp and jaggedness, and scubbies just takes way too much time to rinse clean due to waste matter getting trapped deep within the core area.
Just my 2 cents