Canister Filter Media...Ultra Bio Media, or EHM Pro question.

[Nosetotail]

Hey guys, I was searching for some info on bio media and found the sticky concerning the beginners guide thread on this site describing bio media. I read for a while, but couldn't stick with it long enough to find what I was looking for. What I found missing was info on the supposedly incredible Ultra Bio Media with a wopping surface area of 750 whatever per cubic foot. It is plastic tubes that have three smaller chambers running lengthwise, and a series of ribs on the outside to create space between the tubes.

I'm getting a new Rena xp2, so my bio media volume is going to be limited. I have absolutely no idea what I need other than what I have learned online in a few days. So my first question is concerning Ultra Bio Media. The claims are that these white plastic tubes are the highest surface area available, but I'm skeptical as to their effectiveness. Particularly since I read somewhere else that I need to consider cultivating a certain amount of anaerobic bacteria, and I can see where the design of the UBM would lend to the cultivation of mostly aerobic bacteria which would be cultivating all over my tank anyway.

I need the maximum effectiveness for the smallest area which is why the UBM caught my interest, however I can't get past that anaerobic thing. Of course I do get like eight or so Rena Bio Stars, but I'm unclear if these are designed to produce a certain amount of anaerobic bacteria. They appear to be an open flow type of design if that makes sense.

If I can't get any feedback on the Ultra Bio Media, then I will probably just go with a combo of my teaser pack of bio stars and a half liter of EHM Pro. I know I can't miss with that.

Also, I'm looking for some feedback on this beneficial anaerobic bacteria, and how it is properly cultivated, and whether it is actually beneficial. I'm wondering if it grows inside the pores of premium media, or if it seeks out the dead pockets created by how the media is stacked. I'm only asking this because if I ended up using the Ultra Bio Media, I pictured stacking it standing up, so the water would flow straight through the cylinders, rather than being blocked, or not even passing through some of the cylinders if that makes sense.

 

[KaiserSousay]

then I will probably just go with a combo of my teaser pack of bio stars and a half liter of EHM Pro. I know I can't miss with that.

That`s what I would do.
That Eheim Pro is really expensive and dosen`t do that greater a job than many of the other ceramic media available.
You can spend a bunch on media, only to find no measurable benefit over the stuff that costs half as much.
I would do allot more research before trying for anaerobic bacteria.
To start you off, you shouldn`t have any areas in a canister that is devoid of oxygen.

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

If you want denitrifying bacteria growth, i suggest a DSB

 

[Nosetotail]

then I will probably just go with a combo of my teaser pack of bio stars and a half liter of EHM Pro. I know I can't miss with that.

That`s what I would do.
That Eheim Pro is really expensive and dosen`t do that greater a job than many of the other ceramic media available.
You can spend a bunch on media, only to find no measurable benefit over the stuff that costs half as much.
I would do allot more research before trying for anaerobic bacteria.
To start you off, you shouldn`t have any areas in a canister that is devoid of oxygen.

As to the anaerobic bacteria, I'm only interested because I saw one post in a thread downplaying the need for so much surface area, or the need for a lot of media. The two things that stuck out to me were that the bacteria level will only match your bio load, which I get, and that your whole tank is going to be cultivating aerobic bacteria anyway. What I'm interested in is a suggestion that you need a particular type of media that is designed to cultivate some anaerobic bacteria under normal conditions and the post directly suggested EHM Pro as well as the other commercial "uber" ceramic medias. I gathered from the post that the deeper pours of the EHM pro cultivated just enough anaerobic bacteria to be beneficial, even in a normal canister filter environment, but I wasn't really sure. This thread was dealing primarily with canister filters which obviously have ample water flow to keep the media oxygenated as long as it doesn't get clogged, but the post suggested that what makes EHM Pro so good is that it will also support some beneficial anaerobic bacteria.

The reason I'm asking is that I'm considering trying Ultra Media which is a very open design. Supposedly it has almost twice the surface area as EHM Pro, but I don't think it would be able to support any sort of anaerobic bacteria.


I'm not interested in specifically targeting anaerobic bacteria. I'm just considering the notion that with the right media in your canister, you can enjoy the benefits of both types, and I don't want to go with a media that may be overkill for bacteria that will be growing all over my tank anyway.

I don't really have a clue how any of this works, but I do put a lot of thought into things before I go with an option.

 

[Nosetotail]

If you want denitrifying bacteria growth, i suggest a DSB

Sorry for asking, but what is a DSB?

 

[KaiserSousay]

Deep Sand Bed.
Touted by some as the home of their nitrate munching bacteria.
Not saying it can`t be done, but seems way more easy to do the WC than fret over everything involved with anaerobic bacterial colonies..
But that`s just me.

 

[Nosetotail]

I definitely do not want to jump into some kind of advanced set up. I want to stick with the simplest but effective design I can. I was just looking for some supporting evidence that with the proper media, you will still get some anaerobic bacteria in a very aerobic environment.

Also, I was hoping anyone could tell me something about Ultra Bio Media. When I do a search on some forums I have checked, I can't seem to get any hits about the stuff, however I noticed it on a chart that was referenced in one forum concerning bio media and their surface area.