Best biological media?

[jjohnwm]

I’ve personally never seen any difference between any of the biological media as they perform their intended functions as designed. Some claim to eliminate nitrates but I haven’t found one yet that fulfill that statement.

I’m currently testing this with regards to finishing the nitrogen cycle to eliminate nitrates. It’s only been a few weeks and zero noticeable changes.

Nano-Tech Anaerobic-Block (2 pcs)

Natural & Low-Maintenance Nitrate Reduction Efficiently removes nitrate from aquariums Designed to stimulate growth of anaerobic bacteria Nano-ceramic, porous structure that will not degrade over time Can be used directly in sump Lasts approximately 6 months For freshwater and marine aquariums...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Interesting. That website indicates that this product lasts approximately 6 months...so they want you to replace it at just about the point where it might be forming an effective colony of anaerobic bacteria! Hmmm....

I'm going to get to work on a new project. I want to take the design of the home-made grape press used by my father in his wine-making days, but modify it for extracting oil from snakes. I think the market today is ripe for the idea!

Anybody feeling entrepreneurial? Feel free to contact me for investment info.

 

[tiger15]

I dont think it is necessary to provide dedicated bio media in your filters. Your best bio media is inside your tank (substrate, plant, rock and glass surfaces) where biofilm adhered to as long as you provide good oxygenated flow over those surfaces from your filters regardless of type or air / circulation pump if you run them too. There is quantitatively more bio surface area inside your tank than inside your filters so it doesn’t matter what biomedia you use. You still need to do regular water change to remove nitrate as the end product of biofiltration only takes you as far as nitrate.

 

[HUKIT]

I'm going to get to work on a new project. I want to take the design of the home-made grape press used by my father in his wine-making days, but modify it for extracting oil from snakes. I think the market today is ripe.

God knows I have enough snake oil but if you start up your winery I’d buy a couple bottles.

 

[jjohnwm]

God knows I have enough snake oil but if you start up your winery I’d buy a couple bottles.

You bet! Do you want the "for drinking" variety, or the "nitrate reducing" stuff?

 

[skjl47]

Hello; You hit it. How many of us have run tanks with a simple sponge filter run by an air pump? The tank surfaces become "biomedia". Over the decade + plus I have used this forum I have observed an odd notion. That being that some appear to think the BB only colonize the surfaces we aquarists "pick" for them. Not saying the BB will avoid such media. Due to water flow in a sophisticated filter system the nutrients needed will be present. My take is the BB will colonize on the intake & discharge tubes along with any other surfaces in the tank.
I keep plants in my tanks and snails. I have an untested notion that snails carry around colonies of bb on their shells. I usually throw in some snails to a new tank setup.

I dont think it is necessary to provide dedicated bio media in your filters. Your best bio media is inside your tank (substrate, plant, rock and glass surfaces) where biofilm adhered to as long as you provide good oxygenated flow over those surfaces from your filters regardless of type or air / circulation pump if you run them too. There is quantitatively more bio surface area inside your tank than inside your filters so it doesn’t matter what biomedia you use. You still need to do regular water change to remove nitrate as the end product of biofiltration only takes you as far as nitrate.

 

[esoxlucius]

It's very easy to get sucked into the, "what is the best bio media" hype, or the, "what bio media reduces nitrate" hype. And that's all it is....hype!

Beneficial bacteria don't have a preference one way or the other where they live. As long as the food source is there they will colonise every underwater surface, and once established are very efficient at what they do.

As already mentioned in previous posts the best bio media is subjective, every hobbyist has their go to types of media, and there are many. And they all work because, as also mentioned, BB aren't fussy where they reside.

And unless you want to get all techy and give yourself a headache you can forget about miracle nitrate reducing products too. Water changes are the only nitrate reducing weapon you need in your armoury. And the benefits of weekly water changes are many, not just a good way of reducing nitrate.

 

[aquariumpredatorkepper]

I will be building a sump easy to use and can handle huge bio-load and cannot have any media that leaches metals because I own rays too.

So right now im thinking:

1st chamber:

Filter floss / Filter Sock
(So I can filter mechanically and just throw it away and switch to a new one for easy maintenance, I find sponges clog too easily with fish poop and food and slimy stuff that is a nightmare to clean.)

2nd chamber:

Maxpect Biotech Spheres

3rd chamber:

Maxpect Biotech Blocks

4th chamber:

Seachem Matrix

5th chamber:

Fluidized K1+

6th chamber:

Seachem Denitrate
Seachem Purigen
Seachem MatrixCarbon
Seachem CupriSorb

7th chamber:

Heaters & Pump


Also will have aquarium plants and household plants to help with nitrates.

This will be for my new house aquarium build, it will be huge… will have lots of monster fish, Currently I have 5 Tanks and 1 pool pond.

I searched for bio-media that won’t break away with time and won’t leach metals into the water and most surface area, but more is better so Im mixing the best I have found.

Also will keep some neocaridina in the sump to help clean up.

People on this thread, what would you do differently?

 

[aquariumpredatorkepper]

It's very easy to get sucked into the, "what is the best bio media" hype, or the, "what bio media reduces nitrate" hype. And that's all it is....hype!

Beneficial bacteria don't have a preference one way or the other where they live. As long as the food source is there they will colonise every underwater surface, and once established are very efficient at what they do.

As already mentioned in previous posts the best bio media is subjective, every hobbyist has their go to types of media, and there are many. And they all work because, as also mentioned, BB aren't fussy where they reside.

And unless you want to get all techy and give yourself a headache you can forget about miracle nitrate reducing products too. Water changes are the only nitrate reducing weapon you need in your armoury. And the benefits of weekly water changes are many, not just a good way of reducing nitrate.

Yes I know, I have kept huge fish on Sponge filters and the water was always perfect after I tested. Household plants seem to help a lot.

I do huge weekly water changes but slow cause My warm water runs out, is an electric heater better for tap water?

 

[jjohnwm]

I will be building a sump easy to use...

I agree heartily with those first 9 words. The rest? Not a chance!

Seven compartments? No benefits.

Four different biomedia? Why? If one is "best", why would you use the other three sub-standard ones?

Four types of chemical media? Why? What will they do that water changes won't do better? And more importantly...what won't they do that water changes will do better?

Okay, I lied; I agree with the mechanical filtration part too. But I rarely use disposable mech media; filter socks or simple foam slabs, with several kept in reserve, quickly and easily swapped out on a frequent basis with a clean replacement. Cleaning a sheet of Poret foam that has only been in use for a day or two, or a week, is a snap.

And...how is "more" going to be better?

 

[aquariumpredatorkepper]

I agree heartily with those first 9 words. The rest? Not a chance!

Seven compartments? No benefits.

Four different biomedia? Why? If one is "best", why would you use the other three sub-standard ones?

Four types of chemical media? Why? What will they do that water changes won't do better? And more importantly...what won't they do that water changes will do better?

Okay, I lied; I agree with the mechanical filtration part too. But I rarely use disposable mech media; filter socks or simple foam slabs, with several kept in reserve, quickly and easily swapped out on a frequent basis with a clean replacement.

The sump will be massive so why not all 4, The money is not a problem but variety seems to be the smarter move because Im sure every one of the media have its pros and cons… Maybe Lol.

Cannot risk the rays getting too much metal from tap water so I use CupriSorb.

I don’t do RO water.

I use Seachem Prime too.

Remind you that I am not looking for a way to avoid water changes. I will still do them weekly and huge.

I need a easy setup, I clean my sump media yearly and it is never even dirty, just do it just because… But if I have disposable I can just switch when dirty before water changes and the rest of the compartments will never be dirty. Nothing will pass the fine filter floss. If They pass the shrimp can take care of it, their poop is so small it will fall through and cycle their way to the filter floss anyways.