Bio balls

[paulW]

Use plastic scrubbies

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I remember reading posts here about people having problems with scrubbies breaking down over time.
Bioballs really aren't that expensive, IMO. Heck, if you are patient, you can often find a 5 gallon bucket of used bioballs for practically free.

Everyone has their own preference though. I know a lot of people here love scrubbies. I really can't see why though.
I know bioballs will last my lifetime with no problems.

 

[paulW]

That does make sense, but it leaves me wondering why this isnt necessary for ceramic media. Any thoughts?

The purpose of ceramic media is to provide a surface for the good bateria to grow on, not aearation.
Bioballs can be used for both..
Although you could leave some ceramic media, lava rocks, etc out of the water for aeration as well, although it probably wouldn't be as effective. (I'm not an expert, that's my guess).

 

[tomomothy]

so if i am understanding this the ceramic media grows the BB but doesnt help with the denitrifying whereas BB in a wet/dry configuration does both? So far if I have that right it does makes sense, but that would mean submerged ceramic would need a bubbler to really be effective right?

 

[joe jaskot]

Bio balls or ceramic media provide surface area on which the beneficial bacteria grow. Bacteria growing on media exposed to the air receive more oxygen and thus are able to work more efficiently. Whether the media is submerged or exposed to air in a wet dry situation, the bacteria growing on it breaks down waste.

 

[paulW]

so if i am understanding this the ceramic media grows the BB but doesnt help with the denitrifying whereas BB in a wet/dry configuration does both? So far if I have that right it does makes sense, but that would mean submerged ceramic would need a bubbler to really be effective right?

Most wet dry filters have the incoming water passing over bioballs above the water level. When this happens, the water picks up a lot of oxygen. Therefore, if you have ceramic media in the water, it will have plenty of oxygen. Think about it, if there wasn't enough oxygen in the water for the beneficial bateria, there's probably not going to be enough oxygen in the water for the fish lol.

I have put submerged ceramic media in my wet dry.. the amount of film that grows on it is proof there's a lot of action going on

 

[David R]

I have put submerged ceramic media in my wet dry.. the amount of film that grows on it is proof there's a lot of action going on

It is? I've never seen "film" growing on any of my bio media, submerged or other, do you know what it is? Aren't you concerned that it could be covering the media and preventing the water from contacting it? The proof that there is action going on is that the Ammonia and Nitrite are both zero, so if that's the case in your set up then I guess it's alright.

 

[Aquaticfan]

It doesn't matter what media you run. You can run it submerged or not. BB will form on about any surface. The big differences are that submurged media doesn't get the same amount of oxygen as when used in a wet dry. The action of the water falling/running down the biomedia in a wet dry that's not submerged adds huge amounts of oxygen. BB is very oxygen dependant. The additional oxygen is also very beneficial to your livestock.

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[aredfruit]

Use plastic scrubbies

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+1 they are cheap


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[sincebeen]

so if i am understanding this the ceramic media grows the BB but doesnt help with the denitrifying whereas BB in a wet/dry configuration does both? So far if I have that right it does makes sense, but that would mean submerged ceramic would need a bubbler to really be effective right?

You got it backwards.

Nitrification describes aerobic bacteria converting ammo into nitrItes and then nitrItes into nitrAtes. All bio media does this, but as a matter of surface area, bio balls are the least efficient bio media in the hobby when compared to scrubies, or ceramic media.

Now, DEnitrification <-- is the process of ANaerobic bacteria converting nitrAtes into nitrogen (completing the nitrogen cycle). Anaerobic bacteria grows in low oxygen environments, like deep inside of highly porous rocks (i.e. Seachem Matrix or lava rock). Bio balls and scrubies do not have the ability to house denitrifying bacteria.

 

[Aquaticfan]

You got it backwards.

Nitrification describes aerobic bacteria converting ammo into nitrItes and then nitrItes into nitrAtes. All bio media does this, but as a matter of surface area, bio balls are the least efficient bio media in the hobby when compared to scrubies, or ceramic media.

Now, DEnitrification <-- is the process of ANaerobic bacteria converting nitrAtes into nitrogen (completing the nitrogen cycle). Anaerobic bacteria grows in low oxygen environments, like deep inside of highly porous rocks (i.e. Seachem Matrix or lava rock). Bio balls and scrubies do not have the ability to house denitrifying bacteria.

Not to confuse matters but....

Actually, any media has the ability to house denitrifying bacteria. It then becomes a matter of how they are used.

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/diydenitratorplans/ss/sbscoildenitrat.htm

It can be used for freshwater or saltwater.

This filter design is the total opposite of the way a wet dry works. Its job is to rob oxygen and create anaerobic bacteria.


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