Bio>Lava<Ring?

[jcardona1]

here's the surface areas of popular bio media

http://www.wernersponds.com/biofiltermedia.htm

 

[jcardona1]

Okay. But lava rock doesn't have enough surface area to be worth wet-dry duty? Why is ceramic not recommended for wet-dry? I am assuming these questions are in line with the topic. If not, I'll start a different thread or search...

lava rock:

They do not allow water to flow through them, which wastes valuable filter space. All the little nooks and crannies in the faux Lava Rock eventually become clogged with algae, mulm, sand etc. making the effectiveness the same as throwing pieces of rock into your bio filter. There is also some concern that these clinkers contain heavy metals harmful to your aquatic environment. With most homemade bio filters there is a certain redundancy built in (bigger is better) so it will take some time depending on your stocking levels and filter system, for the lava rock bio filter to lose it's effectiveness.

Lava rock is inexpensive to replace but, over the long run it is a maintenance nightmare. The sheer weight, abrasiveness and time spent cleaning, should be enough to steer you away from this product. We've cleaned many a lava rock filter and I can tell you, that trying to clean this media with anything less than a steam power washer, is an exercise in futility and will not get it back to it's original surface area.

 

[jcardona1]

Okay. But lava rock doesn't have enough surface area to be worth wet-dry duty? Why is ceramic not recommended for wet-dry? I am assuming these questions are in line with the topic. If not, I'll start a different thread or search...

ceramic rings are highly porous and contain massive amounts of surface area. therefore, it makes sense for them to be submerged to take full advantage of all its surface area. bio balls and scrubbies arent porous, theyre solid material. so you need to rely on dripping water and high amounts of oxygen to house the beneficial bacteria

 

[sAroock]

hrmmmm i think ceramic it is.

I read somewhere that 1Kg of C.Ring suits for 240L (60G)... imma get 25kg, that'll be enough for my 210G...

So thats the bio media decided..... now suggestions for the first few layer of mechanical filter? Any home products?

 

[jcardona1]

i would incorporate a filter sock if you can