Bio-Media Question!!!

[PredatorPiqued]

So I just ordered (2) Ac110 filters, it came with their own bags of bio media. How ever I have intentions on using different media other then what was provided with the filters, I'd like to try the biohome media.
So my big question is, if I've already slightly used the media that came with the filters, would I be able to bag up/store or somehow save and reuse this media once I switch over to the biohome?

 

[tlindsey]

So I just ordered (2) Ac110 filters, it came with their own bags of bio media. How ever I have intentions on using different media other then what was provided with the filters, I'd like to try the biohome media.
So my big question is, if I've already slightly used the media that came with the filters, would I be able to bag up/store or somehow save and reuse this media once I switch over to the biohome?

Yes absolutely it's basically surface area for live bacteria to cultivate on. Place and store in a cool dry place. If you had a sump you could toss it in and it would be seeded for a future setup or extra filter.

 

[Blakewater]

I’d try to bag them together and use both haha the more the merrier!

 

[duanes]

Since biomedia is just a surface area for beneficial bacteria to form biofilm on, surface area is an important consideration.
But the idea that one brand of this or that, being so much better than another , is a bit of hyperbole.
I have used rings, fluidized beds, rotating biological contractors, and simple lava rock, and none have been any better than another.
As long as ammonia and nitrite are gone from a cycled tank, you know they are working. In realty that's all biomedia does, provide space for ammonia and nitrite consumers.
And you don't get more beneficial bacteria just because you use a particular type. If you have 2 medium fish, the population of benificial bacteria in the tank and filter, will reflect those 2 fish, the bacterial population will not grow more than its food supply.
If you add 2 more fish that bacterial population will grow to meet the food to microorganism ratio, and so on and so on.
The surface area only really comes into consideration if you over stock you tank with fish, and there is not enough room to grow the population needed to handle the ammonia/nitrite load.
In this case its time to add another filter or 2, or large sump with buckets of extra media, not just a few extra feet of surface area

 

[PredatorPiqued]

I’d try to bag them together and use both haha the more the merrier!

Yes you are correct, how ever I wanted to stack up as much biohome instead of the included media.
But initially just wanted to save the included media because, well I'm just a saver of things, like if somebody else needed it, or for some reason I end up needing it.

 

[PredatorPiqued]

Since biomedia is just a surface area for beneficial bacteria to form biofilm on, surface area is an important consideration.
But the idea that one brand of this or that, being so much better than another , is a bit of hyperbole.
I have used rings, fluidized beds, rotating biological contractors, and simple lava rock, and none have been any better than another.
As long as ammonia and nitrite are gone from a cycled tank, you know they are working. In realty that's all biomedia does, provide space for ammonia and nitrite consumers.
And you don't get more beneficial bacteria just because you use a particular type. If you have 2 medium fish, the population of benificial bacteria in the tank and filter, will reflect those 2 fish, the bacterial population will not grow more than its food supply.
If you add 2 more fish that bacterial population will grow to meet the food to microorganism ratio, and so on and so on.
The surface area only really comes into consideration if you over stock you tank with fish, and there is not enough room to grow the population needed to handle the ammonia/nitrite load.
In this case its time to add another filter or 2, or large sump with buckets of extra media, not just a few extra feet of surface area

Oh wow really!? So ultimately unless I have a really stocked tank, upgrading the media is just about pointless?? I'm still new to the hobby about 1st year, and somtimes I believe everything I read, nothing but good intentions though for my fishies

 

[kno4te]

Oh wow really!? So ultimately unless I have a really stocked tank, upgrading the media is just about pointless?? I'm still new to the hobby about 1st year, and somtimes I believe everything I read, nothing but good intentions though for my fishies

Upgrading the media doesn’t make a difference. They all work as long as u got fish in the tank to continue cycle. Any media u pick will work and do the same job.

 

[PredatorPiqued]

Upgrading the media doesn’t make a difference. They all work as long as u got fish in the tank to continue cycle. Any media u pick will work and do the same job.

That puts it into better perspective then, I understand what your saying now. That the bacteria colony is based off the waste produced in the tank.

 

[deeda]

Just rinse off the slightly used media in tap water, spread it out to dry and then put it in a ziploc type bag to store it.

 

[DN328]

That puts it into better perspective then, I understand what your saying now. That the bacteria colony is based off the waste produced in the tank.

That's correct. I sometimes see keepers with relatively low stock or just one single big fish. Unless they planned to get much more I often wondered if there need for the stacks and stacks of bio-media. Not to mention decor in the tank for BB to grow. I soppose better than not enough.