Biological capacity

[Machine 79]

Which has the capacity to hold more beneficial bacteria? Filter sponges or bio media,( rings, balls, volcanic rock, pumice)?

 

[Rocksor]

Depends where you will put it. For instance, submerged plastic bioballs are less effective than plastic bioballs that are in a trickle filter. You can tell if you are borderline with biological capacity if you get a white bacterial bloom any time you service your filters. The white bacterial bloom is heterotrophic organic consuming bacteria. Otherwise, if your ammonia and nitrite is always 0ppm when you read it, then you have enough media. It's difficult to gauge which would do best in your aquarium, but here's an early guide

Beginners Guide to Filter Media | MonsterFishKeepers.com

 

[tlindsey]

Which has the capacity to hold more beneficial bacteria? Filter sponges or bio media,( rings, balls, volcanic rock, pumice)?

Most will say lava but all are about the same.

 

[duanes]

Most will say lava but all are about the same.

Agree with this, in reality, bio-media is just a surface area for bacteria to live on, and those bacterial populations ebb and grow with their food supply.
Some claim more interstitial spaces make a difference, but I've not seen any noticeable evidence in my tanks.
You will not have more bacteria just because you add more stuff, of course if you add more fish than before, the bacterial population will need to ramp up to meet supply.
You could provide too little and that would be reflected only in your testing for ammonia.
If your tank has been set up for a few months, and your ammonia testing reads a 0.00 or just a trace, you have enough media.
If you test after a couple months and your still getting high numbers than maybe you need more.
And whether that media is a sponge, or some bio balls, or some submerged old toothbrushes, the bacteria don't care as long as its a surface to grow on.
I have been experimenting for decades with bio balls, lava rock, fluidized media, and foam, and have never experienced one being better than the other.

 

[neutrino]

Agree with this, in reality, bio-media is just a surface area for bacteria to live on, and those bacterial populations ebb and grow with their food supply.

+1

And whether that media is a sponge, or some bio balls, or some submerged old toothbrushes, the bacteria don't care as long as its a surface to grow on.

Ha! Exactly.

For example, I experimented years ago and used nothing but old carbon and poly fluff or poly fluff only on a couple of tanks; both worked, though between the two I liked fluff only. There are differences in media in my experience, some media products are more durable and some more efficient per volume. I've tinkered and gotten appreciably better performance with some (superficially similar) products than others in the same filter. So I have some I like and some I toss and replace if they come with the filter.

I wouldn't say all products are equal, some are higher quality and efficiency; but as long as you provide enough volume, oxygen, and water flow you can make a lot of things work.