bioballs can be submerged just not the optimal way to use them, porous sponges, ehfisubstrat and Matrix are better submerged but remember Bacteria will grow on any available surface, gravel, tank walls , even Decorations but you need proper balance to nitrify waste products from the fish or other aquatic animals.
Can you submerge bio balls?
- Thread starter Rickross
- Start date
Why not?
I add a powerhead to circulate the bioballs like a moving bed filter (something you can't do with Matrix).
Serve me well, ammonia and nitrites are zero all the time.
I add a powerhead to circulate the bioballs like a moving bed filter (something you can't do with Matrix).
Serve me well, ammonia and nitrites are zero all the time.
Bioballs can be submerged and work quite well. There has been a lot of talk floating around about how they shouldn't be submerged, but it simply isn't true.
One advantage that bioballs have over ceramic media is that the surface area remains constant over a long time period. As ceramic media (or any porous media) ages it becomes fouled with biofilm. This will reduce the efficiency of the media considerably in the long run. Bioballs can be blasted with a hose every few years and they are good-as-new.
Lava rock is cheap, but it is also heavy and loaded with iron. Not to mention that it is not truly porous - the gas bubbles form a closed-cell "sponge" rather than open-cell.
Aquatic Ecosystems sells sponge plugs (cylinders) for use as media, if you like the sponge idea.
One advantage that bioballs have over ceramic media is that the surface area remains constant over a long time period. As ceramic media (or any porous media) ages it becomes fouled with biofilm. This will reduce the efficiency of the media considerably in the long run. Bioballs can be blasted with a hose every few years and they are good-as-new.
Lava rock is cheap, but it is also heavy and loaded with iron. Not to mention that it is not truly porous - the gas bubbles form a closed-cell "sponge" rather than open-cell.
Aquatic Ecosystems sells sponge plugs (cylinders) for use as media, if you like the sponge idea.
Matrix or pond matrix, ceramic media. Best for submerged, submerging bioballs is almost useless, i think green army men would be more effective submerged than bioballs
Thanks for all the help guys.I think I'm going to go with submerged matrix and bioballs combo.it looks like the matrix will get worse over time just like ceramic rings
Dan F;5156529; said:What do you base this on? Bioballs have a much greater surface area per volume than army men...
I bet they are similar, within the same order of magnitude.
I agree wholly with Dan.... There are a lot of people giving out information as fact, when in reality, they have no experience with the subject at hand... It makes it hard to guide folks in the right direction when you have 10 people on the thread that have already given incorrect advice.
