Cell-Pore VS Ehfisubstrat Pro

[tcarswell]

Surface area changes over time. Once any hard-porous biomedia (e.g., CellPore, Biomax, Matrix, etc) starts to fill with fine crud; the aerobic BB per/sq inch diminishes. That is why the manufacturers suggest replacing the bio-media every 6 months (downside being that you are starting the BB culture from scratch). I know you can always back flush each piece of biomedia with a hose attached to a faucet, but the chlorine would kill off the BB.

I believe a plain sponge or scrubbies, periodically rinsed in tank water, is the best biomedia.

You can rinse substrate pro and bio max in tank water and it has ten times the surface area.

 

[Lepisosteus platyrhincus]

when it comes down to it, cost is the thing. Stuff like biomax, is the best for biomedia, but cost can become an issue. it all depends on the cost

 

[vfc]

I rinse the CellPore and Matrix in tank water, but plenty of crud is still stuck deep inside. The only way to unclog the passage ways that allow water to pass through the biomedia and maintain the aerobic BB is to force the crud out with pressure.

I could fill a large container of tank water and use a high-pressure pump to flush the crud out of each piece; but that would be too time consuming and too much work.

Sponges are the way to go! I plan on replacing the CellPore and Matrix in my XP canisters with course grade sponges.

 

[Lepisosteus platyrhincus]

dont do it. sponges got way less bb area. just use a high pressure wash if you can.