Ceramic 'Live' Bio Rings

[islandguy11]

Anyone every tried anything like this in their filter? -- bio rings (I guess) infused with helpful bacteria. Not sure if they're effective or just snake oil...Maybe helpful in starting up a new tank but not so useful in an already cycled tank? Could they even throw off a well-balanced cycle?

Made in CA, USA, I've just ordered some from a shop at Chatuchak Market and may give it a try. Costs about $25 for a 5L bucket, not overly priced I think -- here in Thailand Eheim Subtrat Pro costs about $25L for just 1L (just got in 3L of that too).

Any opinions would be appreciated.



Benefit :
pH Neutral, do not produce any chemical agent. However if too many added it can decrease pH because anaerobic bacteria too bloom. Freshwater resistant, will not decompose, suitable for both marine and fresh water aquarium, fish pond and other industries PetLifeEliteR CeramicLiveBioRings20TM is very clean by washing processes and disinfection with UV & ozone before add deionized water then add Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter. PetLifeEliteR CeramicLiveBioRings20TM has area 1,880 m2 per liter more than 18 times the ability to cultvate nitrifying bateria than general ceramic ring. Do not need to wash it with water before use.

Do not need to change these rings after used.

Directions :
Product ready to use.
Do not to washing the ceramic !!!!!!
1) Pour PetLifeEliteR CeramicLiveBioRings20TM with water
into the filter tank.
2) Add PetLifeEliteR NitroBacteriaTM and waiting the water
clear within 2-3 hours.

To Calculate :
Width (inc) x Length (inc) x Height (inc) x 0.015625 = Volume (liters)
For example
20" x 48" x 20" x 0.015265 = 300 liters
Width (cm) x Length (cm) x Height (cm) / 1000 = Volume (liters)
For example
50 cm x 120 cm x 50 cm / 1000 = 300 liters

Ingredents :
Ceramic 100% , Deionized water
Extra : Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter
(ProdibioR BioDigestTM 1ml)

Contain no ammonia, nitrate, phosphate.
Microbiological, parasitological and virological analyses PetLife Laboratory, CA, USA.
None of Salmonella , Listeria monocytogenes, Helminthes (viable eggs) and Enterovirus.

Specification :
Diameter : 20x20 mm
Area Surface : ≥1880m2 / liter
Benzene Adsorption : 100%
Moisture Content : 100%
Ash Content : ≤ 0%
PH : No Effect
Hardness : ≥90%
C.T.C. : ≥80%
Contact Time : 15 mins

 

[islandguy11]

Their website, http://www.petlifeinc.com/ (still under development), has (or will have) quite a few interesting fish care products. Says they're located in LA, California but the way the text is written I'd take an educated guess the proprieter(s) are likely Thais living in US. They claim on their About Us page to be "America's largest pet pharmacy", which I kinda wonder about/doubt, but the products look pretty legit.

 

[islandguy11]

I guess maybe nobody has heard of or tried such live bio rings -- though I was hoping some of MFK's more knowledgeable members could comment on the basic theory of the product...

Besides possible overall effectiveness, what I'm mostly wondering about is: whether or not adding the extra (aerobic) Nitrosomonas & Nitrobacter in the live bio rings will possibly throw off my cycle, which has 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and about 30 mg/l nitrates (which are slowly but surely reducing as the anaerobic bacteria are building up in my 3 month old 80g tank with just 1 X 7" growing kamfa flowerhorn). Will adding such aerobic bacteria possibly increase my nitrates due to likely additional breakdown of ammonia & nitrite?

 

[TwoHedWlf]

Will adding such aerobic bacteria possibly increase my nitrates due to likely additional breakdown of ammonia & nitrite?

No, not unless you currently have a significant amount of ammonia or nitrites that aren't being converted to nitrate. All adding more bacteria will do is cause them to starve and die off until they reach equilibrium with your livestock's production.

 

[islandguy11]

Thx for your input TwoHedWlf -- maybe stupid question, but if the bacteria in the live bio rings did starve and die, I guess those 'bio' rings would thereafter pretty much just be like regular ceramic rings, right -- or could those bacteria come back to life if ammonia/food levels went up?

Also seeing this product does raise the question why others, e.g. Eheim, SeaChem, aren't infusing their filter media with similar bacteria (least as far as I know). Even with Biohome Ultimate, while they might be adding trace elements they're not adding any bacteria. Perhaps it's a complex process (either that or Petlife is possibly selling a product that doesn't really work).

 

[TwoHedWlf]

Thx for your input TwoHedWlf -- maybe stupid question, but if the bacteria in the live bio rings did starve and die, I guess those 'bio' rings would thereafter pretty much just be like regular ceramic rings, right

Yep.

-- or could those bacteria come back to life if ammonia/food levels went up?

No, but the bacteria would reproduce and spread.

Also seeing this product does raise the question why others, e.g. Eheim, SeaChem, aren't infusing their filter media with similar bacteria (least as far as I know). Even with Biohome Ultimate, while they might be adding trace elements they're not adding any bacteria. Perhaps it's a complex process (either that or Petlife is possibly selling a product that doesn't really work).

I think your last sentence is probably the key one...

 

[jwh]

I've never heard of, or seen this, but according to the discription these ring come packed in bacteria infused water?
So it's like the ring are in a medium similar to Seachem Stabilty?
Wouldn't it be cheaper to buy ceramic ring and add Seachem stability to the tank?

 

[shookONES]

My $.02...

If you've got an existing, established tank running and these "live" media come at a premium, save your money. I'd add fresh, dry media to your system and let it colonize. Its a rapid process so they'll be seeded in a matter of days.

 

[islandguy11]

Thx for everyone's input; in fact I decided to pass on these 'live' ceramic rings and just stick with Eheim Subtrat Pro & Bio Mech as my main filter media.