How Important Is Bio Media?

[zennzzo]

My 2 cents...In heavy bio-load situations, and if all is working properly, yes, alot of people have more than enough filtration.
However should something go wrong, having multiple filters is a Godsend.

When it comes time to service the filtration, it makes me feel better to have cycled back-up just in case.

 

[vfc]

I have two HOBs and sand substrate for bio media in my 125G. I also have a power-head for additional water circulation. So I have plenty of bio-backup if one of my HOBs fail or a large fish dies generating a spike in ammonia.

 

[Toby_H]

The more we rely on filters to house bacteria the les bacteria we have living in the tank...

Thus in the situation such as a power outage our tanks are in greater danger by all of the "back ups" we tried to provide... Though I agree in other situations additional filtration has it's advantages...


VFC - I do not think it is shop owners or other retails suggesting more is better... I think it is people who think with their testosterone and not thieir brains ;-)

Some people say "bigger is better"... other people say "work (filter) smarter not harder"...


While I agree, if you are not going to take the time to fully understand the dynamics of filtration, overfiltration is the best option. What I hate seeing is people asking questions in attempts to learn the finer details, and people throwing out exagerated, poorly thought out, unjustified suggestions...

Do whatever you want to do with your own tanks... but please do not force speculation or assumptions on others...

 

[Danger_Chicken]

"After this point would it not come down to WC's for dealing with the Nitrates? "

That is the #1 limiting factor to how many fish you can keep in an aquarium.

BTW - I think some of the folks who constantly say there is no such thing as over-filtration and talk about their multiple FX5's, etc., are actually aquarium shop owners or filter company representatives. Benefits to them are obvious.

The mulitple canisters do have the benefit of mechanical filtration. And as zennzzo stated, additional filters during maintenance so you do lose your cycle.

I think one of the questions with all this, is How do you know if you have enough filtration?

Is it when you always have 0 Ammonia and Nitrite? If it is all being converted to Nitrate then what more could additional filtration add from a bio point to your tank? (I am asking because I do not know)

After this point would it not come down to WC's for dealing with the Nitrates?

This is correct once you have enough media to handle the Am and Nitri the rest just sits there taking up space (and money). The Am and nitri is the BB food, the population can't grow beyond the food source.

My 2 cents...In heavy bio-load situations, and if all is working properly, yes, alot of people have more than enough filtration.
However should something go wrong, having multiple filters is a Godsend.

When it comes time to service the filtration, it makes me feel better to have cycled back-up just in case.

Valid points but I can't help taking a friendly good natured jab at you...you sell bio media!

 

[bullwinkle]

a couple of really smart, amazing ppl have posted here--including the op, of course. if i may dumb it down to an incredibly simple level: scrubbies cost almost nothing. WHAT CAN IT HURT to "overdo it?"

while i appreciate all the thought that went into the oP and subsequent posts, it seems like the OP is mainly raging against high-priced "BIO MEDIA" but tons of ppl here use scrubbies which are cheap as hell. so what is the harm in that? even if it is technically/scientifcally OVERKILL, who cares?

That being said, I REALLY REALLY value these types of posts on MFK. Scientific, throrughly thought-out, etc. Great stuff ITT!

Also one thing to add as a counter to the OP: As petty as this may be, HOB filters are loud and an eyesore.

 

[zennzzo]

The mulitple canisters do have the benefit of mechanical filtration. And as zennzzo stated, additional filters during maintenance so you do lose your cycle.

This is correct once you have enough media to handle the Am and Nitri the rest just sits there taking up space (and money). The Am and nitri is the BB food, the population can't grow beyond the food source.

Valid points but I can't help taking a friendly good natured jab at you...you sell bio media!

Correct,
but only to those "consenting adults" that know what they want,
and cheaper than the dollar store I might add...

(>>insert shameless "SCRUBBIES for SALE" plug<<)

 

[H]-[H]

The more we rely on filters to house bacteria the les bacteria we have living in the tank...

Thus in the situation such as a power outage our tanks are in greater danger by all of the "back ups" we tried to provide... Though I agree in other situations additional filtration has it's advantages...

May I ask if we don't rely on filters to house bacteria, then where will the bacteria come from.. & how do we keep more bacteria in the tank?

 

[zennzzo]

May I ask if we don't rely on filters to house bacteria, then where will the bacteria come from.. & how do we keep more bacteria in the tank?

Bacteria will colonize on every surface that the water touches...What makes media more desirable is that for a given volume there is a greater surface area. So like a SCRUBBIE fits in a 3 x 3 x 1 inch area and provides massive amounts of surface area, compaired to the 30 sq inches that 3 x 3 x 1 figures out to...

 

[cichlid2006]

May I ask if we don't rely on filters to house bacteria, then where will the bacteria come from.. & how do we keep more bacteria in the tank?

from what i understand he is suggesting that you can get your freshwater tank to be the filter, much like saltwater keepers have been doing for years by using lots of live rock and powerheads.
effectively your decor and tank surfaces become the bio media.

 

[Toby_H]

while i appreciate all the thought that went into the oP and subsequent posts, it seems like the OP is mainly raging against high-priced "BIO MEDIA" but tons of ppl here use scrubbies which are cheap as hell. so what is the harm in that? even if it is technically/scientifcally OVERKILL, who cares?

Actually, my biggest complaint is "experienced" people telling new people they "need" bio media... or they "should" use it... when in many (most) cases it is not "necessary" but instead is an option they may "choose"...

I highly advocate giving people an honest education, and if you don't have the know-how to do so, wait for someone who can...

May I ask if we don't rely on filters to house bacteria, then where will the bacteria come from.. & how do we keep more bacteria in the tank?

Bacteria will grow on anything, and grows in abundance in sand, gravel, driftwood, etc, etc...

Also the quantity or volume of bacteria required to oxidize/process ammonia is quite small... The gravel or sand of a tank is plenty of space to host enough bacteria to support a typically stocked Cichlid tank...