how to make bio filtration for canister filters

[CHUPA CABRA]

does any body knows how to make, or what to use for bio filtration for a canister filter, instead of going to the lfs and spending the $$ on ceramic bio filtration? i have a canister filter with 4 big baskets that i need to fill.
i hear that small pieces of pvc is a good choice
what do you guys think? what do you have on your canister filter for bio filtration?

 

[Pharaoh]

Just put some nylon pot scrubbers in there. they have one of the highest concentrations of surface area. And they are cheap too!

 

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

Just put some nylon pot scrubbers in there. they have one of the highest concentrations of surface area. And they are cheap too!

They're crap for canisters, because they do not have much surface area compared to sintered glass or ceramics. If you want biofiltration in a canister, then there is no way around biomedia. Eheim offers different grades, from lava rocks to substrat pro. You should be able to find something for your budget. Don't try to cut corners when it comes to biofiltration!!!

Best of luck,
HarleyK

 

[Bderick67]

Howdy,



They're crap for canisters, because they do not have much surface area compared to sintered glass or ceramics. If you want biofiltration in a canister, then there is no way around biomedia. Eheim offers different grades, from lava rocks to substrat pro. You should be able to find something for your budget. Don't try to cut corners when it comes to biofiltration!!!

Best of luck,
HarleyK

I agree very well put Harley. I see people spend hundreds of dollars on the filters then skimp on the bio media. Buy some quailty media it is well worth it. Pot scrubbies are great for a wet/dry trickle set up but are not a good choice for submerged situations.

Not sure what filter the OP has but it would be a good idea to use some of that space as mechanical prefilter to keep the biomedia clean and gunk free.

 

[Nic]

i would trust regular gravel over scrubbies in a canister... you can get 3L of regular bio rings off aquaticeco.com for 20$ that be alot better.... even go to a local supply yard and get a few chucks of lava rock and use them with a hammer for anger management and cheap good bio media

 

[CHUPA CABRA]

THANKS GUYS. I FEEL BETTER NOW
I THINK IM JUST GOING TO SPEND THE $$$$
LIKE HARLEYK AND Bderic67 SAYS (DONT CUT CORNERS)
last question if you ck this thread again
which one is better ceramic or lava rocks?

 

[dwilder]

susubstrat pro is really good stuff some plastic media can be better than some of the cheap bio rings because its some what self cleaning and the bio rings clog pretty bad and the surface is blocked by film

 

[CHUPA CABRA]

so far i have all of these. if there is more fell free to ad them up.

ceramic rings
biomax
lava rock
matrix by seachem
ehfi substrat pro
susubstrat pro
now that i found what i was looking for, i need to know which one is best and wich one is not so best.. i only know of the first two.
i figure, this is for the long run, so im just going to buy the best there is.
now i need help from MFK to decide

 

[Nic]

i would use the rings substrate pro and matrix....

 

[FSM]

lava rocks have terrible surface area too

on petsmart.com, biomax is $12 per box. boxes are 500 grams (about 17.5 oz)
regular ehfisubstrat is $12 per 1 liter, which ways 2 pounds (900 grams)
matrix is $10 for half a liter, doesn't say the weight

ehfisubstrat seems like the best choice by far. or substrat pro if you feel like spending extra money.