Is BioMax the real king of Bio media??

[Ramesh]

I found this on the forum and wanted to know what other MFK think?
I use BioMax, Matrix and Substrate pro but always though the BioMax was the poor relation in this trio.
Maybe it turns out that it trumps both its more expensive competitors!!

Check out the link http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=113939&page=2

For all the scrubbie fans which I am one of I do not subscribe to using them submerged and think of them as the best bang for your buck DIY wet/dry filter media. Sorry Zennzzo!

 

[Cliff519]

I use nothing but Biomax and sponges in my filters. Water parameters are always 0-0-5.

You can't argue with results.

 

[Bderick67]

I use nothing but Biomax and sponges in my filters. Water parameters are always 0-0-5.

You can't argue with results.

You implying that your results would differ with another brand of bio media?

You do know that the bio max has nothing to do with your "5." result, right?

 

[aclockworkorange]

Correct me if I'm wrong but:

1) The size of your bacteria colony is only relevant to the size of your bioload
2) I've run both... I am currently running both. The shape of biomax sometimes leads to clogs and reduced flow. You can have all the surface area in the world, but if you can't get to it, what's the point? Doesn't physics dictate that a round object will encounter less resistance? Why are balls used in sports round?

My point is, there are more things to consider than just surface area. I don't go out and find the "best" car on paper, when in reality the seats suck, the trunk is too small, and the layout of the interior is all wrong... Numbers don't replace real world testing, we see this time and again.
I'd like to see some real world testing proving that in a home aquarium one is more effective than the other.

 

[JK47]

Surface area is surface area, some is just more expensive... Generic surface area is the same as expensive brands surface area like biomax and substrat pro. Bacterial colonies are not snobish or brand loyal lol... IMO a good portion of your surface area goes to waste when overfiltered as most MFK'ers are. Example: lets say you buy 5 liters of "X" but you likely only have an established bacterial colony on 1 liter of "X", the rest being excess depending on your bioload. So if one has slightly more surface area does it really matter?

So long as your perams are flawless, who cares.. In all honesty I prefer sponge filters these days over spendy media/filter. So many more options/more flexability to work with.

 

[Lily]

Surface area is surface area, some is just more expensive... Generic surface area is the same as expensive brands surface area like biomax and substrat pro. Bacterial colonies are not snobish or brand loyal lol... IMO a good portion of your surface area goes to waste when overfiltered as most MFK'ers are. Example: lets say you buy 5 liters of "X" but you likely only have an established bacterial colony on 1 liter of "X", the rest being excess depending on your bioload. So if one has slightly more surface area does it really matter?

So long as your perams are flawless, who cares.. In all honesty I prefer sponge filters these days over spendy media/filter. So many more options/more flexability to work with.

Agreed, surface area is surface area. So it doesn't really matter if you use BioMax, Matrix, or Substrate pro in my opinion. Most people on MFK overdue bio filtration, which isn't a bad thing, but they are probably wasting a bit of it. Your bacteria colony can only be as big as your bio-load allows.

I will stick to my dollar store media for now.

 

[cichlid2006]

I think that many people waste their money when they buy all these expensive items because of the clever marketing.
While I do not dispute their effectiveness at holding more bacteria when the biological filter is pushed to its maximum capacity, for the average hobbiest (even overstocking) I do think that a bacterial colony on my really cheap (not scrubby cheap cos I couldn't get them) media is just as effective as a bacterial colony on something like biomax.
There will be no performance difference and the only way you will ever use your expensive media to its maximum potential is to do it in a lab, that would be my best guess anyway.
I can get 2 or 3 times as much ceramic for the price of one box of biomax. They all do the same job. I also get more change out of a tenner per box.

Your nitrate levels have absolutely nothing to do with what bio media you use, if you use any bio specific media.

 

[komodo182]

I use biomax in some of my tanks and biowheels in some and some dollar store sponges in another. All the tanks are at the same level for ammonia and nitrite, so I would say pick whatever bio media you like.