Plastic Beads

[Zhewitt04]

I work at a plastics company and can get my hands on some plastic beads and or small molded parts. Does anyone see any benefit to this vs. pot scrubbers, lava rock or ceramic rings? I just want to try to use my resources as best as possible.
Thanks

 

[BIG-G]

As long as they are safe and dont have any chemicals attached or that could leach out later.
Go for it. It may not give you the surface area some of the other products you mention, but it may work.

 

[esoxlucius]

I too work in the plastics industry. Just before xmas we had a delivery of several tonnes of polypropylene bottle caps in. I had no hesitation in taking a few hundred home and putting them in mesh bags. They're in my sump now full of BB. As mentioned by BIG-G the surface area will never be as good as bio balls for example but little plastic components and what not are ideal as part of your bio media mix. Just be very aware that you don't use plastics with flame retardants in for example. Last thing you need is harmful chemicals leaching into your water.