Please Explain - Filter Media !

[petro_chemicals]

Can someone "WITH EXPERIENCE" please review the post on beginners guide to MEDIA !

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88677

Can someone plaese clarify some of the surface area statements !
OK... in that thread it's stated -
Japanese matting 120
Foam 75-175
Natural Sponge (like the stuff at the beach) 100
Scours 150-200
Body Scrubbers 75
Scrubbies 370
Bio Balls 100-175
Lava Rock 15-25

I've been keeping fish for quite some time now, (along time actually! ), (all kinds), so here goes..PLEASE EXPLAIN....
How can the popular round Scrubbies have more surface area than the larger shower Scrubber (which is made from the same material !) ? and how can Boi Balls have more than the shower scrubber ??? Also, how could one possibly say SCORIA or LAVA ROCK be stated at 15-25. I have used Lava Rock all my life and NEVER had amonia ! How could bio balls be better than the lava rock when immersed under water ???????????

I am currently giving advise to someone with their pond 3 bay filter, with what media to put where in what stage. That post above just confused everyone ! Half of the responses were NA'

 

[knifegill]

How can the popular round Scrubbies have more surface area than the larger shower Scrubber (which is made from the same material !) ?

A: If you melt a shower scrubber down, there is less nylon actually there than you'd find in a kitchen scrubbie. Even though there is a great deal of surface area in the shower scrubber, it is arranged in inconvenient lobes with empty space between them. A dish scrubbie is pleasantly compacted and folded into itself well, but contains more surface area because there is less "space between" in it. Does that make sense?

and how can Boi Balls have more than the shower scrubber ???

Same reason. Less compact for the diameter of the shower scrubber. But that sort of surprises me, too. I wonder if they were picturing something other than what we are.

Also, how could one possibly say SCORIA or LAVA ROCK be stated at 15-25. I have used Lava Rock all my life and NEVER had amonia ! How could bio balls be better than the lava rock when immersed under water ???????????

Because with lava rock, you only get the outer few mm of usable space and most of the inside of the rock is just inert, wasted space. You've probably never had ammonia because you still had plenty of bio-surface to work with. That means you could have ditched your bucket full of lava rock for a handful or scrubbies to the same effect. And with responsible stocking and feeding practices, it's no surprise your water stays in good shape, whatever you use for bio as long as it's just enough.

 

[petro_chemicals]

Thanks for the quick response, much appreciated, but do you think you or one of the moderators could review MEDIA surface area comparsons ??? It's such a HUGE topic because we all have to work out what media to put where in limited spaces, and usually more often than not, to deal with over-stocked situations !!! And let's face it, IF YOU CANT KEEP YOUR FILTER ALIVE, YOU CANT KEEP "FISH" ALIVE !!! cheers

 

[knifegill]

I agree that some of the statements could use a little backing up. PM the author and see what happens.