Hey everyone, I recently read about people using plastic package strapping in canister filters as bio-media. Well, Im able to get a massive roll from work that we can't use for free. Its about 1/4" or 3/8" wide. My question however, is how would I pack it into the basket? Do I just pack it in randomly to create lots of air pockets etc, or should I braid it and coil it into the basket? Any help would be appreciated. Also, I just made a styrofoam and concrete background, and I left a large corner open for a heater and the intake for the canister. I was thinking of putting a bunch of pot scrubbers in there too in the unused space. Would this be effective as additional bio media? and if so, how often do you suggest removing it to clean them and under them? Thanks for any and all help. I know you guys have all the answers!
Strapping as bio-media
- Thread starter cmjdjm1
- Start date
ya, it is extremely cheap....free in my case. But apparently it works realy well, or so people have said.
The gist of it...or so my deranged brain interpreted it....was that it gave the bacteria loads of surface area to attach to depending on how you loaded it. So if it makes such a good bio-media, I should leave it in and just do a periodic rinse to it. Removing it would be removing the beneficial bacteria that had attached to it.
Forget it. Strapping, off cuts of plastic straws any crap like that does not belong in a canister !
For a canister filter you want to put the most efficient bio media you can inside. Normally bio media types such as ceramic rings, sintered glass noodles, matrix, efisubstrate etc are the preffered choice.
Plastic strapping, and off cuts are fine to add your system for extra bio capacity if you have a sump or large water chamber and would like to fill any spare space with it. Plastic isn't a very efficient form of bio media.
For a canister filter you want to put the most efficient bio media you can inside. Normally bio media types such as ceramic rings, sintered glass noodles, matrix, efisubstrate etc are the preffered choice.
Plastic strapping, and off cuts are fine to add your system for extra bio capacity if you have a sump or large water chamber and would like to fill any spare space with it. Plastic isn't a very efficient form of bio media.
Anything with surface area can be a bio-media. Even the walls in your canister house those bacterias. So I say why not? As long as your ammonia and nitrites are zero, it means those plastic straps have provide sufficient area for bacteria to fully colonize
ya, ammonia and nitrites are zero, and my nitrates are even nice and low too. I've got ceramic rings in there now, and filter pads, but I was contemplating taking out one of the filter pads since they always seem to be relatively clean anyways and adding something else. I was hoping on getting away from spending any more money if possible. I hear people have used it successfully in canisters, but Im still just torn as to how to fit it in there. I know for the bacteria to grow everywhere, it would need space in between the pieces, so coiling it up into one big coil probably wouldnt work at all. I thought doing loose braids and then coiling that up into the basket might work, but wasn't sure if anyone else had any ideas, or experience using stuff like this. Like I said, I do already have ceramic rings, and 3 trays of pads, so Im covered even if it doesnt do much.
I think it will work fine, but maybe not as good a the ceramic rings. Just my opinion, not based on any scientific data!
cmjdjm1;5014407; said:
Thats the statement that says "I'm good for now, no modifications/adjustments needed"