Table of Contents
Bio Balls can be used in saltwater aquariums but if left uncleaned they easily trap detritus which can lead to high nitrates & phosphates. They provide a large surface area for nitrifying bacteria to colonize however newer technology is available to work more efficiently & require less maintenance.
Are bio balls good or bad?
Now, you may have been warned that bio balls are no good for your aquarium because they can become a nitrite factory. Dead leaves, poop, uneaten fish food and other waste can become trapped in the bio balls’ patterned structure.
How do you clean bio balls in a saltwater tank?
Turn off the filter. Remove about 1/4 of the bio-balls from the filter chamber and place them into the container with the saltwater. Stir and swish the bio-balls around in the saltwater to break all the gunk or organic matter loose that is stuck on them. If they are extremely dirty, you may have to repeat this step.
Which is better bio balls or ceramic rings?
Bio balls only carry nitrifying bacteria. Ceramic noodles can carry both nitrifying bacteria on the surface and denitrifying bacteria inside. That makes ceramic rings the hands down winner since they can carry both types of bacteria. You see, ceramic rings increase their surface area through tiny little pores.
Where do bio balls go in a sump?
They are not intended to trap detritus and particles, and if you are using them in the sump, should be placed in the area of your sump least likely to come into contact with detritus, normally closest to the return. Detritus should be removed through other forms of filtration such as a filter socks or filter sponges.
Where do you put bio balls in a pond?
The Pond Guy BioBalls filter media can be placed in any pond that requires additional filtration. The BioBalls can be placed in skimmer boxes, waterfall filters, or directly in your pond to increase the available surface area for beneficial bacteria.
Can I reuse old bio balls?
They are very good for a bio filter, but the byproduct is that it produces a lot of nitrates. You can use them, but you’ll have to rinse detritus out of them frequently or they become a nitrate factory.
Can I use both bio balls and ceramic rings?
Bio balls can only carry nitrifying bacteria but ceramic rings carry both nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria. The pores of ceramic rings offer extra space for bacteria to live. But they can get clogged easily and even permanently blocked.
Do bio balls need to be replaced?
Bio balls don’t really need replaced. They simply provide a foundation for the helpful bacteria to cling to. In fact replacing them would remove a huge amount of good bacteria that you need.
What are bio balls made of?
Our Bio balls are made of high-quality polypropylene, which makes them a secure & reliable biofilter media for fresh and saltwater. They are manufactured for use in koi and water garden ponds, freshwater fish tanks, saltwater aquariums, aquaponics, fish hatcheries, and much more.
How long do Bio balls take to work?
Most new aquariums take 3-6 weeks to fully cycle, meaning that the nitrogen cycle can successfully process ammonia into nitrates.
Can you clean bio media?
You do not need any chemicals. Just use your hand and stir up the media really good in tank water in an appropriate size bucket. Every 6mo or so I clean my ehiem 2217. I do this on a water change day.
What do bio balls do in a pond?
Bio balls are used to hold the beneficial bacteria from your tank and not for removing waste products from the system. We recommend that these are used after the water flows through filter foam as the foam will catch and remove any debris from the water meaning these will not get stuck in the groves of the Bio balls.
When should I replace ceramic media?
How often change ceramic media? Replacing some of the media every year or so can help to keep the filtration efficiency. Never replace more than 1/3rd of your media at one time and wait at least a month before replacing any more.
Can you have too much bio media?
Can you have too much bio media? Yes, especially in a planted tank where the plants are doing a lot of the bio filtration. The excess volume of bio media may take up the space in the filter that could be better used by more mechanical media.
How long does bio balls last?
How long do Bio-Balls last? Bio-Balls are made to have a large SA to encourage the growth of marine nitrifying bacteria. Once they have a stable poulation, changing them would leave you without all of the bacteria that had grown there. They should last forever.
How often should bio balls be replaced?
Fluval says – About half of your Fluval Bio-Max media should be replaced approximately every 6 months – it is not recommended that you replace all of the Bio Max filter media at one time because to do so would upset the balance of beneficial bacteria in your aquarium.
How many bio balls are needed per gallon?
How Many Bio Balls To Use Per Gallon? Of course, this depends on your specific tank set up, but a good general rule is to use about 2.2 gallons of bio balls per 100 gallons of water in your tank.
What can replace bio balls?
Bioballs are nothing more than surface area for nitrifying bacteria to colonize onto. A better replacement would be a sand bed or porous rock.
How do you clean ball filters?
➔ Simple maintenance. Remove the Aqualoon balls from the filter, rinse off large dirt and waste, place it in a laundry bag, wash in washing machine at 30°C, let dry and put it back in the tub for the pool filtration system.
What is the best biological filter media?
Biofilter Media Reviews
- Fluval BioMax Bio Rings. Fluval BIOMAX bio rings are composed of silica and aluminum oxide formed into a porous ring.
- Fluval Bio Foam. Fluval Bio Foam is manufactured from a dense, porous foam material.
- Seachem Matrix.
- Eheim Substrat Pro.
- CerMedia MarinePure.
- Marineland Biofilter Balls.
- Bio-Chem Stars.
Is lava rock better than ceramic rings?
Lava Rock – What Are the Differences? Lava rock provides more surface area for beneficial bacteria to grow when compared to ceramic rings. It is thus more effective for water filtration.
