Table of Contents
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.
Are plastic bio balls good?
The foam is perfect for growing large colonies of nitrifying bacteria. It’s what makes a sponge filter so good at biological filtration – the process of ammonia and nitrites being converted to nitrates. With that said, bio balls are a larger media and will work best in a large sump or external filter.
How long does it take for bio balls to work?
Most new aquariums take 3-6 weeks to fully cycle, meaning that the nitrogen cycle can successfully process ammonia into nitrates.
How often do you change bio balls?
I definitely recommend cleaning your bio falls every four to six weeks. If you don’t clean your bio falls, then your mechanical filtration (filter mat) will become clogged with waste.
Do you need to change Bio balls?
Bio balls don’t really need replaced. They simply provide a foundation for the helpful bacteria to cling to. 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.
Which is better bio balls or ceramic rings?
Bio balls should only be used for biological filtration only. They simply exist to trap and remove waste. Ceramic rings will ultimately trap more bad stuff, but your bio balls will ultimately do a better job of denitrifying bacteria.
How many bio balls are needed per gallon?
Excellent filtration media for bacteria colonization; each bioball is approximately 1.5″ x 1.25″ in diameter. 750 bioballs equal 1 cubic foot, and 100 bioballs equal 1 gallon.
Where do you place bio balls?
Place the bio balls in the stream of water running through your fish tank’s filter. Although bio balls will catch some pieces of algae, they are not meant to be used as a physical filter. Installing them downstream of a filter membrane will help keep them from clogging.
How do you clean bio balls?
If you just want to clean the gunk out of the bio-balls and don’t care about the bacteria that is on them, just put your dirty bio-balls into an old pillow case and run it through your washing machine on the “gentle” cycle with a little laundry detergent for a few minutes.
What is inside bio balls?
Bio balls are small, pegged plastic balls mainly used as the biological media in aquarium filters. 2. These little plastic bio balls have TONS of surface area for the growth of bacteria for filtration. They are used as the biological media in salt water and fresh water aquariums as well as ponds.
How often should I replace Bio media?
Bio-media does clog over time, and it is recommended to provide clean filter media for effective colonization by bacteria. This family of nitrifying bacteria will benefit from partial media changes every 3-6 months to ensure clean porous surfaces are available.
How often do you have to clean filter balls?
Typically, cartridge filters need to be cleaned every two to six weeks. One of the most important factors that affect a cartridge filter operating effectively is that there not be too much flow through the filter. Too much flow significantly decreases the cartridge life and lowers the efficiency of the filter.
How often should BioMax be changed?
The BioMax ceramic rings will stay active for about 6 months. Since they have huge amounts of surface area for the beneficial bacteria that remove ammonia and nitrite, they will gradually clog those pores and tunnel and become inactive after that time.
Can I reuse old bio balls?
You can use them, but you’ll have to rinse detritus out of them frequently or they become a nitrate factory.
Do bio balls float?
Yes. They float. But when placed into a confined space they did fill the area no problem.
How often should I change my canister filter media?
Be sure to replace the filter media at least every three to four weeks and give the filter housing a quick rinse. If any algae or debris has accumulated in the intake tube, clean that as well.
What’s the best biological filter media?
Let’s move on now, and see what the 5 best bio-media filters are for your aquarium: Biohome Ultimate Filter Media. Buy on Amazon » This is the first pick on our list. Seachem Matrix Biological Media. Eheim Substrat Pro. Fluval Biomax Filter Media. BrightWater Aquatic Bio Media.
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.
Should I use bio balls in a reef tank?
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.
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.
How does Bio media work?
Biological media houses bacteria involved in the nitrogen cycle. It provides a larger surface area for beneficial nitrifying bacteria to colonize, where water can pass through the colonies, bringing nutrients and oxygen required for the nitrogen cycle. They can accommodate a lot of bacteria in a small space.
What is bio balls in a fish tank?
Bio-balls are plastic spheres designed to provide enormous amounts of surface area for microbes. We pump water from our fish tanks to the top of the bio-filter and shower the water down through the column of bio-balls, then pump it back out to the tanks.
How do filter balls work?
FilterBalls are engineered to get more water flow from lower pump speeds, allowing your pump to work more efficiently, using less power. Slower water velocity (not higher) is the key to better filtration. With your single speed pump, your flow will increase and clean more water with every kilowatt of power.
