Bio Media

[blainep]

I'm looking for bio media suggestions.
I've run out of bio balls and I have discovered they're not cheap. I'm finishing up the construction of a sump for a tank rack I am finishing and need some ideas.

I've heard of people using plastic pot scrubbers, sounds like a good idea, but so far, all the plastic pot scrubbers I have found have ' Not For Aquarium Use' in big bold letters on them.

Another suggestion I have heard of was Lego blocks. Sounds like a good idea that I may end up using, although, if I recall, Lego isn't cheap either.

Just wondering if anyone had any other thoughts or suggestions.

[grumpystiltskin]

Ive heard of people using lots of plastic toy soldiers, lots of area on them for good bacteria growth, i think walmart might be a good source for these, and im sure they are quite cheap, I wouldnt be able to explain to my 3 yr old ,why im using his soldiers, but you should be fine :laugh:

[Melody]

You can get cheap Lego knock-offs. I suggest a trip to the dollar store, chances are you'll find something there that will work.. Then you can pick up bio balls at one of the Boxing Day sales. ::D:

[Soggybottom]

I use a hydroponic growing media sometimes, called hydroton. I bought a giant 50L bag which was like 30 bucks, I dunno if you can buy smaller quantities...

http://www.progressivegardens.com/growers_guide/hydroton.jpg

[blainep]

The toy soldiers is an interesting idea, or the Lego knockoffs. I imagine anything made for children would have to be made to meet certain health/safety regulations.

The hydroponics medium looks like a good idea as well.

I suppose, with surface area being what's needed, even aquarium gravel would work just fine. I have a Rubbermaid tub full of aquarium gravel outside.

A good washing off and it would probably do the job.

[Wiedertäufer]

those twirly nylon scrubby cleaners you can get for cheap work well. You can get bags of them at a dollar store, for example.

Like these but made out of plastic:
http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/874/5100408.JPG

Here's a plastic one, but the picture is small
http://image.ecplaza.net/offer/s/shuyingying/4188216_s.jpg

Another small picture:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31HRhteDOsL._SS500_.jpg

That should be enough for you to get the idea.

[blainep]

those twirly nylon scrubby cleaners you can get for cheap work well. You can get bags of them at a dollar store, for example.

Like these but made out of plastic:
http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/874/5100408.JPG

Here's a plastic one, but the picture is small
http://image.ecplaza.net/offer/s/shuyingying/4188216_s.jpg

Another small picture:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31HRhteDOsL._SS500_.jpg

That should be enough for you to get the idea.

I've seen them a couple times (I haven't been out on search mission yet) and they had 'Not for aquarium use' written them.
I'll have to spend some time looking around. There are a ton of dollar stores around here. One of them is bound to have what I want.

[Wiedertäufer]

The cheapest ones should be fine as they won't contain metal nor the anti-microbal plastic the more expensive ones contain. They should just be food safe plastic in a big coily bunch.

[Melody]

I suppose, with surface area being what's needed, even aquarium gravel would work just fine. I have a Rubbermaid tub full of aquarium gravel outside.

A good washing off and it would probably do the job.

I was thinking that but I don't use that filtration so I kept my off-the-wall suggestions to myself...lol. A porous rock would be perfection I would think, like lava rock.

[blainep]

I was thinking that but I don't use that filtration so I kept my off-the-wall suggestions to myself...lol. A porous rock would be perfection I would think, like lava rock.

Almost the freshwater equivalent of a live rock setup .

[Wiedertäufer]

Almost the freshwater equivalent of a live rock setup .

With our super soft water here in the Vancouver area, I'd actually go with a broken dead coral/sea rock, crushed coral or tufa rock as my biological medium in such a filter. It would work great and I'd get a nice pH/KH buffer as well.

If you have harder water already, lava rock doesn't effect pH, GK or KH does it?

[Melody]

I was thinking of Tufa first, seems perfect and its even light for a rock, but his water is already hard as... well... rocks....lol. Definitly a good idea for our water though, I use Tufa, coral & shells in my filters all the time.

Lava is inert, yup, or so I've read.

[PPulcher]

I use aquarium gravel in some of my box filters, and it works great. I also use BBQ lava rock, which might be a cheap option for you.

[hp10BII]

I've seen some weird suggestions (weird until I use them myself!), plastic strapping tape, pvc shavings, plastic hair rollers/curlers. I thought about those plastic pot scubbers, seen them @ our local Real Canadian SS 3 for $1.20, $1 Store about 3-4 to the bag. They seem to float though, so not sure how they'd do in your sump.

If you want to go commercial, I'm contemplating this for my next canister:

http://www.seachem.com/products/product_pages/Matrix.html

Best prices so far I've found:

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idProduct~SC3175~tab~0.html

[blainep]

I've seen some weird suggestions (weird until I use them myself!), plastic strapping tape, pvc shavings, plastic hair rollers/curlers. I thought about those plastic pot scubbers, seen them @ our local Real Canadian SS 3 for $1.20, $1 Store about 3-4 to the bag. They seem to float though, so not sure how they'd do in your sump.

If you want to go commercial, I'm contemplating this for my next canister:

http://www.seachem.com/products/product_pages/Matrix.html

Best prices so far I've found:

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idProduct~SC3175~tab~0.html (http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem%7EidProduct%7ESC3175%7Etab%7E0.html)

Interesting idea, I wonder if any local stores are carrying it.

[Soggybottom]

I've never seen a media that removes nitrates before...neato.

[hp10BII]

Interesting idea, I wonder if any local stores are carrying it.

I've seen them locally @ Petsmart & Big Al's carry it, but much more dinero than buying online!

[hp10BII]

I've never seen a media that removes nitrates before...neato.

I dunno...I'll believe it when I see it. I'd try it just because it's supposed to be good biomedia, if it remove nitrates it's a bonus. But I'll still stick to lots of water changes.

There's other compounds like dissolved organic solids and Oxidation or Reduction Potential of the water (ORP) that's not measured with our nitrate test kits. Don't ask :wink: , this is all Greek to me. Just in case you're curious:

http://www.canadiankoiandpond.ca/articles/article13.html

[Katalyst]

Someone I know uses shot gun wads. Which are plastic casings, apparantly you can get tons for about $10. I assume they look like this.

http://www.outdoorsuperstore.com/product.asp?CVA=BLACK+POWDER+SHOTGUN+WADS&prod=291993

[Wiedertäufer]

The shotgun wad idea is actually pretty good.

As for Seachem, I have never seen one of their products not do what it claimed to do.

[hp10BII]

http://www.tim-jansen.com/koi_step-by-step_filter-mat.htm

[CACAdmin]

Interesting idea, I wonder if any local stores are carrying it.
I was browsing the fish stores the other day and remembered this thread. I had forgotten which product had been discussed but I found the concept of something which removes nitrates interesting. Don't quote me on it but I think Roger's Aquatics (http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com) in Surrey had some 'Martrix'.

I ended up purchasing Kent Marine Nitrate Sponge (http://www.kentmarine.com/saltwater/filtration-media/nitrate-sponge.htm)which I think is a similar concept and is supposed to absorb ammonia and nitrates. I plan to try it in my box filter and in my small tanks (which require more water changes).

[PPulcher]

Seachem make Matrix and something called de Nitrate. Both are porus media that are supposed to have surface area for aerobic bacteria (the ones that process ammonia to nitrite and nitrate) and small spaces inside the media granules for anaerobic bacteria, that process the nitrates into N2 gas (or I think that is how it goes). I think it tries to mimic the idea of live rock used in marine aquaria.

I don't have any first hand experience with either media. Someone on another forum I frequent has been using it for a short time and has reported a reduction in nitrates. Have a look here for interest: http://www.petfish.net/forum/index.php/topic,65062.0.html