bio balls in fresh water

import_nation · 03-18-2007, 11:23 PM

how effective are bio balls in fresh water tanks? i took some bio max out of my canister filter and put some bio balls in to see if they would hold bacteria. there seems to be some sort of bacteria collecting and sticking into the balls but i wanted to know if bio max is more effective in housing bacteria or bio balls in a fresh water tank.

Damon · 03-19-2007, 07:26 AM

Bio-max and bioballs are the same thing. Different sizes but serve the same purpose.

**TheOldSalt** · 03-19-2007, 09:02 AM

In freshwater the balls would get covered in slimy brown goo after a time and that goo would grow to seriously reduce the water flow coverage in the media chamber, forcing the water to go into a few little streams, thereby drastically reducing the usefulness of the balls. If your tank were very lightly stocked and lightly fed, you could probably stave this off for a long time, but not many people who want to use balls tend to want a tank like that.

import_nation · 03-19-2007, 11:21 AM

what would the slimy brown goo come from? would washing them then work? i have a mix of bio max and bio balls in my canister.

Damon · 03-19-2007, 11:38 AM

Its the mulm and a bit of algae that gets clogged in there. Common no matter what you do.

Humpy · 04-20-2007, 01:24 PM

well as with any filter system you need to maintain and clean it

redpaulhus · 04-20-2007, 02:46 PM

Bio-balls (or similar media) are really at thier best in an open air filter system, such as a trickle or "wet/dry" filter - preferably a system where all solid waste is removed by a pre-filter or mechanical filter before the water reaches the bio-balls.
The whole point of bio-balls was to provide reasonable surface area AND large void spaces - this allows for two-fold filtration:
a) the water flows over a thin bio-film in a high-oxygen environment, leading to rapid bacteria growth and nitrification; and
b) direct removal of ammonia via outgassing

Neither of these are likely in a canister filter.
While plastic bio-balls have ok surface area, they really don't compare to the surface area modern ceramic or sintered glass media can provide (ie the little ceramic cylanders )

03-18-2007, 11:23 PM	#1
import_nation Fishy Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Age: 21 Posts: 20	bio balls in fresh water how effective are bio balls in fresh water tanks? i took some bio max out of my canister filter and put some bio balls in to see if they would hold bacteria. there seems to be some sort of bacteria collecting and sticking into the balls but i wanted to know if bio max is more effective in housing bacteria or bio balls in a fresh water tank.

03-19-2007, 07:26 AM	#2
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,971	Bio-max and bioballs are the same thing. Different sizes but serve the same purpose. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

03-19-2007, 11:38 AM	#5
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,971	Its the mulm and a bit of algae that gets clogged in there. Common no matter what you do. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

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03-19-2007, 09:02 AM	#3
TheOldSalt Darth Ichthyos Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,534	In freshwater the balls would get covered in slimy brown goo after a time and that goo would grow to seriously reduce the water flow coverage in the media chamber, forcing the water to go into a few little streams, thereby drastically reducing the usefulness of the balls. If your tank were very lightly stocked and lightly fed, you could probably stave this off for a long time, but not many people who want to use balls tend to want a tank like that.

03-19-2007, 11:21 AM	#4
import_nation Fishy Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Age: 21 Posts: 20	what would the slimy brown goo come from? would washing them then work? i have a mix of bio max and bio balls in my canister.

04-20-2007, 01:24 PM	#6
Humpy Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 167	well as with any filter system you need to maintain and clean it

04-20-2007, 02:46 PM	#7
redpaulhus fishgeek Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Boston Age: 38 Posts: 490	Bio-balls (or similar media) are really at thier best in an open air filter system, such as a trickle or "wet/dry" filter - preferably a system where all solid waste is removed by a pre-filter or mechanical filter before the water reaches the bio-balls. The whole point of bio-balls was to provide reasonable surface area AND large void spaces - this allows for two-fold filtration: a) the water flows over a thin bio-film in a high-oxygen environment, leading to rapid bacteria growth and nitrification; and b) direct removal of ammonia via outgassing Neither of these are likely in a canister filter. While plastic bio-balls have ok surface area, they really don't compare to the surface area modern ceramic or sintered glass media can provide (ie the little ceramic cylanders )

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