Advice Re Ceramic Rings

[Mamba]

Hi Folks,

I have been reading lately on various forms of filter media. Firstly I am restricted to Internal filtration so the media will be fully submerged. The idea is to beef up my internal filtration as much as I can. I will be essentially having mechanical filtration via a pair of sponge filters in one end of the tank, there will be a powerhead obviously attached to a large plastic box . But where I am stuck is to what type of media.

The idea is to have first mechanical filtration into rectangular box containing some form of media. There will be a link pipe between that and the large box that will also contain media and have the powerhead mounted on top.

From what i've read thus far bioballs are out as they need a wet/dry environment to work. The ceramic rings seem to provide the biological filtration from what i've read. I just want to check with you in the know what is best, is there any other media I should use for this application? I have the opportunity of using a lot of media and want to know which is the best to use for maximum gains and for biggest bang for buck.

All help, as always very gratefully received.

 

[dannybgoode]

AFIK bioballs don't need a wet/dry set up - I am using them fully submerged in my external filter. Ceramic rings are good also, I happen to run both.

Don't forget lots of bacteria will populate your sponges also. In days gone by sponges is all we used...

Cheers

Danny B

 

[Aquascaper]

Bacteria will colonised anything, the amount of surface area available is what counts.

 

[Mamba]

I read all sorts of posts that said that bio balls cause high nitrates.That's the last thing I need as i'm in the process of getting the Nitrates down from 80ppm. Here is one suh post from another forum, although this seems to be for a marine tank:

"This is a simplified explanation as I understand the process. If I am wrong or omit anything I hope someone with a better understanding will correct me.

I assume you are using some sort of 'wet/dry' system and thats where your bio balls are. Water from your tank is sprayed or trickles over them creating a high oxygen enviroment This creates almost ideal living conditions for certain bacteria that break down amonia/amonium to nitrite. These same conditions are good for another set of bacteria that utilize nitrite and leave nitrate as waste. These 'trickle filters 'are very effecient for this part of the 'nitrogen cycle' . These filters are not however good for the final step in the 'cycle' which is to convert nitrate to nitrogen gas. This requires another set of bacteria that do not thrive in the oxygen rich enviroment of your trickle filter. Thus the water coming from these filters are high in nitrate. "

I must confess there does seem to be alot of conflicting material out there. I dare say there must be differences between Fresh and Marine water but is the difference so radical? Are protein skimmers a good idea then for bigger tanks or are they for sump tank installation only?

 

[Aquascaper]

True skimmers that produce skimmate are marine only, the skimmers for freshwater are for surface skimming only.

Using bioballs in wet/dry filters can create nitrate issues ifnit setup correctly but if used solely in a wet environment they just provide a surface area for bacteria.

 

[Mamba]

Ah, excellent, that explains things perfectly. They seem to be a cheaper option too so i'll probably use these then.

Thanks again.

 

[Aquascaper]

The bottom tray of my external is packed with them and I've never had an issue

 

[Mamba]

Spot on then, tried and tested!!

There seems to be some argument about which, technically has the greatest surface area. The ceramics are micro pourous and have greater surface area but the plastic bio balls aren't that far apart I would imagine. Might see about mixing them to play safe depending on cost etc. There is one other thing to consider though. The ceramic rings do eventually dissolve do they not? T That too should be factored in if I want a long term solution. Mind you given the number i'd be putting in it will most likely be a moot point.

 

[Aquascaper]

I've had the same ceramics for years and would say they have a higher surface area

 

[Mamba]

Oakely doakely, ceramics it will be.

 

[Mamba]

Been shopping around .... so, another question:

Alphagrog media 4kg for £16 inc delivery or Iquatics ceramic rings, 5kg's at £21.99 inc delivery?

 

[Aquascaper]

Alphagrog is pretty much just porous lava rock and will probably disintegrate faster than ceramics so personally I would get the ceramics. I don't know the comparison in porosity between the two but would guess there wouldn't be much in it.

 

[Mamba]

Cheers once again mate, The Iquatics Ceramic Rings have been bought.

 

[snazy]

I've got bioballs in one of the trays in my external filter. The filter came with it so I wasn't going to throw them away
I am just not sure what you meant by using sponge filters as mechanical filtration? A pure sponge filter with a powerhead or air pump on top will provide mostly biological filtration and little to none mechanical because the dirt doesn't go through te sponge, it stays there(in the tank) and clogs it. But a sponge or filter floss inside an external filter as part of the different levels will provide mechanical filtration instead because it stops and holds the big stuff before it clogs and suffocates the biological filtration(bio balls or ceramic rings). Of course all of them get covered in good bacteria but some people claim the ceramic rings/balls get more access to oxygen in long term than a clogged sponge and therefore the bacteria prefers to live there.
So make sure you put some filter floss, coarse sponge at the level where the water goes first and then put biological filtration like bio balls or ceramic rings or combine all with filter floss and bioballs/ceramic rings.

 

[Aquascaper]

Putting filter floss as a first stage filtration media will mean it will trap everything going into the filter and require very frequent replacement. Filter floss should only be used as a final stage media to 'polish' the water before it returns to the tank.