Bio Balls - Just For Info

[Ken Adams]

Hi all,

I wanted some filter media to help the good bateria develop and decided to go for bio balls.
I was unsure how many I needed and couldn't find a decent guide or pictures for size anywhere.
In the end I bit the bullet and bought 100.

So, I thought I'd share a few pics to assist anyone wondering how many they would need etc.

This is a bag of 100 32mm bio balls, next to a Sky remote for comparison. The bag here is mostly one layer deep with a few stragglers on the top.

And this is 15 in a Fluval 205 filter basket. If you put more than 15 in, the baskets won't slot together.

As such, a Fluval 205 will hold 45 of these in total if you fill all 3 baskets (and don't have the smaller polishing basket fitted).

Hope this helps someone!

 

[jenjen_82]

Would u recommend having some of these instead of the carbon as somebody told me carbon is only really used for removing medication is this correct?

I have a fluval 105 which only has 2 trays
Thanks

 

[mattyeatsmatts]

Would u recommend having some of these instead of the carbon as somebody told me carbon is only really used for removing medication is this correct?

I have a fluval 105 which only has 2 trays
Thanks

Hey Jen
Carbon is mainly used to remove meds,odours and clear the water. It does a good job at it too. I don't think people us it for the bacteria

 

[Man of fish]

But some people like me do use cartridges and there is carboninside these cartridges I don't replace the cartridges, but I would throw in an extra new one if I needed meds removed

 

[jenjen_82]

What i meant was do I have to have carbon in would it be better to remove the carbon and add some bio balls?

I have 2 trays in my external 1 has ceramic rings in and the other has the carbon

Thanks

 

[OldMan47]

In most situations I focus on getting as much biomedia into a filter as I can while still getting a layer of mechanical filtration. the mechanical filtration is needed to keep the water looking clear and the biological media treats for ammonia/nitrite. I use carbon if I want to remove medications but I get enough with every new filter that I never end up buying any. Carbon is seldom a part of my filtration.

 

[jenjen_82]

In most situations I focus on getting as much biomedia into a filter as I can while still getting a layer of mechanical filtration. the mechanical filtration is needed to keep the water looking clear and the biological media treats for ammonia/nitrite. I use carbon if I want to remove medications but I get enough with every new filter that I never end up buying any. Carbon is seldom a part of my filtration.

Are the white sponges the mechanical filtration then? I bought some polishing pads I'm gonna put in. Think i might buy some bio balls and add them instead of the carbon.

 

[OldMan47]

Sponges are often a dual function media. When I work with my large Rena filter, I have sponges that are a dual function mechanical and biological media, followed by purely biological media and a final thin layer of filter floss as a polishing filter to remove the last bits of particulate from my tank water.

Sponges go into the bottom basket

Biomedia goes into the next 2 baskets.

Filter floss goes on top right before the filter impeller