Everything But The Weed

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Biological filter media is any media that can be used to house as much beneficial bacteria as possible. Much preferred is the permeable medium for it allows many wholesome bacteria per square inch. One key is the surface area if you’re going to choose the right biological filter. So what are the different kinds of filter that would be nice for your fish tank?

Porous ceramic cylinders

For a great biological media in your aquarium filter, you can choose and add ceramic cylinders. A cylinder goes with an average of 3/8″ x 3/8″. Most often kept in media bags and kept as the last layer in your aquarium filter closest to the top. Ceramic cylinders allow for great water flow while providing exceptional surface area for your bacteria to grow and reproduce.

Bio-Glass

Bio-glass is pretty much the same as the porous ceramic cylinders. It comes in the shape of a deep-set cylinder and it is made of natural silicate. Also stored in media bags and placed at the bottom-most level in an aquarium filter nearest to the top. Bio-glass allows for great water flow while providing exceptional surface area for your bacteria to grow and reproduce.

Bio-Balls

Specially designed bio-balls fits perfectly into any filter and it can provide a home for those much-desired helpful bacteria habitat. One gallon of bio-balls would equal around 21 square feet of surface area. Works great in wet/dry and canister filters.

Quartz Biological Balls

These biological media balls is made from natural lava rock. It lets you have better water flow while at the same time sheltering much-desired good bacteria. Should be kept in aquarium filter media bags. You can use it in most aquarium filter.

  Bio Media Stars

This biological media is made from polymer and is shaped as a star. The bio stars lets in healthy bacteria to reproduce. You will have around 20 gallons if you have four stars.

Eheim Ehfisubstrat PRO

Made from glass sinters, Ehfisubstrat provides a big surface area around 19,000 square feet for every gallon. Designed to house beneficial bacteria. This can be placed in a lot of aquarium filters. Easily added in filter media bags

Replacing Biological Media

You may be thinking about how often you will have to replace biological filter media. Well, you might not replace it after all! As long as the filter media is in good shape, and you are able to clean it, you should be OK. Most bio-filter media is reusable and only needs cleaning.

Washing Biological Media

When do you actually clean biological filter media? If you notice a great deal of detritus (fish waste and dirt) built up, or your water flow has slowed, you should clean your filter media.

You can wash your mechanical media filter in the faucet, but it’s not recommended by experts. The right way to wash biological media is in a container of water from your aquarium. When you rinse your biological media out under a sink faucet, the chlorine will kill beneficial bacteria you possess. Killing beneficial bacterial will lead to potential problems and possibly a mini-cycle. Just regularly soak the bio-filter media in a pail of water from your aquarium.

Gardens Calgary is a local organization that promotes ecologically friendly ponds

Written by: Custom Stone and Waterscapes ‎3829 Parkhill Place SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2W6 (403) 870-1142