Filter Media for HOB/Internal filters

C

CrazedAce

New Member
So I've been looking into getting biological media for use in my HOB/internal filters, but I'm not sure which type to choose. There are the bio balls, which are plastic and look like they wouldn't work as great. Then there is the ceramic rings, and finally porous rocks. Which is the better one to choose from for my needs? There are so many options out there I am just overwhelmed. lol
 
MorganEA

MorganEA

Member
I think the porous ceramic rings have more surface area for bacteria to grow on, that's what I use in my aquaclear filters.
 
K

KaraWolf

Member
I use ceramic rings but I also have to put in there. There is a bath scrubby in my filter for the exact same reason as the rings.
 
MorganEA

MorganEA

Member
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think lava rock can change your water chemistry and you can't really buy really small bits the smallest I've seen it is about 1" for landscaping.
 
zach_discus

zach_discus

Well-Known Member
The ceramic rings are nice but can get pricy. I use the plastic bath loffas from the doller store. Work both as a corse filter and biological surface also.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
HOB layers from top to bottom AC70

Ceramic rings
Crushed coral
Course sponge
Fine sponge
Bio sponge (specialized high surface sponge)
Fine sponge





 
M

MRTom

New Member
fishNAbowl said:
HOB layers from top to bottom AC70

Ceramic rings
Crushed coral
Course sponge
Fine sponge
Bio sponge (specialized high surface sponge)
Fine sponge
Click to expand...
Fancy! I like. I do a combination of rings and crushed coral in a few of mine (I have very few HOBs left). I believe crushed coral just has the effect of raising hardness... with the side effect of raising alkalinity and stabilizing PH. Just be careful using it on fish that require low hardness.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
MRTom said:
fishNAbowl said:
HOB layers from top to bottom AC70

Ceramic rings
Crushed coral
Course sponge
Fine sponge
Bio sponge (specialized high surface sponge)
Fine sponge
Click to expand...
Fancy! I like. I do a combination of rings and crushed coral in a few of mine (I have very few HOBs left). I believe crushed coral just has the effect of raising hardness... with the side effect of raising alkalinity and stabilizing PH. Just be careful using it on fish that require low hardness.
Click to expand...
I noticed you picking up those small canisters. You must like them a LOT! I do like my small canister too. And I have crushed coral in that canister. Matter of fact there is crushed coral in all my tanks to stabilize PH to just under 7.0. My planted tanks have a tendency to "crash" . PH will drop under any PH checking scale. It take time and patients but all my tanks maintain 6.8 no matter how long I go without changing water....
 
C

cichlid-gal

New Member
I use Seachem Matrix as my biomedia.  I bag it up and layer it in just like fishNAbowl does.  My layers are a little different:

from bottom to top:
coarse sponge (the one that comes with the unit)
biomedia in bags
fine sponge on top (to act as polishing) - this can cause fine bubbles if not set in correctly.  I find that allowing it to overhang the canister a tad helps.
 
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