Different to what?
I have always had great success with pumice. Everyone has their own ideas. You will have to find out for yourself.
Welcome aboard
Not necessary to change your original biomedia unless you want to. I personally use a few types of biomedia. Some swear by K1 media being the best because it's always moving.
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You use whatever bio media works for you, there's no hard and fast rule. Don't be taken in by the marketing hype of certain bio medias which claim to offer this, that and the other. They tend to be expensive and, more often than not, a much cheaper alternative does just as good a job.
Some people use just one type, others, myself included, mix it up a bit. I have sponges, plastic bio balls and ceramic rings in my bio section. And don't forget, although your bio section is your primary area for BB, they are also on every underwater surface too. BB will colonise every area of your set up, they really aren't fussy.
Some people use just one type, others, myself included, mix it up a bit. I have sponges, plastic bio balls and ceramic rings in my bio section. And don't forget, although your bio section is your primary area for BB, they are also on every underwater surface too. BB will colonise every area of your set up, they really aren't fussy.
If I ever have a different type of biomedia, it's because I ran out of the first type.
Bio media is just a surface area for beneficial bacteria to live on.
They couldn't care less if its ceramic rings, a biowheel, fluidized media, lava rock, or old toothbrushes, and hair curlers.
I've tried them all, and haven't noticed one being better than the other.
If its sufficient and has enough surface area to elimiate ammonia and nitrate your fish produce, then you're golden.
If you have enough if them......even aquatc and terrestrial plants with their foots submerged work as efficient ciomedia.
Whether you have enough (or not) depends on your stocking levels, surface area, and oxygenation.
They couldn't care less if its ceramic rings, a biowheel, fluidized media, lava rock, or old toothbrushes, and hair curlers.
I've tried them all, and haven't noticed one being better than the other.
If its sufficient and has enough surface area to elimiate ammonia and nitrate your fish produce, then you're golden.
If you have enough if them......even aquatc and terrestrial plants with their foots submerged work as efficient ciomedia.
Whether you have enough (or not) depends on your stocking levels, surface area, and oxygenation.
As you can see, almost endless choices. Here is one I like. Expanded ceramic clay, often sold as a hydroponic growing medium. I like to put it in a compartment of my sump that has upflow. Think of popcorn, only it is clay pellets that expand, tons of pore space inside. Maybe even some denitrification going on in the hypoxic environment inside.
I also use a wide variety from pot scrubbers to pond matrix, personally I think a lot of the high end bio media, while scientifically accurate, ends up essentially superfluous. Use more than you think you need and the bacteria will colonize as needed
Now that’s a filter, got everything including plants.