DIY Algae scrubber

[jaws7777]

If anyone is looking at buying BioDigest it just went down in price. $30 for 30 vials on amazon, and $50 for 10 pro vials on Ebay.

https://www.amazon.com/Prodibio-Dig...UTF8&qid=1490139470&sr=8-1&keywords=biodigest

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hydor-Prodi...386618?hash=item237d7fdb7a:g:2FUAAOSwTM5Yttyx

I don't see why it shouldn't as long as flow is low. Unless the denitrate provides an environment different than ceramic rings because it is supposed tinge more porous.

According to seachem the internal pore structure is somehow is different somehow and allows for anerobic bb growth. May be just marketing though

 

[tarheel96]

Would ceramic rings work? I found 6lb on Ebay for $12, so I could easily get enough to fill the five gallon bucket I plan to use as a canister.

Small pieces of lava rock or pumice stone will work better than the biorings. Biorings don't have a porous structure. In theory, pourous media allow for denitrification using slow flowrates instead of driprates. Water flow is not restricted on/around the media where nitrification will occur but, inside the media, water movement slows to a crawl where conditions favorable to anaerobic denitrifying bacteria can exist ... similar to reef rock.

 

[Angelphish]

Small pieces of lava rock or pumice stone will work better than the biorings. Biorings don't have a porous structure. In theory, pourous media allow for denitrification using slow flowrates instead of driprates. Water flow is not restricted on/around the media where nitrification will occur but, inside the media, water movement slows to a crawl where conditions favorable to anaerobic denitrifying bacteria can exist ... similar to reef rock.

I'll look into that.

 

[Angelphish]

Small pieces of lava rock or pumice stone will work better than the biorings. Biorings don't have a porous structure. In theory, pourous media allow for denitrification using slow flowrates instead of driprates. Water flow is not restricted on/around the media where nitrification will occur but, inside the media, water movement slows to a crawl where conditions favorable to anaerobic denitrifying bacteria can exist ... similar to reef rock.

From what I've seen, denitrate and matrix are basically pumice, but the difference is I can buy 3 gallons of pumice on ebay for $35, vs 1 gallon of denitrate for $35.

 

[tarheel96]

Something like this maybe? There's a little too much dust maybe and I think you need more. But if the pores are too large there's not much restriction inside. These pores look small.

eBay item number 262649327068

 

[Angelphish]

I found some really good prices, but also some really bad prices.

5 gallons for $30:
http://m.ebay.com/itm/Natures-Footprint-Pumice-Soil-amendment-5-Gallon-/122360437020?nav=SEARCH


For anyone who has more money than they know what to do with:

 

[markstrimaran]

I got to get me some of the $ 1000.00 substrate.

 

[Angelphish]

I got to get me some of the $ 1000.00 substrate.

It's only 5qt so you may need to buy multiple.

 

[markstrimaran]

I think I will start listing some Labidochromis Caeruleus for only $249.95 each + 19.95 shipping. Aka yellow lab, African cichilds, reproduce like stray cats, and just as expensive.

 

[markstrimaran]

If you go to the mine, I bet you could get truck load for $200.00.