Anyone one have experience using lava rock for filtration ? Opinions on this method ? Thinking about trying some in my large HOB filter with some pothos plants or Chinese evergreen
Lava rock for filter media?
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Lots of people use it and it works. Surface is what you need when it comes to bio filtration.
I have some sumps running with lava and it works.
But there is much better media if you have 10x the money to spend.
Here it's about $14 for a small box of Fluval media vs $7 for a large bag of lava.
Not all lava is equal. The dense pieces won't work as well as the lightest ones.
More air pockets is better.
But there is much better media if you have 10x the money to spend.
Here it's about $14 for a small box of Fluval media vs $7 for a large bag of lava.
Not all lava is equal. The dense pieces won't work as well as the lightest ones.
More air pockets is better.
It absolutely can be.
So can any filter not maintained, or mis-applied.
My Mono Sebae tank is very healthy, yet I just did the first major sump flush in almost a year.
It uses floss, lava, pot scrubbers, and returns thru a reverse UGF with ordinary aquarium gravel.
It also has airstones in the sump.
I have the same setup for my Oscar tank, but it uses bio-ring media.
IMHO, Bio-media gives you about 2x the performance of a similar volume of lava, and weighs less.
That is a real advantage if your sump size is restricted.
I have used lava rock as bio-media for decades, and in that regard, it works as well as any other surface for bacteria to live on , in the form of bio-film. (How do I know?....because the tanks with lava rock, test the same for lack of ammonia and nitrites as those with commercial media)
It does collect debris easily, so needs to be regularly purged of gunk, to keep it from becoming a nitrate factory (also no different than any other bio-media)
Using mechanical pre-filtration media such as Poret Foam, sponge, or even simple Scubbies, will help to keep it gunk free.
I also use it in DIY foam fractionation bio-reactorss to crack the air/water interface.
Below a video of it working in my bio-fractionator
koi pond fractionation
The tube is about 4 ft tall, 6" in diameter and filled with a bag of lava rock from the garden center, working a 500 gallon koi pond.
The water is pre-filtered in a box in the pond filled with Poret foam/sponge.
It does collect debris easily, so needs to be regularly purged of gunk, to keep it from becoming a nitrate factory (also no different than any other bio-media)
Using mechanical pre-filtration media such as Poret Foam, sponge, or even simple Scubbies, will help to keep it gunk free.
I also use it in DIY foam fractionation bio-reactorss to crack the air/water interface.
Below a video of it working in my bio-fractionator
koi pond fractionation
The tube is about 4 ft tall, 6" in diameter and filled with a bag of lava rock from the garden center, working a 500 gallon koi pond.
The water is pre-filtered in a box in the pond filled with Poret foam/sponge.
Damn that's a lot of lava rock, but cool set up! thanks for the info. Going to be picking up some lava rock todayI have used lava rock as bio-media for decades, and in that regard, it works as well as any other surface for bacteria to live on , in the form of bio-film. (How do I know?....because the tanks with lava rock, test the same for lack of ammonia and nitrites as those with commercial media)
It does collect debris easily, so needs to be regularly purged of gunk, to keep it from becoming a nitrate factory (also no different than any other bio-media)
Using mechanical pre-filtration media such as Poret Foam, sponge, or even simple Scubbies, will help to keep it gunk free.
I also use it in DIY foam fractionation bio-reactorss to crack the air/water interface.
Below a video of it working in my bio-fractionator
koi pond fractionation
The tube is about 4 ft tall, 6" in diameter and filled with a bag of lava rock from the garden center, working a 500 gallon koi pond.
The water is pre-filtered in a box in the pond filled with Poret foam/sponge.
Does the lava rock need to be prepared in any way before being added to the filter ? Like boiled or anything like that ?
I see home depot sells small lava rock pieces in bags, is that lava rock okay to use ?
