Lava rock for filter media?

[duanes]

All I would do when getting new lava rock, is put it in a bucket , and siphon old tank water over it during a water change to rinse it off, dump the water, and use. Unless it was stored at the store, under bags of pesticide, or smelled of pesticide, or some other chemical, then I'd buy it somewhere else.

 

[PYRU]

Let me clarify my comment.

It collects tons of debris and isn't all that easy to clean. Imo it creates more issues than its worth.

I like to use matrix. You put it in a mesh bag. Shake it in tank water to clean and you're done. The easier you make maitenance the better. The lava rock seemed to really clinge onto debris. It will work but there's much better (easier) options available. Matrix is pretty cheap to your door as well. I think I paid $30 for a big bucket off the bay

 

[TexasMFK31]

Let me clarify my comment.

It collects tons of debris and isn't all that easy to clean. Imo it creates more issues than its worth.

I like to use matrix. You put it in a mesh bag. Shake it in tank water to clean and you're done. The easier you make maitenance the better. The lava rock seemed to really clinge onto debris. It will work but there's much better (easier) options available. Matrix is pretty cheap to your door as well. I think I paid $30 for a big bucket off the bay

For sure, Matrix is the cheapest media per surface area IMO/IME. I think the $30 bucket will support roughly 400G, I'd have to check my buckets.

 

[BichirKing]

I put my LR in mesh bags.

It also has airstones in the sump.

are your airstones under your media in the sump? I put air stones under a under gravel filter plate them my bio on top. that way I can hook a battery powered air pump up and keep the bacteria alive during a power outage. I thought I was the only one lol.

 

[Ulu]

I have the UGF plate in the tank. Airstones are under the sump lava, but no plate there.

Filtered water is returned to the tank below the tank gravel, and rises up thru it, to finally be skimmed off at the tank overflow.

If we have an outage I have no real backup plan, but all our real outages have been in the summer here. No worry about heating, but filtration will stop.

 

[islandguy11]

I have the UGF plate in the tank. Airstones are under the sump lava, but no plate there.

Filtered water is returned to the tank below the tank gravel, and rises up thru it, to finally be skimmed off at the tank overflow.

If we have an outage I have no real backup plan, but all our real outages have been in the summer here. No worry about heating, but filtration will stop.

Why don't you just get a car battery and inverter, it's an easy set-up that won't break the bank (compared to a generator) and can easily keep several good sized tanks running depending on size of battery/inverter. Also AC/DC air pumps that automatically turn on during outages would do you good.

 

[Ulu]

I have 6 group 29 RV batteries in my little electric fishing boat. If I had a big inverter or a motor-generator, they would run my 9 tanks all day and night.

But it's just not a big worry here. Our power has been very reliable in this area since I moved here in 1975.

 

[Matteus]

Let me clarify my comment.

It collects tons of debris and isn't all that easy to clean. Imo it creates more issues than its worth.

I like to use matrix. You put it in a mesh bag. Shake it in tank water to clean and you're done. The easier you make maitenance the better. The lava rock seemed to really clinge onto debris. It will work but there's much better (easier) options available. Matrix is pretty cheap to your door as well. I think I paid $30 for a big bucket off the bay

What is the matrix?

All that shows up when I googled it was the movie. Do you have any pics for reference? Also what is it typically used for, is it made to be a filter media or is it a diy media like lava rock.

I have a big mesh bag full of lava rock in my ac110 hob that seems to be doing fine as of now but, yes I understand how it can be a pita to clean out. If matrix is better would t mind adding it to the arsenal.

 

[TexasMFK31]

What is the matrix?

All that shows up when I googled it was the movie. Do you have any pics for reference? Also what is it typically used for, is it made to be a filter media or is it a diy media like lava rock.

I have a big mesh bag full of lava rock in my ac110 hob that seems to be doing fine as of now but, yes I understand how it can be a pita to clean out. If matrix is better would t mind adding it to the arsenal.

Google Seachem Matrix

 

[RD.]

I agree with PYRU, most lava rock will gunk up too easily, and requires a power cleaning to keep clean. I have been using the same Hagen/Fluval biomax rings, and Seachem Matrix, enclosed in media bags for years & years. All it gets is a quick clean and rinse in a pail of dechlorinated tap water when doing filter cleaning and it keeps going & going & going. I have Biomax rings that are 15+ yrs old, and still doing their job.