lava rock vs bio balls

[OTp1144]

I'm in the process of building a 60g drum barrel filter for my pond. It's a 14' wide intex swimming pool (~4600g). I'm just stuck on what media I should use. It's going to be an upflow filter.

I've already got filter pads for fine particle filtration that will be going on top as the last step. I'm planning to make a somewhat vortex on the bottom with the intake, basically making a plus and adding L's to create the spin on the bottom, which will hopefully act as a settling area for most of the waste (this will then get cleaned with a bottom drain on the barrel). But I'm stuck on what to put in the middle. I can get 1000 bio balls for $60 or about the same amount of lava rock for slightly cheaper.

In everyone's experience, is one better than the other? Preference? TIA

 

[celebrist]

Sounds like a Skippy filter, I did that in my sump so I could have the water level higher. As far as lava rock versus bioballs I think the balls are designed to not be submerged and lava rock probably has greater surface area but bioballs would probably be easier to clean

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

If at all possible, I'd recommend a trickle filter (I know it is challenging with such a large pond but it is doable). The most commonly overlooked factor is oxygen. If one increases the amount of DO by 10x (as is usually the case in trickle and bio-wheel versus canister, HOB, sump, etc.), 10x less media and 10x smaller filter can be used then to do the same job. And the media type then does not matter much at all.

In any case, the better aerated water is that enters the filter, the better the filter works.

My other advice is to let water pass through mechanical cleaning pads first before hitting the filter. This saves 99% of the filter cleaning labor. As a concept this works: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/f...out-filter-socks-everyday.508202/#post6084230 You will have to scale it up.

 

[earthstudent]

I'm not a fan of bio balls. They are not great for surface area and are generally much more expensive than what I would call "better options". If on a budget, I like pot scrubbers, cheap with a lot of surface area. If your going between bio balls and lava rock only than I would go lava rock. Another thing to note is with good mechanical filtering before the bio media, you should not have to worry much about cleaning the bio media. I have found that good mechanical filtering and not cleaning the bio media seems to work the best. Cleaning the bio media seems to cause problems more often than not. I think the oldest tank I have setup has never had the bio media cleaned and that tank if very stable (only 75gal) and I guess is almost 10 years old, bio media has never been disturbed. I use polyester felt for a mechanical filter. You can get it in different densities and get it at the local fabric store by the lard, cheap, just cut to fit.

Trickle filter tower with pot scrubbers and a polyester felt tray on top is a great setup. Easy to change the filter and works great. With high density felt, you can really "polish" the water but you will have to change the filter often, good thing it's so easy.

 

[OTp1144]

Why do I always forget about pot scrubbers!? I'm using them in all my filters, and yet completely forgot about them for this one.

So new plan, get a laundry basket and fill it with pot scrubbers so removal is very easy.

The only thing is I think I'm stuck with an upflow filter the way I'm setting it up. The barrel will be next to the pond, which is above ground, and the pump will be in the pond, ~5' below the top of the barrel. I was then going to have the barrel overflow back into the pond via pvc.

The reason I picked this was because it allows for a drain on the bottom, which will hopefully be the settling area, so cleaning debris will be as easy as flipping a valve.

 

[Oddball]

We used crushed lava rock and plastic toy soldiers before the development of better bio-media. Here's a chart that compares the available surface are of different media:

 

[OTp1144]

Anyone know where to get the nylon pot scrubbers in bulk? No where in town has them - dollar tree, big lots, dollar General, family dollar, Wal-Mart, 99 cent store. Nothing!

 

[Wailua Boy]

Anyone know where to get the nylon pot scrubbers in bulk? No where in town has them - dollar tree, big lots, dollar General, family dollar, Wal-Mart, 99 cent store. Nothing!

Yeah, I can't find them locally either. I usually buy off Amazon and I have seen them on Ebay

 

[mudbuttjones]

Thats so cool oddball. I would imagine toy soldiers not being any worse than bioballs and being far less expensive.

and hilarious, but the bacteria doesnt care

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Anyone know where to get the nylon pot scrubbers in bulk? No where in town has them - dollar tree, big lots, dollar General, family dollar, Wal-Mart, 99 cent store. Nothing!

I've emptied all the local stores like these listed ~6 years ago of the scrubbies 3 for $1. I got a couple thousand. I've seen them since then here and there but not as often as I wished.

I have unrolled all mine - took ~2 weeks to do. They tend to unravel but still can be used the same and offer more surface area. Another thing I got were those 100% nylon shower lather balls also 3 for $1.

Make sure they are 100% nylon (=polyester) and not treated with anti-mold agents, etc. because these are toxic to fish.

One can also consider using shade cloth, insect screening, leaf netting, etc. to stuff filters.

I still think you can and should do a trickle or trickle-type filter.