But it is very easy with sponge filters
Here is my aquarium with matten filter and sponge filter:
Best biological media?
- Thread starter lnsaneM
- Start date
Here is my aquarium with matten filter and sponge filter:
Horses for courses.
I want as little equipment in an aquarium as possible. No more than a filter intake and return.
The question was the best biological media.. for me it doesn't need to be sponge/foam.. I am more a plant guy.. having large areas of foam so that even the anaerobic bacteria colonize makes little difference as nitrogen compounds feed the plants, nitrogen gas will bubble to the air and gas off.
I'm more a plant than a fish guy any more.. I expect the only way I am likely to try only sponge in a filter is if I get a canister filter for a plant only aquarium and don't need to worry about the nitrogen cycle.
'best' is incredibly subjective, I'm glad sponge works for you.
I want as little equipment in an aquarium as possible. No more than a filter intake and return.
The question was the best biological media.. for me it doesn't need to be sponge/foam.. I am more a plant guy.. having large areas of foam so that even the anaerobic bacteria colonize makes little difference as nitrogen compounds feed the plants, nitrogen gas will bubble to the air and gas off.
I'm more a plant than a fish guy any more.. I expect the only way I am likely to try only sponge in a filter is if I get a canister filter for a plant only aquarium and don't need to worry about the nitrogen cycle.
'best' is incredibly subjective, I'm glad sponge works for you.
Why would I not be glad it works for you?
I'm not sitting here wishing you to be unsuccessful in your hobby. I'm glad when you, or most anyone, is successful in their endeavours. Life is too short to waste it wishing others be unsuccessful just because they do things differently than one's self.
I'm not sitting here wishing you to be unsuccessful in your hobby. I'm glad when you, or most anyone, is successful in their endeavours. Life is too short to waste it wishing others be unsuccessful just because they do things differently than one's self.
There are many options to bio filtration. It needs surface area (of some kind, any kind) & oxygenation & will only work as well as "fish & food load" allow. There are limits & different ways of getting there. I use plants, sponges, ceramics & many decor surfaces (substrate, rocks, wood etc). I also use 2 filters on most tanks. Between filtration & decor surfaces I can clean 1 filter with tap water & there is no measurable harm...to the point I almost never need to test. That works for my lazy tank upkeeping these days...but it was a many years learning curve. Even the "best" surfaces eventually get clogged with slimy biofilm & are less effective in some ways. Read up on biofilms, they're are a whole separate interesting little world of their own...
Mechanical filtration is about removing the "bits" of food, poo & plant debris but also functions as a bio-filter. I use prefilters on most of my tanks (almost always 2 filters). I rinse them more often during weekly (or so) water changes. I rinse HOB filter media maybe monthly. Canisters much less, every several months or much longer, when return flow slows.
I guess what I'm saying is there isn't 1 "best way", just what works for you, your routine, your tank & your stocking.
Mechanical filtration is about removing the "bits" of food, poo & plant debris but also functions as a bio-filter. I use prefilters on most of my tanks (almost always 2 filters). I rinse them more often during weekly (or so) water changes. I rinse HOB filter media maybe monthly. Canisters much less, every several months or much longer, when return flow slows.
I guess what I'm saying is there isn't 1 "best way", just what works for you, your routine, your tank & your stocking.
