Bio-balls or Ehfisubstrat Pro

[TonyN]

Right now I'm using Eheim Ehfisubstrat in my Ehem cannister, but I want to replace it with a bio media that is more permanent, like bio-balls or Ehfisubstrat Pro which I understand is self cleaning and you never clean or replace it. (If I'm wrong on this, please let me know.)
Any opinions on which would be best?

Thanks

 

[beviking]

If the efhi is self cleaning, than I doubt there is going to be a noticeable difference using one or the other.
I use bio-balls and ehfimech. The efhimech isn't porous and neither need replacing. I still rinse them once a month along with the sponges in the filter.
Even "self cleaning" media traps larger debris temporarily. You might as well rinse it with regular filter maintenance.
HTH

 

[JSchmidt]

Almost all of my canisters are set up as very low maintenance bio-only filters. I use either Ehfimech (ceramic noodles) or bioballs, or both. Both seem to shed debris pretty well, but the Ehfimech is better at shedding old films.

I don't believe Ehfisubstrat (original or Pro) is truly self-cleaning, because once the micropores are clogged, they don't easily shed their biofilms. This is true of all sintered glass products, I believe.

Another disadvantage of 'substrat is that it requires you to use a fine filter pad after the 'substrat. If you don't the fines (small pieces of sintered glass) can get in the impeller and damage the impeller or impeller well. With Ehfimech, you don't have to worry about that.

HTH,
Jim

 

[TonyN]

Ok - Thanks. I already have the Ehfimech, so I'm going to get some bioballs, and see how that goes.