Bioballs or porous media for bio filter?

[Gambusia]

Is something like Bio Balls or something like Seachem Matrix better for a bio filter?

Or a mixture of both?

Thanks

 

[amosf]

I found an open pore media (looks something like bio-blox) that I used as I was worried the matrix (or similar) would block up too easily. It's supposed to have much more surface than bioballs for a given volume and should be harder to get blocked up. So far seems okay but only used it a few months. But I haven't really tried matrix to compare it... Probably difficult to do any comparison as everything seems to work to some extent and it's hard to tell what works 'best'. I've used volcanic material, bioballs, poly fibre, and even small gravel and they all 'work'...

 

[blitzen25bm]

im lazy so i use bioballs and i never clean it. the other stuff clogs up with film and sludge even if you prefilter well.

 

[Gambusia]

I hear you can rise off the matrix stuff and never damage the bacteria colony inside.

 

[Seaman]

you can rinse off (in used tank water)pretty much any bio media as long as you arent violent with it, and it should be ok.

 

[Gambusia]

Didn't know that.

Thanks

 

[RTR]

If you could not rinse biomedia, fluidized bed filters would not work would they?

 

[beviking]

...and how do you get the gunk out of those almost-infinite pores?

 

[RTR]

You don't - they clog.

 

[geoffgarcia]

you can rinse off (in used tank water)pretty much any bio media as long as you arent violent with it, and it should be ok.

how does rinsing in used tank water make any difference at all?