[DIY] What can i use like biological filter media ?

[HugoFish]

Hi guys i was wondering what can i use like biological filter media , for my second HOB filter because it has some free space .

ONLY DIY THINGS!

P.S = Don't say lava rock

 

[dougall]

Another sponge?

Most anything with a hard surface will work as bacterial media.

Just needs to be porous enough that water will flow through it, and it will also have a greater surface area.

And why not lava rock?

 

[HugoFish]

Another sponge?

Most anything with a hard surface will work as bacterial media.

Just needs to be porous enough that water will flow through it, and it will also have a greater surface area.

And why not lava rock?

Well , not lava rock because my HOB filter isn't that big to put lava rock in it and i only found a bag of lava rock 2kg which is to MUCH for me because i only need like 50g of lava rock .

And can i use some pvc pipe or plastic straw for beneficial bacteria , and if yes which is better?

 

[dougall]

You can... One caveat to the above, you need to make sure that whatever you use is not treated with an anti-bacterial chemical or pretty much anything.

I wouldn't use straws because of the likelihood that they would flatten and block water flow,

PVC would work, but I would use the smallest thickness possible and cut to as short a length as possible.

But again.. not terribly porous.

If you are looking for something around the house that is cheap and easy to get, maybe look at plain pot scrubbers, it will have much more surface area than something more 'hard'

 

[fishorama]

+ 1 on pot scrubbies, Straws & pvc have WAY less surface area & that's what you want...lots of it!

 

[Rbishop]

If you want max surface area, you can't beat activated charcoal. Even after the chemical capabilities are expended, nothing man-made has greater surface area.

 

[ustabefast]

If not pot scrubbers, I'd just put in more filter floss. What do you use in the other hob filter?
I have lots of floss on hand and I cut it to size for various filters.

 

[JerryHarris]

Hmm, thanks for the tips, fellas!

 

[Mike Blackfish]

Hi guys i was wondering what can i use like biological filter media , for my second HOB filter because it has some free space .

ONLY DIY THINGS!

P.S = Don't say lava rock

I like these. You can cut to size, you can wash them in your washing machine with bleach. They reuse them dozens of times.

14" x 20" White Rectangular Floor Buffing Pads - Case of 5

Use these extra-fine white rectangulat buffing pads to polish your floors to a high shine. 5 per case. For use with rectangular orbiting scrubbing machines. Each pad measures 14 x 20 inches & are 1 inch thick. Made in the USA from recycled materials.

www.cleanfreak.com