QA

Question: Do Bio Balls Work Submerged

Bio balls can be submerged underwater! In fact, this is how most of you will use them – in your canister, HOB filter or sump. The only time you wouldn’t place bio balls underwater is if you are using them in a trickle-filter setup.

Do bio balls sink?

Yes. They float. But when placed into a confined space they did fill the area no problem.

How long does it take for bio balls to work?

Most new aquariums take 3-6 weeks to fully cycle, meaning that the nitrogen cycle can successfully process ammonia into nitrates.

Where do you put bio balls in a pond?

The Pond Guy BioBalls filter media can be placed in any pond that requires additional filtration. The BioBalls can be placed in skimmer boxes, waterfall filters, or directly in your pond to increase the available surface area for beneficial bacteria.

How long does it take for bacteria to grow on bio balls?

As soon as you drop those Marine Pure Balls into your established tank the beneficial bacteria will start to colonize them. After three or four days you’ll have a healthy population growing on them, but you might want to wait at least a week for good measure.

Do bio balls need to be replaced?

Bio balls don’t really need replaced. They simply provide a foundation for the helpful bacteria to cling to. They simply provide a foundation for the helpful bacteria to cling to. In fact replacing them would remove a huge amount of good bacteria that you need.

Which is better bio balls or ceramic rings?

Bio balls should only be used for biological filtration only. They simply exist to trap and remove waste. Ceramic rings will ultimately trap more bad stuff, but your bio balls will ultimately do a better job of denitrifying bacteria.

Are plastic bio balls any good?

The foam is perfect for growing large colonies of nitrifying bacteria. It’s what makes a sponge filter so good at biological filtration – the process of ammonia and nitrites being converted to nitrates. With that said, bio balls are a larger media and will work best in a large sump or external filter.

How many bio balls are needed per gallon?

Excellent filtration media for bacteria colonization; each bioball is approximately 1.5″ x 1.25″ in diameter. 750 bioballs equal 1 cubic foot, and 100 bioballs equal 1 gallon.

How do you clean bio balls?

If you just want to clean the gunk out of the bio-balls and don’t care about the bacteria that is on them, just put your dirty bio-balls into an old pillow case and run it through your washing machine on the “gentle” cycle with a little laundry detergent for a few minutes.

What is inside bio balls?

Bio balls are small, pegged plastic balls mainly used as the biological media in aquarium filters. 2. These little plastic bio balls have TONS of surface area for the growth of bacteria for filtration. They are used as the biological media in salt water and fresh water aquariums as well as ponds.

Should I use bio balls in a reef tank?

Bio Balls can be used in saltwater aquariums but if left uncleaned they easily trap detritus which can lead to high nitrates & phosphates. They provide a large surface area for nitrifying bacteria to colonize however newer technology is available to work more efficiently & require less maintenance.

Where do bio balls go in a sump?

They are not intended to trap detritus and particles, and if you are using them in the sump, should be placed in the area of your sump least likely to come into contact with detritus, normally closest to the return. Detritus should be removed through other forms of filtration such as a filter socks or filter sponges.

What is ceramic ring in aquarium?

Ceramic rings are biological media that provides a very large surface area for beneficial bacteria to grow and live. This bacteria on your ceramic rings is required to complete the Nitrogen Cycle in your tank, which converts harmful ammonia and nitrite in to the less harmful nitrate.

How often should I replace Bio media?

Bio-media does clog over time, and it is recommended to provide clean filter media for effective colonization by bacteria. This family of nitrifying bacteria will benefit from partial media changes every 3-6 months to ensure clean porous surfaces are available.

Should you clean bio filter?

I definitely recommend cleaning your bio falls every four to six weeks. If you don’t clean your bio falls, then your mechanical filtration (filter mat) will become clogged with waste.

How often do you replace bio rings?

The rings can be left in the filter for about six months before their inner areas are clogged and exhausted of suitable beneficial bacteria locations and should be replaced.

How often should I clean my bio filter?

Clean your mechanical filter once every month, but let the chemical and biological filters go for a while longer before you clean them. In fact, I would recommend you only clean your biological filter when its visibly clogged or slow, to help keep beneficial bacteria intact.

What does bio balls do in aquarium?

Bio balls are spheres consisting of tiny tubes that provide a large surface area on which water-filtering microbes can grow. They are typically used in fish tank and fish pond filters to transform potentially harmful ammonia into benign nitrates.

How often should I change my canister filter media?

Be sure to replace the filter media at least every three to four weeks and give the filter housing a quick rinse. If any algae or debris has accumulated in the intake tube, clean that as well.

Can you have too much bio media?

there is no such thing as too much bio media. No matter what, your beneficial bacteria can only grow to the demand. If you have 100lbs of bio media and 1 small fish fed every other day, you will only have a small amount of bacteria despite having 100lbs of media. You absolutely can have not enough media though.