bio media is it worth it

[murphy lover 101]

We don't actually need bio media in any of our filters, because we could just replace it with sponge, which provides more than enough surface area, in combination with substrate. Just look at sponge filters, none of them have bio media, yet they can handle ridiculous bioloads no problem

[nabokovfan87]

There's a few research studies on the topic.  Application is everything.  I don't (and likely won't) ever run a tank with only sponge.  Even in a QT setup, having some bio rings on the bottom is helpful for me.

[mynameisnobody]

Agreed, it all depends on what you’re keeping. 

[lefty o]

if it works, and fits your needs, its not stupid. lots of ways to skin the proverbial cat.

[Odd Duck]

Sponge IS biomedia.  Biomedia is anything that provides surface area for beneficial bacteria to grow.  Sponge is some of the best biomedia because open cell sponge provides far more available surface area than most ceramic biomedias.  Ceramics theoretically provide more, but in reality the inner layers are minimally accessible to water flow and don’t grow the bacteria we need even if they could get inside between the particles.  The only reason I’ve fairly recently used ceramic biomedia is when I wanted a layer that lets water flow under a mesh layer but over an undergravel filter - the biomedia is essentially my gravel in my scud culture tanks plus holding the mesh layer down and the bioballs down and keeping the live oak leaves out of the bioballs and rings.  The goal was to still allow the water (and scuds) to flow out of the tap at the bottom of the jar.

I can see it being useful for certain things but if I want a really good biomedia it’s sponge.  I’ve gotten matten filters as substrate over undergravel filters in 5 tanks so far.  Planning to eventually do more.

 

[murphy lover 101]

Cool project! while it is true that sponge is biomedia, I am more referring to things like biohome, biorings, bioballs, lavarock, etc. 99% of the time the surface area just usn't needed or can be achieved through sponge, which bacteria prefers to live on anyway.

[Lennie]

I find keeping some matrix/siporax handy because whenever I need to setup a new HOB all I have to do is grab a handful of media and add in in the new HOB basket. 
 

Im keeping one with mainly sponge but transferring sponge by cutting a piece to transfer was not fun. Not something I would like to prefer again

but sure both options did work for me. But Id rather get matrix/siporax on top of sponge+filterwool layer myself

[TOtrees]

It’s all about the pros and cons. I think a pro of biomedia is that it doesn’t do mechanical filtration. So if you have say fine foam or floss AND ceramic, you can discard and replace the polishing media (ie toss it instead of cleaning it), but your bb colonies remain intact and healthy. But as others have said it’s very contextual; not everyone or every tank requires that. 

But saying biomedia is all useless all the time, or that bacteria “prefers” sponge over all biomedia types is rubbish. Though, it generates exactly the desired response/discussion, so there’s that. 

[TheBlueBeetle]

On 8/7/2023 at 9:24 AM, TOtrees said:

It’s all about the pros and cons. I think a pro of biomedia is that it doesn’t do mechanical filtration. So if you have say fine foam or floss AND ceramic, you can discard and replace the polishing media (ie toss it instead of cleaning it), but your bb colonies remain intact and healthy. But as others have said it’s very contextual; not everyone or every tank requires that. 

But saying biomedia is all useless all the time, or that bacteria “prefers” sponge over all biomedia types is rubbish. Though, it generates exactly the desired response/discussion, so there’s that. 

I agree. I use bio media for two main reasons: 1) I can rinse my sponges under high pressure tap water, cleaning them thoroughly, without caring about the bacteria in them. 2) Over time the sponges break down from either me wringing them out when cleaning or, In some cases just getting compressed in my canister filter. I can just chunk the old ones willy nilly and replace them with fresh, effective ones again with complete disregard for the bacteria I'm murdering. As always, you do you.

[reefhugger]

I use both simply for reassurance that my occasional stumbles in aquarium keeping don't crash my tanks.  I also like having a sponge filter I can use if I want to set up a new tank.  

[murphy lover 101]

@Lennie, if you have two sponges, you can just move one over to your new tank.

 

And @TheBlueBeetle, if both your sponges and rings have bacteria, isn't cleaning the sponges out with pressurized water similar to boiling half your biorings?

 

@TOtrees here is one of the videos I found during my research into bimedia. In it a study is discussed where scientists measured the amount of bacteria found in each media type and found it liked fine sponge best, and course sponge second best tied with ceramic. Therefore, the statement that "bacteria prefers sponge over all bimedia is just rubbish" is in and of itself, rubbish

 

 

Edited August 7 by murphy lover 101

[Pepere]

My Fluval canister filters came with various foams and ceramic bio rings.

 

the bio rings have not gotten wet.  They remain in the plastic bag they were packed in.   
 

personally, I kind of like nylon potscrubbers as they have lots of surface area and present low restriction to flow and can be swished out easily..

I am not all that impressed with the various ceramic medias myself, but the beauty of a free market is people have lots of choices.   If you dont think much of them, dont use them….  If someone wants to use them, I dont try to dissuade them or state their choice is “rubbish”

 

[murphy lover 101]

I never stated anyone's choice to use anything as "rubbish"

[Guppysnail]

Thread is confrontational and now locked to further discussion. Any future threads on the topic need to be worded in a manner that allows for the pros and cons of all media not superiority of one over another.