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Hi all, That would be the general finding on this forum <"Is expensive bio media worth it?">. As planted tank keepers we have the advantages of: <"plant / microbe nitrification"> and <"a substrate">. This means we aren't interested in the denitrification of nitrate (NO3-) <"in the filter">...

Hi all, It was actually <"Panaque and sawdust"> that allowed me to see the wider picture with some of the issues with nitrification. cheers Darrel

Hi all, That would be fine, it is really doing the same job as a pre-filter. <"Yes I would">, but I'm not really interested in <"water clarity">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, If the filter floss filters out a lot of fines it is <"likely to clog">, and this could reduce flow far enough so that nitrification is compromised by lack of oxygen. Cheers Darrel

Hi all, What @Wookii says, because the plants (and microbes in the pre-filter and substrate) are sucking it all up. The brown colour will be a microbial biofilm, the colour is mainly the <"difficult to decompose"> carbon compounds. I like brown, but I don't like the <"biofilm to get too...

Hi all, Same for me. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I honestly wouldn't worry. The relative abundances in the microbial assemblage will be changing all the time, but basically it can sit there (like that) for a very long time period. All the "they must be continually supplied with ammonia or they'll die" is just b*llocks, oxygen matters...

Hi all, Could you put an air-stone in? If you don't have one, reduce the amount of water so that the media is just covered, that will increase the oxygen diffusion (by increasing the gas exchange surface area to volume ratio). A plant would also work if you put the bucket by a window...

Hi all, Plenty of them, I've not tried one, but <"https://www.amazon.co.uk/NICREW-Aquarium-Aerator-Accessories-Included/dp/B09JSFX3F2/?th=1">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, The piezoelectric ones are quiet. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I don't have access to it either. It is from 1999 and has subsequently been <"cited 86 times">. I'm pretty sure I'll be able to access at least one follow up paper. We used <"Siporax type media"> a little bit when we did the wastewater work, but <"they foul really easily">, which is...

Hi all, It is all <"smoke and mirrors">. We used to use a lot of <"Hydroleca">. <"Is expensive bio media worth it?">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I really like to encourage maximal biodiversity. I have <"very weedy tanks"> (below), which remain set-up permanently, <"I don't vacuum"> the substrate, <"I have tank janitors"> and the tanks will have some build up of <"persistent organic matter">. Dr Stephan Tanner talks about...

Hi all, That is the problem in a nutshell, we can't easily measure the <"level of dissolved oxygen in the filter body">. In terms of the <"amount of dissolved oxygen">, it is <"dependent upon the temperature">, but as near saturation (100%) as possible. All we can do is put mechanisms in...

Hi all, In nearly all circumstances you <"will have enough filter media">. It is the amount of <"dissolved oxygen"> that matters. Cheers Darrel

Hi all, In this case "less is more" and floating cell media is at its most effective for nitrification when it fills a relatively small volume (50% - 70%) of the available space <"https://www.ssiaeration.com/how-to-select-mbbr-media">. It is just back to oxygen again, you just want the...

Hi all, I do, and it is pretty quiet. It is an old one, when I believe the build quality was better. Cheers Darrel

Hi all, My filters <"aren't below the tank in a cabinet">, they are on work-tops etc. which means I have to be a lot more conscientious about keeping the hoses and pre-filters clean, because I don't have much vertical ht. difference to play with and otherwise I get these problems. cheers Darrel

Hi all, That is a really useful observation and an <"oxygen effect">, the difference between air and water caused by the disparity between the 21% O2 in <"the atmosphere"> and the ~10 mg / L (ppm) <"dissolved in water at 20 oC">. Which is why you need an easy clean pre-filter, that you...

Hi all, You need <"the mechanical filtration">, in the pre-filter, to chop out any "waste" food, plant leaves, faeces etc. that will support the growth of heterotrophic bacteria, whose oxygen demand may then compromise nitrification. The filter has a finite amount of oxygen that enters it, and...

Hi all, Certainly does make some sense. <"Potential clogging"> is always the issue. When I began to talk to <"Plec. keepers"> etc. it became apparent that they sometimes had issues with <"unexpected fish death">, although they were really good fish-keepers (I'm not) and had large capacity...

Hi all, And that is actually a good thing. You have <"complete oxidation"> in the filter, all that means is that your filter could handle a <"much larger bioload"> or, probably more to the point for us, it could deal with a sudden increase in ammonia levels from <"emergency chloramine...

Hi all, Because I want to keep bulky organic matter out of the filter body, all I want in the filter body is ammonia and dissolved oxygen, and dissolved oxygen is the metric that counts. You run the risk that the filter will clog and levels of dissolved oxygen in the filter will be...

Hi all, That one. If you want to reduce the cleaning interval just use a larger pre-filter sponge. Cheers Darrel

Hi all, My filters are always like that, almost no biofilm and just some black <"tea grouts">. As well as a chunky pre-filter sponge I have <"Asellus and snails"> in my filters, so I'm guessing that they are part of the reason. I can't remember if any of the filters used to have <"thick and...

Hi all, Exactly that, any "mechanical filtration" media is going to <"start to become biological filtration media"> as soon as it is wet. cheers Darrel

Hi all, As you say "job done" <"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0144860905000531"> - "Bjorn Rusten, Bjørnar Eikebrokk, Yngve Ulgenes, Eivind Lygren, (2006) "Design and operations of the Kaldnes moving bed biofilm reactors", Aquacultural Engineering, 34:3, pp. 322-331," and...

Hi all, They are 10, or 15, ppi sponge. I've got a few of them, but none in use at the moment. For preference I'm using the <"big sponge blocks"> on filter intakes (as well as powerheads), partially because you can get away with <"cleaning them less frequently">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, The <"Aquarium Science website"> has some figures. I <"also know"> that <"Viktor Jarikov"> was / is a sponge user. Therefore I'm going to say <"it doesn't make much difference">. There is actually an "easy way" to tell what works, and that is to look at aquaculture, and in that...

Hi all, I don't own any OASE filters (just <"pre-owned Eheim filters"> with a <"sponge on the intake">) but that is what I do as well. cheers Darrel

Hi all, <"Same for me">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I think this is really important. Ideally I want <"dissolved oxygen and ammonia"> (the "fuel" for nitrification) entering my filter, I don't want any organic carbon rich substrates that are going to cause heterotrophic bacteria (and their oxygen demand) to multiply. I like the...

Hi all, That is one of the reasons I like a pre-filter, it means that you don't have to open the filter body very often. I'm not a very conscientious aquarist, so I'm always worried that <"out of sight is out of mind">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I definitely do. Canister filters are different from all other types of filter, in that they are sealed bodies, where a <"finite amount of oxygen"> enters the filter body and it can't be replenished inside the filter. cheers Darrel

Hi all, Definitely my preferred option. After that? Probably <"Secret Ingredient Soup"> That is really the question we <"still don't have answer to">, but remind me in ten years time (when we should have an answer), but I'm going to guess that sources of inoculum are pretty widespread. I...

Hi all, I think quite a few other people <"think this"> as well. As well as <"floating plants"> I'm obsessed with <"dissolved oxygen">, which means always having a pre-filter and <"not using your filter as a syphon">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I still like the <"Eheim Classic range">, you can get parts for them and they don't have too many gaskets or any electronics etc. I'm also a fan of a pre-filter, you can get the <"Eheim one">, but I mainly use <"the sponge blocks"> they sell for Koi filters etc. cheers Darrel

Hi all, There is some discussion in: <"Correspondence with Dr Ryan Newton - School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee"> and <"The nitrifying microbes in aquariums and cycling">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I can see situations where you would need a filter (and I always have one) <"but I largely agree with this">. It is back to the <"sewage treatment works">, if you can get enough oxygen into the system, you can deal with huge bioloads. If you have a lower bioload (less <"Total...

Hi all, That sponge is a cut down 30 x 10 x 10 cm sponge that <"they sell for Koi ponds etc">. They are drilled 3/4 of the way down. You can buy them as 10 x 10 x 10 cm blocks as well, but I always buy the full size ones and cut them down as required. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I use these a lot. This one isn't in use at the moment, but it you can see that you don't need to use the crap suckers etc. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I'm not going to incriminate myself, but you probably know the <"answer to that one">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, Same for me, double taps <"are really useful"> and I'd regard an inlet pre-filter sponge <"as essential"> cheers Darrel

Hi all, @Phargon what you need is some-one to send you an original pre-filter pipe and then run the filter and record the number of days until flow slackens noticeably. Then rinse and repeat with the new filter pipe. If you use the <"fine pre-filter sponge"> (45 PPI or 60 PPI) that originally...

Hi all, I don't know, but it looks better.......... cheers Darrel

Hi all, That looks better straight away. cheers Darrel

Hi all, <"Same for me">. Although I now run my <"Eheim Classic"> filters with <"double taps"> on the hoses. cheers Darrel

Hi all, You might like these <"7.4.6. Purigen in the Aquarium"> and <"Purigen Alternative">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, They are beyond cute <"Slow 60 (ADA 60p low tech)">. <"Daphnia, Micro (maybe Banana) and Grindal worms">. I'm having some (renewed) Grindal worm issues at the moment, but you are more than welcome to some Micro/Banana Worms. PM if you want some. cheers Darrel

Hi all, Corydoras pygmaeus? A lot of people find that they <"lose fish over time">. I've kept them <"for a while now"> and I think the <"secrets"> are small live food items, stable water conditions and <"a lot of cover">. I keep mine in ~90% rainwater and I probably wouldn't go smaller than a...

Hi all, You could try a small HOB filter. @LondonDragon likes them. I'm a sponge filter fan as well. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I've just finished <"How does Prime detoxify ammonia and nitrite?">I really enjoyed it and have stolen various bits to use in later posts, it is absolute comic gold, and the posters on it <"obviously don't fear litigation">. I'm guessing that is where we are still: <"Seachem prime...

Hi all, I've never been a tap water user, so I don't have any first-hand experience of dechlorinators. I've speculated that "Seachem Prime" is very similar to "Kordon Amquel", it has to be speculation because Seachem won't tell you what is in "Prime" and "Safe". Amquel <"has a patent"> and it...

Hi all, I'm a huge pre-filter fan, I wouldn't run a canister filter <"without one">. You can get the (unattractive) Eheim prefilter <"Prefilter">, they work OK, but I usually just use a <"big sponge block">. If I was more interested in aesthetics I'd probably use an Eck (Corner) Mattenfilter...

Hi all, I have a <"lot of pre-owned Eheim filters">, and I like them, but I'd be much warier of buying any new ones. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I may have a <"business opportunity"> for you. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I think so. I've got <"no interest in aesthetics"> (or designer labels), but I can see why people might like an ADA Superjet filter and be <"willing to pay a premium"> for a shiny, stainless steel <"pump in a bucket">. I think we have to remain <"a broad church">, we can have...

Hi all, Carry on using them? They make very good hides for shrimps or small Corydoras fry <"C. hastatus permanent breeding set up">. I have a really <"big pre-filter sponge"> to stop an debris makings its way into the filter and I think this really helps with clogging. I'm like @_Maq_ , for...

Hi all, I just tip the <"media into a big colander">. I've got a stainless steel one at the moment, but a plastic £5 effort would work just as well. It then give it a rinse under the tap, still in the colander. After that a quick toss from side to side (just like pasta, but minus the black...

Hi all, I've had the good fortune / ill-fortune to visit a <"lot of landfills"> and <"sewage works">. Not everybody's idea of a good day out, but it gets you thinking about what is important and what isn't. cheers Darrel

Hi all, That is really how K1 type floating cell media works, each piece is a little individual water wheel and rotates in the flow. If you have a relatively small volume of K1 type media it is going to work whatever the configuration of the sump is. The Americans like Penguin BioWheel type...

Hi all, Floating cell media is <"still pretty effective"> when it is stationary. Have a look at <"7. Aquarium Filter Media">. Personally I agree with @Wookii and @Krzysztof 82 (Kris) and I'd just use <"PPI 20 sponge"> and <"floating cell media">, and you don't a large volume of <"floating...

Hi all, "Looking cool" would be my guess as its main advantage. It may pull any surface film in more efficiently <"Mechanism Investigation on a Novel Oil Recovery Skimmer Coupling Free Surface Vortex and Cyclone Separation">? and it would slightly increase the gas exchange surface area...

Hi all, Job done. It is just like @Disaronno says. You don't need the <"filter start">. If you are worried, cut the sponge into two bits and clean them one at a time. I've got <"sponges that are ten years old">, and I expect they <"will last another ten">. Cheers Darrel

Hi all, Just to update this, I'm still using the same filters I was in 2011. cheers Darrel

Hi all, <"It is a fantastic page">, I pop back every now and then for a re-read. Ceramic media is fine, so are sponge, floating cell media etc. <"Oase Biomaster 250 - Heater does not fit"> That is it really for me, all you need is a filter medium that <"remains fully oxygenated">. It would...

Hi all, I think they do, as little head height as possible and no media in the filter. cheers Darrel

Hi all, That is really the million dollar question. I think the answer is "yes", but it is a guess. Hopefully some-one will quantify the relative proportions of "found it" to "sat waiting". Also another guess, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if a commercial company tries the <"Secret...

Hi all, I think our knowledge about nitrification has moved on really quickly in recent years, and we have much more understanding of the actual processes and microbes that occur in our filters. Unfortunately Takashi Amano is no longer with us, but if he was? He might have <"revised his...

Hi all, I think that is the take home message from <"wastewater treatment in aquaculture"> etc. They either use <"Kaldnes K1" type floating cell media">, or just rely on the microbes <"forming microbial flocs">. Nitrification is <"really all about oxygen"> and <"then the time"> to develop a...

Hi all, In terms of <"bang for your buck">, you <"can't argue"> with these - <"Shrimp safe filter for 35l tanks">. I use them on all my filters & powerheads, and it the past I've used them with <"an air-lifter on air pumps, on HOB filters etc">. You can also <"cut them up"> with a really...

Hi all, Very true, I'm honestly amazed that everybody <"doesn't use a sponge on the filter intake">. I use really <"substantial foam blocks">, but Eheim etc. make a prefilter <"EHEIM Vorfilter">Item number: 4004320 . and OASE have an internal prefilter <"Biomaster Prefilter Foams">. cheers...

Hi all, What @_Maq_ says, it is really <"all about oxygen">. Have a look at <"Is expensive bio media worth it?">. The web site "Aquarium Science" has some figures <"7. Aquarium Filter Media">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, That is it for me, <"everything else is less important">. I think @_Maq_ is of the same opinion. Yes, exactly that, use <"simple and robust mechanisms"> to oxidise any ammonia (<"TAN - NH3 / NH4+">) and nitrite (NO2-) and then use plants (and water changes) to mop up the nitrate (NO3-)...

Hi all, <"No">. I'm guessing it works fine as an aerobic filter media, mainly <"because of its shape">. Floating cell media is probably <"the best filter medium">, but <"they all work">, as long as you keep <"them fully oxygenated">. <"Best Filter Media">. The only issue surrounding...

Hi all, I think most aquarium based literature underestimates the effectiveness of <"plant / microbe"> biofiltration. The prime metric in nitrification <"is dissolved oxygen"> and plants are, massively, <"net oxygen producers">, so even if we ignore <"direct uptake of fixed nitrogen"> by the...

Hi all, I think what you want is just a patchy environment, a mosaic of <"fluctuating REDOX levels"> in the rhizosphere and substrate. I'm not convinced that it really matter how you get there. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I'm pretty sure that isn't right. I've visited a lot of sewage works and they have terrific churn during the <"Activated Sludge"> process. Dissolved oxygen is the parameter that matters in nitrification, and everything else is really just froth. The way I would look at it is that...

Hi all, I think a few of us may have been there. cheers Darrel

Hi all, ........ and that is the <"million dollar question">. For me the answer is <"yes it can"> and <"nothing else really matters more">. This means no mechanical filtration media (floss etc ) within the filter body and no using your filter as a syphon etc. Because we <"can't easily measure...

Hi all, That is <"what I do with all the filters">, it is fool-proof and you have very little chance of drinking any tank water. cheers Darrel

Hi all, You could link the solubility values in (from Wikipedia etc), but you would still need to take into account the <"total solubility limit"> and the <"common ion effect">. Personally I use <"dry dosing"> unless it is a <"horticultural fertiliser"> and designed to be soluble. Using dry...

Hi all, You don't need a huge amount of biological filter material, as long as it is all oxygenated. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I can see. Plants can only take up nutrients as ions, what we need is to state that and then talk about solubility and the insoluble compounds that form from those ions. Edit: @_Maq_ 's comment Cheers Darrel

Hi all, @John q there isn't a specific thread, as such, but the <"solubility rules chart"> (below) is linked into <"numerous threads">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, This thread <"TDS vs hardness">. This is @Regani <"contribution">, he really is a chemist and was my go to source when I <"didn't understand something">. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I think this is back to the self ionization of water, there is a thread on Apistogramma forums with the chemistry, I'll see if I can find it. Cheers Darrel

Hi all, Why? I'm not a chemist so it is quite likely. I know theoretically that if you add a grain of "sugar" to either pan it tips, but in practice the greater weight acts as a buffer. cheers Darrel

Hi all, It is a bit of a strange one, but yes @Hufsa is correct, pH becomes more and more unstable as you move towards pure H2O. I don't tend to worry too much about pH, it isn't that it isn't biologically incredibly important (it is), but because <"measuring it accurately is quite...

Hi all, <"Yes">. I think they are. I've never had one get to the state of wear that would make it noisy, because I've always managed to break them before that, because they are very prone to snapping if you try and bend them. cheers Darrel

Hi all, I think there are "polishing filters" that do that. I'm pretty sure Lenntech? sell one, I'll see if I can find the details. cheers Darrel

Hi all, .......... and that (<"above">) is the perfect answer. cheers Darrel

Hi all, That really. I use a <"big sponge blocks as a pre-filter">. I just want the biological filter material to be <"continually exposed to oxygen rich water">, so that the <"Biochemical Oxygen Demand"> never exceeds the <"dissolved oxygen (O2) supply">. My opinion is that <"everything...

Hi all, I just wouldn't regard him as a <"reputable source">. There might be things he is good at, but in the areas that I have expertise in he has made some very, very questionable statements. In terms of mechanical filtration, I don't personally like <"any inside the filter body">. cheers...

Hi all, I don't think there is any argument that diatomaceous based filters are efficient filters in terms of filtering out very small particles, they are used very widely in beer production, drinking water purification etc. <"Diatomaceous Earth Filter Aid"> The problem is just the clogging...

Hi all, The problem was that it <"was the morning">, before work, and I didn't know how much I'd tipped in. I know that <"milk is incredibly polluting">, <"Dairy Crest given record fine for Davidstow environmental offences"> so I ended up changing as much water as possible, as rapidly as...

Hi all, I think the "inhabitants seem happy" is the <"important bit of that">, my basic tenet would be that you can use plant, fish and shrimp health as <"an indication of water quality">. I'm <"not anti-testing">, but I want people to be aware <"that the numbers they get"> don't necessarily...

Hi all, I think @Geoffrey Rea prefers <"Jammy Dodgers">. Personally milk is my weapon of choice, mainly because <"I use old 6 pint milk cartons"> to store my water change water in, and accidents can (and will eventually) happen. cheers Darrel

Hi all, Take a <"few of them out">, your filter is only really providing <"belt and braces">. Like @_Maq_ and @erwin123 say the plants and substrate offer additional volume for nitrification to occur in. That is the <"million dollar question">. It isn't that the chemical parameters of the...

Hi all, I just call it <"Plant / microbe biofiltration"> and it is <"much more efficient at nitrification"> than <"microbe only"> nitrification. This is definitely one of the reasons why, <"radial oxygen loss"> from plant roots (TS section through stem of Cyperus sp., oxygen is permeating...