Filter Bio Media Is a One Time Investment?

[bossteck]

Bio media, quite simply, are the things you place in your filter to house beneficial bacterial. (Medium like ceramic rings, bio balls, japanese mat etc)

Some people feel that such media needs to be changed after a period of usage. Others feel that a quick wash is sufficient and it can last you forever.

What do you think?

[sevo88]

The filter media provides a surface for bacteria to grow. As long as you maintain a large surface area by washing off debris blocking off the pores and channels, they should last forever (or almost) without loss of biological filtration efficacy.

[tawauboy]

by washing, you are only cleaning the surface of bio media but not the pores. and you will not be able to remove debris in these pores. you may be able to use the bio media for a long time but the efficiency will drop.

[BFG]

I agree with Tawauboy. I do change the media depending on the bioload of the tank. For example, if the bio-ring has turn brown and aggressive washing with tap water can't clean it, I usually change it. This will occur usually after 2 years of usage. If you have lesser bio-load, you won't see this happening maybe after 3years or more.

[Justikanz]

Question: Understand the reason to wash the bio-filter media, so it would not clog, etc But why under tap water? Wouldn't that kill the bacterial you are intending to grow? Unless, of course, you are only washing half of it and the other half a month or so later...

Also, when changing bio media, you change it 100%?

[ranmasatome]

kanz, i think they are talking about when you overhaul the filter. A total washout. Do you change the filter media during that time? or try to wash them and re-use them... in that manner.

[BFG]

For me, if I suspect that if the media has 'fulfilled it's service', the only sure way is to wash it with tap water. I do not need to wash all of it, just take 1 and 'hosed' it with tap water. If the discoloring doesn't disappear, it's about time to look for replacement. You could still use it for a while until you get a replacement pack. But I won't use it as long as my next cleaning schedule. Previously, I would clean my filter every 6 month or so.

[bossteck]

So i gather from feedback so far... we wash the bio media during filter maintenance, either with tap water or tank water depending on your practice, after a few years, do a 'color test', if the media looks dirty, it's time to change them.

I am wondering if there is a more scientific way of doing things.. and whether there's really a need to change to new bio media for it to be more effective, and how much 'more' effectivness are we really looking at.

[ranmasatome]

Dont think theres a need to change ALL the media. The biohome kind of media i change but the ones that are used for mechanical filtration i dont change at all.. they are just peieces of plastic annyway.

[tawauboy]

So i gather from feedback so far... we wash the bio media during filter maintenance, either with tap water or tank water depending on your practice, after a few years, do a 'color test', if the media looks dirty, it's time to change them.

for filter maintenance, you should use tank water. just 'save' the siphoned tank water into a big pail/bucket. dip the bio media basket into the pail slowly and lift it rapidly out of the water. this should remove the bigger debris.

Dont think theres a need to change ALL the media. The biohome kind of media i change but the ones that are used for mechanical filtration i dont change at all.. they are just peieces of plastic annyway

you should be able to reuse the mechanical sponge filter but not the fine wool filter. this fine wool filter may loose its mechanical structure (partial disintegration) after some time in a planted tank.

[ranmasatome]

Hi Thomas,
Wasnt talking about the wool...more like the media.. you know.. eheim EHFIMECH?? eheim EHFISUBSTRAT?? Dennerle Turbo filter pearls?? Dennerle Turbo filter chips??
in this case.. i would only change the ehfisubstrat and the Turbo filter pearls.. if you look at ehfimech and turbo filter chips closely..they are really just funny looking pices of plastic.. and technically.. that can be used forever.

[stormhawk]

The question is, whether the biomedia is a one-time investment.

My answer to that is yes, provided you keep the stuff clean and regular maintained. Microwaving the stuff soaked in a container of water does help to clear the pores out somewhat. However that means whatever BB that was hiding within those pores would definitely be killed.

For my case, whenever I do filter maintenance for my Eheim filters, I only replace the fine white filter pad. The blue coarse filter pad can be used indefinitely with zero problems if it was given a good rinse. Everything else just needs a good rinse and its back to business once the pipes are back in place.

Some people freak out at the idea of washing their bio-media under tap water, saying that the beneficial BB gets wiped out in the process. That to me is a load of hogwash because frankly speaking, we give the bacteria less credit for survival than is due.

[stormhawk]

in this case.. i would only change the ehfisubstrat and the Turbo filter pearls.. if you look at ehfimech and turbo filter chips closely..they are really just funny looking pices of plastic.. and technically.. that can be used forever.

Technically that is correct. Plastic doesn't actually rot.. besides it takes a freaking long time for it to degrade anyway.

Talking about plastic pieces, I wonder how it'll be like if we just stuff the damn filter baskets with only plastic chips. Food for thought?