Bioballs vs ceramic - Aquarium Advice

xray · 01-11-2005, 03:50 PM

When I got my fluval 404 it cam with ceramic media (two different shapes). It was not enough to fill all of the compartments, so I went and bought some Bioballs.

My question is, which is better. Should I trash the balls and buy more ceramic or are they good.

Billsgate · 01-11-2005, 03:53 PM

I believe both are good! It's the amount of surface that counts, the material it is made from is of lesser importance.

grimlock3000 · 01-11-2005, 03:54 PM

Ceramic media has way most surface area than bio balls. For the ammount of space they take up in the filter, ceramic is the way to go.

xray · 01-11-2005, 03:57 PM

Is it so much that I should trash the balls. I don't have water problems, but I don't want to take chances.

grimlock3000 · 01-11-2005, 04:04 PM

The bio media the canister came with is probably more than enough to keep the tank healthy. The bio balls are just a bonus. What else is in the compartments? I like to have filter floss in the last compartment, it really polsishes the water.

xray · 01-11-2005, 05:40 PM

Thanks Grimlock. @ the moment I have Chemipure, but its time to change it out. I'll switch to filter floss.

Fenix · 01-12-2005, 01:12 AM

I agree that ceramics is the way to go. They are generally smaller and most likely have more surface area than the Bio Balls so you can fit more of them into a smaller space.

Menagerie · 01-12-2005, 02:38 AM

I only use ceramic media in my canisters, but the bio balls will do a fine job (and I believe they are cheaper).

deeni0z · 01-12-2005, 11:35 PM

I like ceramic rings a lot more than bioballs because i can stack them and arrange them in different ways.

01-11-2005, 03:50 PM	#1
xray Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: New Orleans, Louisana, USA Posts: 356 Images: 4	Bioballs vs ceramic When I got my fluval 404 it cam with ceramic media (two different shapes). It was not enough to fill all of the compartments, so I went and bought some Bioballs. My question is, which is better. Should I trash the balls and buy more ceramic or are they good. __________________ Dance as if no one were watching Sing as if no one were listening Live each day as if it were your last Irish Proverb Ray 90 [acronym:338d0a84ee="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:338d0a84ee] 9 L. Cearuleus 5 C. Moorii 4 P. Acei 2 N. Venustus 2 I. Sprengerae 1 unidentified Mbuna 1 Peacock with a slightly deformed tail.

01-11-2005, 03:54 PM	#3
grimlock3000 Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: maine Posts: 1,971 Images: 1	Ceramic media has way most surface area than bio balls. For the ammount of space they take up in the filter, ceramic is the way to go. __________________ 26 freshwater 2x Sunburst Platys (2M, 2F) // 3x Neon Tetras (?) // 2x Cherry Barbs (1M, 1F) // 2x YoYo Loaches (?) // 1x Bushy Nose Pleco (M) // 1x Clown Pleco (?) // 15H marine -30# Live Rock -Mixed Snails (Nassarius // Cerith // Astrea // Black Turbo // Mexican Turbo) -8x Blue Leg Hermit Crabs // 1x Banded Serpent Star // 1x Cleaner Shrimp -1x Royal Gramma // 1x Percula Clownfish -2x Mushroom Leather // Metallic Green Star Polyps // Pulsing Xenia // Striped Xenia // Blue Mushroom -Remora + Maxi-Jet 1200 // 2x Maxi-Jet 600 // Maxi-Jet 400 // Visi-Therm Deluxe 50 // Current USA Orbit 2x 40w [acronym:f2db8017b4="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:f2db8017b4]

01-11-2005, 03:57 PM	#4
xray Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: New Orleans, Louisana, USA Posts: 356 Images: 4	Is it so much that I should trash the balls. I don't have water problems, but I don't want to take chances. __________________ Dance as if no one were watching Sing as if no one were listening Live each day as if it were your last Irish Proverb Ray 90 [acronym:338d0a84ee="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:338d0a84ee] 9 L. Cearuleus 5 C. Moorii 4 P. Acei 2 N. Venustus 2 I. Sprengerae 1 unidentified Mbuna 1 Peacock with a slightly deformed tail.

01-11-2005, 04:04 PM	#5
grimlock3000 Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: maine Posts: 1,971 Images: 1	The bio media the canister came with is probably more than enough to keep the tank healthy. The bio balls are just a bonus. What else is in the compartments? I like to have filter floss in the last compartment, it really polsishes the water. __________________ 26 freshwater 2x Sunburst Platys (2M, 2F) // 3x Neon Tetras (?) // 2x Cherry Barbs (1M, 1F) // 2x YoYo Loaches (?) // 1x Bushy Nose Pleco (M) // 1x Clown Pleco (?) // 15H marine -30# Live Rock -Mixed Snails (Nassarius // Cerith // Astrea // Black Turbo // Mexican Turbo) -8x Blue Leg Hermit Crabs // 1x Banded Serpent Star // 1x Cleaner Shrimp -1x Royal Gramma // 1x Percula Clownfish -2x Mushroom Leather // Metallic Green Star Polyps // Pulsing Xenia // Striped Xenia // Blue Mushroom -Remora + Maxi-Jet 1200 // 2x Maxi-Jet 600 // Maxi-Jet 400 // Visi-Therm Deluxe 50 // Current USA Orbit 2x 40w [acronym:f2db8017b4="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:f2db8017b4]

01-11-2005, 05:40 PM	#6
xray Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: New Orleans, Louisana, USA Posts: 356 Images: 4	Thanks Grimlock. @ the moment I have Chemipure, but its time to change it out. I'll switch to filter floss. __________________ Dance as if no one were watching Sing as if no one were listening Live each day as if it were your last Irish Proverb Ray 90 [acronym:338d0a84ee="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:338d0a84ee] 9 L. Cearuleus 5 C. Moorii 4 P. Acei 2 N. Venustus 2 I. Sprengerae 1 unidentified Mbuna 1 Peacock with a slightly deformed tail.

01-11-2005, 03:53 PM	#2
Billsgate Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Belgium Posts: 1,604 Images: 8	I believe both are good! It's the amount of surface that counts, the material it is made from is of lesser importance.

01-12-2005, 01:12 AM	#7
Fenix Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 16	I agree that ceramics is the way to go. They are generally smaller and most likely have more surface area than the Bio Balls so you can fit more of them into a smaller space. __________________ Studies show the more birthdays you have the longer you live.

01-12-2005, 02:38 AM	#8
Menagerie Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 11,266 Images: 77	I only use ceramic media in my canisters, but the bio balls will do a fine job (and I believe they are cheaper). __________________

01-12-2005, 11:35 PM	#9
deeni0z Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: San Fernando Valley/Northridge Area, CA Posts: 239	I like ceramic rings a lot more than bioballs because i can stack them and arrange them in different ways. __________________ This is Major Tom to Ground Control I'm stepping through the door And I'm floating in the most peculiar way And the stars look very different today

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