Bio media as primary bio filtration questions.

[mikee002]

I am upgrading tanks in the next 6 months or so, and am planning on doing the “rocks” and aquascape from all faux rocks (habitat black diy). There will be some porosity to it, but not enough to harbor all the beneficial bacteria. I will be using bio media in the sump. I haven’t decided which one yet, I was leaning towards marine pure blocks, but after reading about aluminum leeching and the rapid breakdown of the blocks, I’ll likely go a different route.

All of the brands have a recommend amount of media to use, per gallons of the tank. Are these recommendations based on using the media as the sole bio filtration, or as supplementation to other natural media? If I were to use more than the manufacturer recommended amount, Could there be a downside to that?

Lastly, I’m planning (or wanting to) seed the new media in my current sump so that I can basically avoid a cycle in the new tank and just do a tank to tank transfer of the inhabitants. I have a slight vermitid snail issue. Is there anyway to avoid them ending up in the new tank? I would assume no?

 

[mikee002]

As far as avoiding a cycle... I will also be “curing” the habitat black aquascape in a Rubbermaid to get them cured and cycled before starting the new tank.

 

[mikee002]

Bumping for Any opinions??

Thanks!