What bio-filter media do you use?

[Shibaken3]

Building my DIY sump and wonder what all of you guys use for biofilter media? I see the plastic bio balls. One brick for like 50 bucks. wondering which one is the best or preferences.

I was planning on getting this one for my sump.

 

[Mark Novack]

I use Marine Pure as bio filter in the sump. It seems to work well.

 

[Reef.]

Depends on the tank size, I use maxspec balls, what you link could be ok, hard to say, experiments I’ve seen do seen to show that some media are a lot better than others, you don’t need a lot of it either, so I wouldn’t over do it.

 

[Shibaken3]

I've read that these can crumble when they get old I might try all of them and see which ones are the best.

 

[All_talk]

Live rock and rubble in the sump. I do also keep a mesh bag of ceramic media in the sump to use in a OT tank at a moments notice, its some basic Petco stuff.

 

[AdamD76]

Biohome Ultimate​

 

[Jekyl]

I don't even have a sump. So any of the rock or media you're wondering about IMO isn't even needed.

 

[All_talk]

I don't even have a sump. So any of the rock or media you're wondering about IMO isn't even needed.

I think this is mostly true, but if you have minimal rock in the display, some supplemental surface area in the sump might be a good idea. And, I don't think you can too much surface area for bacteria.

 

[Jekyl]

I think this is mostly true, but if you have minimal rock in the display, some supplemental surface area in the sump might be a good idea. And, I don't think you can too much surface area for bacteria.

Correct. I'm an anti NSA guy though. Guess I didn't consider that.

 

[dcsorrell]

I have a bag of Seachem Matrix waiting. (See build thread for other details.) Matrix is porous, which gives it loads of surface area internally, making it very efficient.

 

[Hermie]

I use K1 media but they float which is interesting cause it means they are never on the floor collecting detritis but they hafve to be encapsulated in a mesh bag

 

[Chris Spaulding]

I have a lot of live rock in the sump along with max spec ceramic plates. about 5 months ago I ditched the bio pellets and but in the reactor Aquaforest Life Bio Fill. I liked it so much that I added it to my sumps in the Seahorse tank and my newly started LPS tank

 

[sculpin01]

Siporax is excellent but expensive. Seachem Matrix seems to work well also.

 

[bblumberg]

Siporax for me, too. If you can filter the water before it hits the siporax it will clog more slowly and allow anaerobic action deep in the pores.

 

[Buddy77]

Building my DIY sump and wonder what all of you guys use for biofilter media? I see the plastic bio balls. One brick for like 50 bucks. wondering which one is the best or preferences.

I was planning on getting this one for my sump.

Plastic pot scrubbies from the Dollar general for a dollar a pack

 

[anthonygf]

What about clay flower pots? Un-glazed. Break them up to make rubble, may be the least expensive.