Biological Filtration

[matt23983]

Does all biofiltration have to be wet/dry as in the bio-wheel?
Would it be feasable for me to get a couple of bio-balls and drop them
into my Aqua-Tech 5-15 filter, would that work or do the bio-balls need
to be wet/dry?

Thanks,
Matt

[Eric Schreiber]

matt23983 > wrote:

>Does all biofiltration have to be wet/dry as in the bio-wheel?

No, not at all. Wet/dry systems are a highly efficient form of
bio-filtration because they allow lots of oxygen to reach the bacteria
that are doing the work, but they're not the only method. An
undergravel filter, for example, provides good biological filtration,
and in fact every surface in your tank eventually will have bacteria
on it.

>Would it be feasable for me to get a couple of bio-balls and drop them
>into my Aqua-Tech 5-15 filter, would that work or do the bio-balls need
>to be wet/dry?

That would work - the bio-balls simply provide a large amount of
surface area for the bacteria to develop on. Keep water flowing over
them and they'll do a fine job once the system is established.


--
www.ericschreiber.com

[NetMax]

"matt23983" > wrote in message
s.com...
> Does all biofiltration have to be wet/dry as in the bio-wheel?
> Would it be feasable for me to get a couple of bio-balls and drop them
> into my Aqua-Tech 5-15 filter, would that work or do the bio-balls need
> to be wet/dry?
>
> Thanks,
> Matt

Most bio-filtration is completely fully aquatic, but the exposed surfaces
of the bio-balls in a wet/dry environment work much better than they
would underwater, so I think the answer is yes, but it will not work
nearly as well.

NetMax

[Michi Henning]

"matt23983" > wrote in message
s.com...
> Does all biofiltration have to be wet/dry as in the bio-wheel?
> Would it be feasable for me to get a couple of bio-balls and drop them
> into my Aqua-Tech 5-15 filter, would that work or do the bio-balls need
> to be wet/dry?

Biologic filtration works submersed too. It's just that it isn't quite as
efficient
because, with a wet/try or trickle filter, the bacteria get more oxygen to
work with. But you could certainly do what you suggest, and it would work.
But, instead of bio-balls, I'd consider sintered glass (such Ehfi Substrat or
similar). I think you get more surface area per volume that way than you do
with bio-balls.

Cheers,

Michi.

--
Michi Henning Ph: +61 4 1118-2700
ZeroC, Inc. http://www.zeroc.com

[~misfit~]

High Flight wrote:
> On rec.aquaria.freshwater.misc, Michi Henning >
> says...
>> "matt23983" > wrote in message
>> s.com...
>>> Does all biofiltration have to be wet/dry as in the bio-wheel?
>>> Would it be feasable for me to get a couple of bio-balls and drop
>>> them into my Aqua-Tech 5-15 filter, would that work or do the
>>> bio-balls need to be wet/dry?
>>
>> Biologic filtration works submersed too. It's just that it isn't
>> quite as efficient
>> because, with a wet/try or trickle filter, the bacteria get more
>> oxygen to work with. But you could certainly do what you suggest,
>> and it would work. But, instead of bio-balls, I'd consider sintered
>> glass (such Ehfi Substrat or similar). I think you get more surface
>> area per volume that way than you do with bio-balls.
>
> Or you could use a Millennium filter, which injects air into a
> submerged biogrid.

Jack, do you have a web-page for that?

Cheers,
--
~misfit~

[~misfit~]

~misfit~ wrote:
> High Flight wrote:
>> Or you could use a Millennium filter, which injects air into a
>> submerged biogrid.
>
> Jack, do you have a web-page for that?

S'cool, I found it.

http://www.aquariumsystems.com/filters.htm#MILLENNIUM®
--
~misfit~