Too much???

[hellzero]

Hi ppl, I'm confused for the main use of rings, bioball & biofilter.
Will too much of these items added into affect the aro's health? How about the water condition?

Usually how many of these items are "standard" amount for a 4ftx1.5ftx1.5 tank?

[Hobbit6003]

The ceramic rings and the bioballs are basiclly used in bio filtration. Bio filtration makes use of beneficial bacteria to break down ammonia to less toxic nitrate in the process of nitrification.

The ceramic rings and bioballs provide the surface for these bacteria to colonise and thus thrive. The ceramic rings are basically very porous and this porosity increases its surface area for the bacteria colony to stick on and grow.

There's never a question of too much, but too little that biofiltration may be detrimental to the tank, especially if you have a fish only tank, and carnivorus fish for that matter.

However, do rinse your filter media periodically to prvevent them from clogging up, as that clogging can also severely cripple your biofiltration.

Cheers,

Kenny

[ickey]

when we must rinse it?i mean the frequency....

[hellzero]

BTW how to rinse the filter media periodically for preventing them from clogging up, how the clogging can be also severely cripple the biofiltration?

Thanks

[Isna]

think of the wild......ahhhhh.....the amazon....the tropical clear waters of Indonesia.....etc.....
well, there is so much water compared to fish, that ammonia n other wastes r much diluted to tiny amounts that hardly harm the fish....furthermore, there is a very large surface area on the bottom of the rivers......all the mud, rocks,wood etc....for the bacteria to grow.

In the aquarium, what do we have?? a large fish in a small tank.......Not enough water!! plus, the glass surface is smooth, n there is just not enough room for bacteria to grow. they cannot manage the ammonia poured out by our aros. so ammonia in the water rises...

any filter simply increases the surface area for the bugs to grow, as Hobbit6003 has described. picture the bioballs n other media as an extension of the river bed.....

remember that these bacteria require oxygen......that's why ALL filters consume electricity...from your simple corner filter, to...............they all create a flow of current, to bring in freshly oxygenated water to keep the bacteria happy.
If u experience a major power failure, the filter stops n the bugs might die..........If the bioballs get clogged with poo etc, it's like your arteries getting blocked--heart attack. the bugs will die.

well, how often?? depends on how big your filter is, how much poo is picked up etc....perhaps once a mth, once in 2 mths etc.......monitor ammonia n nitrites... this will tell u if something has gone wrong.:D

how to do it?? u should get tank water to rinse it..i like to chuck media in say a bucket, fill it partially with tank water, n put your hands in n give it a vigourous sturr.....u don't have to brush it or add any chemicals.....chuck the water away, refill it, n restirr.....do it till the water appears clear when poured....now, the arteries r cleaned n unblocked....ahhh..fresh air.....

hope this answers your question guys...
a very important thing we do.
hell!!! this is what filter maintenance is mainly about...:) :D

[hellzero]

Cool!!! :D Thanks I understand liao. Learned something important again :D Thanks

Well, those bioballs and ceramic ring/biofilter shall washed with the water from the fish tank? Heard that to keep the bacteria "alive"...