Equipment Review and Discussion :: Best Bio Media.... Stars, Balls or Rings?

[bover907]

My Rena XP3 is coming in tomorrow, and I want to know what you guys think is the best bio media to buy for it or which to avoid.

Petsmart has the Rena Stars at 20 for $15.39, and Marineland Bio Balls at 90ct for only 6.59. That seems like a better deal to me, but not if there is a significant quality difference that would make the stars that much better.

I want my tank to cycle as quickly as possible. I didn't see any rings at petsmarts web site but that doesn't mean there aren't any at the store.

So Back to the original question. Which is the best bio media?

[BullDog]

There was a really good link that compared all different types of biomedia, but now I can't find it

This one has sort of a summary of what the other one said:
http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/filtra ... 071603.htm

I think the bioballs have less surface area for bacteria to colonize on and they tend to take up more room compared to ceramic biomedia, like the stars or fluval's biomax.

I personally have Biomax and some bioballs in my filters.

Edit: Found the link I was looking for:
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forum ... hp?t=88677

[TheComputerGremlin]

I prefer a mix of types, I have a bag of Fluval ceramic prefilter rings and a box of Rena BioStars. (I have a Rena XP3, too, btw.) I found that those two totally fill up my canisters (with the BioChemZorb and filtering pads), and seem to work rather nicely. I have the lowest canister with just the ceramic prefilter, which tends to catch the largest waste, and then the filtering pads, then a combo of all of the stars and a few ceramic rings, and lastly the BioChemZorb.

[untsmurf]

My setup is similar to Jax's. I've got two XP3's. They both have pads, then bio stars, then rings, then the carbon stuff (i think its in chemzorb) then the micro filter pad.

[bover907]

Thanks, guys...

If they have them tomorrow morning, I am going to get the stars or some other porous material as i was just reading that it will cycle faster.

Will the ChemZorb pad that comes with the filter plus water changes every couple days keep up with the amonia and nitrites until the cycle is complete? Should I buy extra chemzorb or carbon?

[Azfar]

Is it useful to use the carbon? its same as active carbon isnt it?
I've read few threads before that some say no need to use the active carbon because it does nothing and take up space in the filter..

But from my point of view, the carbon do have their function by not making the water smelly and turn yellowish (I said this because I have try run the filter without carbon and yuckss.. I got smelly and yellowish water).. So I put back the carbon and the water turns clear and not dat yellow. What do you guys think?

[untsmurf]

I've always used it and never had dirty looking/smelling water. It might be the carbon, it might be something else but I don't mind it being in there.

[BullDog]

I've used carbon for a while. I took it out for a few months, but didn't notice too much difference. I've switched back to using carbon again, though I don't replace it as often as I should.

[Azfar]

I've used carbon for a while. I took it out for a few months, but didn't notice too much difference. I've switched back to using carbon again, though I don't replace it as often as I should.

Yeah me too.. what I know, the carbon need to be change for some period like once a month. Since its cheap.. So I don't change it always.. hehehe

[mikee]

Bov-07 -- I have always used ceramic rings. The ones I have are very rough and porous and the bacteria clings to them very well. When changing out the filter I keep them in tank water until I finish. m.

[bover907]

Well, The filter came in today, and it had 12 stars in it. Everything I read said it didn't come with bio media, but this one did. I'd already been to the pet store this morning, and I picked up a box of 20 stars. So, there's 32 stars in there, and they don't even fill up half a tray.

Man, that XP3 is cavernous! I didn't think it was quite that big. I was going to buy a box of the Fluval bio max rings, but didn't. I'll probably buy some of those at a later date, and fill any remaining space with plastic pot scrubbies.

I set up the filter, and there's no leaks or anyting, and it's quieter than the little insufficient internal filter that was in there.

I think I'm going to go get a test kit and make sure the amonia stays low until this thing cycles. I had been cleaning that little filter my wife picked up daily, and changing 2 gal of water every other day. I think I am going to just leave it for a month unless the micro pad up top gets clogged. Then hopefully when I clean it, I'll see some slime on the stars.

Thanks for all the help, guys (and gals).

[Rubicon]

I prefer the fluval ceramic style ones. My rena XP4 came with the black plastic balls and I wasn't thinking and when I was filling the filter to prime it the basket floated out of place. DOH