Lastly, even though, almost every article about Ceramic rings mentions their ability to house denitrifying bacteria as a huge advantage… in reality, we do not have sufficient data. There are no tests that can show us the efficiency of these denitrifying bacteria in Ceramic rings.

But there are a number of different options depending on factors like the size and type of your filter and your budget. That’s why we’ve included a number of other alternatives to cover all these scenarios. One option is to use live plants in your aquarium. Live plants will help to filter the water and provide a natural habitat for your fish. When rinsing the bio balls, do not scrub. This will remove all the good bacteria that have built up on the balls when rinsing the water should begin to go cloudy. This will be the dirt coming away from the bio balls. We would advise repeating a couple of times to ensure the waste is fully removed but the beneficial bacterial is still in place. Beneficial bacteria may take longer to grow due to an insufficient amount of oxygen in the tank. You can oxygenate water by adding an air pump to your tank. You might want to leave your air pump on for the whole night to increase the oxygen levels in the tank.It’s commonly understood that the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria Nitrosomonas spp. are responsible for this step, but further research suggests ammonia-oxidizing archaea are involved [ 4]. These are tiny organisms similar to bacteria that also colonize your tank. Step 3: Breakdown Of Nitrite To Nitrate Sponge filters such as these are the cornerstone to a successful filter. In our veterinary practice, this is the one filter I recommend to every one of my clients looking to improve their filtration. And, yes, I know it says on the box to replace it every 3 months, but please DON’T! This filter will last for a decade or more, making your fish and your wallet happy. When setting up a filter with your own customizable media, you need to follow the same approach. Always place your mechanical media in first, before your biological filter media, to avoid it getting clogged with waste matter. It’s safe to reuse ceramic rings. It’s better to reuse these than toss in a new ceramic ring in your filter. Why? Well, there would already be colonies of beneficial bacteria on the ceramic rings, this way, you wouldn’t have to cycle your tank and wait for bacteria to grow on your biological media. Bio-Balls: These plastic balls can be found in several sizes and will fit many filter types, especially canisters and HOBs. They provide great surface area and help agitate and aerate the water, making a perfect environment for beneficial bacteria to grow on.

They also come in 90pcs per box, so you won’t have to worry about coming short in terms of having sufficient bio balls in your tank to sustain it. Ceramic Rings What Is The Purpose Of Ceramic Rings In An Aquarium? Bio balls come in a variety of colors, sizes, and shapes to help ensure that they can fit into any filtration system. What is the lifespan of a bio ball? If these are placed before the foams in the system, or no foams are used, the debris that is caught in the bio balls will have a negative effect in your tank. This will cause the Nitrite level to rise which can cause your tank to crash and re-cycle. How do I clean bio balls?This depends on the size of your tank, type of filter and the type of bio media. Most manufacturers will recommend a volume or usage rate and it’s usually easy to follow. How Often Should I Clean My Biological Filter Media? Dead leaves, poop, uneaten fish food and other waste can become trapped in the bio balls’ patterned structure. Bio balls sit in your filter. As water passes over these balls, the nitrifying bacteria filters your water, removing ammonia and nitrites – dramatically improving the water quality. Bio balls provide a living space for beneficial bacteria and it provides aeration to the tank as well.