While the Fluval U2 Underwater Filter wasn't the quietest filter we tested, it was close. Plus, with its built-in aeration contributing to your tank's oxygenation it's possible to supplement with a quieter, less obtrusive bubbler. You see, bio balls are designed to house bacteria, not to trap and remove waste from the water column. It’s important to use the right bio media for your filter as not all types are compatible. Canister filters, for example, tend to have large media baskets and you can use a wide variety of bio media in them. But some internal filters can be more limited in the size and type you can use. Ammonia is highly toxic to your fish and, if left to build up in the water, can cause death at around 2.0 mg/L [ 3]. Thankfully, this is where the nitrogen cycle comes in, the first step being the breakdown of ammonia (NH 3) to nitrite (NO 2).

Bio Balls from Betta also offer fantastic aeration. Their large gabs allow for water rich in oxygen to pass through and mix with the dispersed water surfaces. This excellent interaction between gasses , air and water provides the best results for biological filtration as well as increased oxygen levels for the conversion of ammonia into nitrites ,Bio balls are commonly used in freshwater aquarium filters to provide a surface for beneficial bacteria to grow. These bacteria help to break down waste products in the water, making it cleaner and healthier for fish. A Bio ball comes with all of those little ridges and holes which allow the aforementioned nitrifying bacteria to grow inside of them. The point of having beneficial bacteria in your aquarium water filtration unit is to get rid of certain chemicals and toxins in the water. A bio ball helps solve the problem of ammonia and nitrites in aquarium water. Observe the pros and cons for both of these biological media and determine which one you would prefer. Bio Balls

Bio Rings: Similar to bio balls but are circular in shape and also come in various sizes. They fit best into canister filters or other types of hang-on filter units.

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Despite not having a negative effect when it comes to having a lot of bio balls, there’s still a rule of thumb to how much you can put in a tank (per gallon). According to aquarists, 2.2 bio balls would equate to 100 gallons. Ever wonder how these tiny balls grow beneficial bacteria in them? Well, if you take a closer inspection on the bio ball’s design you’ll see a lot of grooves in them, these serve as a surface area for the beneficial bacteria. So whether you’re using a sponge filter or bio balls, make sure you make them turtle-proof. If you don’t want to go through the trouble of installing them manually, you can buy a filter that comes with filter media like a sponge filter or bio balls. An example of such a filter would be the Sun Sun filters. What Can I Use Instead Of Bio Balls?

Floss: Another “sponge” providing a tighter network of fibers for collecting debris and housing good bacteria. Beware that these will get clogged much faster than other media on this list. Customers find that these bio balls tend to be a little more expensive than competitors, but the internal sponge and grooved design have proven to be enough biological filtration for most large aquarium and pond systems. Can Help Suppress Algal Growth: While algal blooms in your tank can be caused by phosphate, ammonia can also be a cause as algae can take it up [ 6]. A biofilter with biological media means more beneficial bacteria to break down this ammonia.With that being said, ensure that you put your ceramic rings right after the mechanical filtration. Bio balls are available in a range of sizes to fit different types of filters – you will be able to fit more small bio balls in the same-sized filter than you will large ones. Ceramic rings have a lot of surface area in them because if you look closely at their outer surface, you’ll see that there’s a significant amount of pores in there. Also, not only will the bacteria grow in said pores but they will also grow through the hole of a ceramic ring. The only difference between the two is the fact that ceramic rings go a step further with the ability to support both nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria, which is a slight advantage that someone who has been keeping aquariums for years will pay more attention to. But on the surface, both filter media materials work the same and get the job done. While adding fewer bio balls than the instructions recommend results in inadequate filtration, there is no harm in adding more. What precautions do you need to take when using bio balls?

It’s not just bacteria you can use in your biological filter, there are also products such as biomax and bio-balls which contain beneficial bacterial cultures for breaking down waste materials found in anaerobic environments. Denitrifying Bacteria For smaller tanks, the Penn-Plax Cascade Internal filter is an excellent choice. The filter was very easy to set up and had the added bonus of an option for aeration and a spray bar. The aeration hookup allows you to oxygenate the outgoing flow of water from the aquarium, while the spray bar spreads filtered water over the surface like a fountain.

One easy way to do this is by placing a filter pad before the water is circulated through the bio balls. This mechanical filter pad will usually need cleaning every couple of weeks. With that being said, if there’s one thing you need to know about turtles, they love to nibble on things. This is why people are reluctant to get sponge filters for their turtle tanks because turtles tend to munch on them. If you wish to exercise your right of cancellation after you have received the goods, you are obliged to retain possession of the goods and take reasonable care of them.