Alternatives to bio balls

[biggin]

This has come up a couple of times the past few weeks and I decided since I was thinking about this for my tank I might as well throw it out there….

Any ideas?

The article below talks about shotgun shell wading (I think my favorite), Easter Grass, packing materials, ½ pvc cut into tiny rounds, milk jug cut into 1” x 1” squares and thrown into a blender and I think a couple others.

I was thinking why can’t I use pillow stuffing and shotgun wading? I could do it all for ~$20 and seems like I would have plenty of filtration….

Any thoughts? Suggestions?


I will go a head and answer why don’t you just eBay bio balls for about $60?


Do not want to wait for them to show up.
Why spend $60 if I can get something cheaper?
Seems like a good discussion.



Good Read:

http://www.thekrib.com/Filters/noodles.html

[xtc]

excellent discussion and your timing rocks!! ;)

[AndrewH]

Hmmm that is a good point....

I guess there are zillions of other, cheaper ways to get the same affect (lots-o-surface area).

[biggin]

I figured you were still looking for options.

[rolloffhill]

I like orange safety fence, and if chris isn't gonna use it tell him to bring it to you....

I have a couple more rolls in the shop.

[xtc]

I'm just thinkin' maximum surface area. then there's the aspect of incorporating oxygen into the water- right?

[biggin]

I saw someone using little green army men....

[xtc]

very cool! "I have an ARMY of men keeping my tank clean"

[Goathead]

just get a small bag of lava rock from home depot. Its got a huge surface area, and its dang cheap.

[Goathead]

legos are pretty commonly used also.

[rolloffhill]

OH yeah that is a good one, I had forgotten about the lava rock!!

[biggin]

legos are pretty commonly used also.

Sweet I could build a little fort for the green men....

just get a small bag of lava rock from home depot. Its got a huge surface area, and its dang cheap.

I forgot about this I had heard of it being used before. That is a good idea....

[xtc]

wanna buy my balls?

[Goathead]

he doesnt know where they have been...:hehe:

[xtc]

I won't mark up the price...much.

[supersmirky]

roflmao

Is there a process to get the lavarock ready for tank use??

[biggin]

Sure Megan is ready for that?

How many did you buy? What price are we talking here?

Shotgun shells, green men, legos and lava rock are sounding like a fun combo...

wanna buy my balls?

[xtc]

I got 1000 for $36.

[rolloffhill]

Dollar store potscrubbers were on the list too...I'll see if I can dig up a link.

[rolloffhill]

http://www.aquariumlife.net/projects/diy-filter/111.asp

http://www.aquariumlife.net/images/filter-with-media.jpg

[rolloffhill]

http://www.wernersponds.com/biofiltermedia.htm

[arnold]

:exactly:I use these in my DIY wet dry, they work great, lots of bio area

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/paulscar/scrubbies.jpg

They are in the above link/post as well

[Goathead]

Those scrubbers would work like a champ, i may have to add a few to my canister filters.

[kewlkatdady]

I was going to bring up lava rock and pot scrubbers...

both have HUGE surface area.

[biggin]

Pot scrubbers look like the way to go....

I was planning on a 5g bucket anyway.... excellent.... I knew this thread was a good idea....

[rolloffhill]

Everything is a good idea...:D

[poel_19]

how aboiut shredding a pool noodle.....cheap And fun

[rolloffhill]

That's ghey

[biggin]

I am believe I am going pillow stuffing and scrubbies....

That is my theory anyway. I bought all the little pit scrubbers within 10 miles of me tonight.... dollar stores suck.... Wal-Mart this time of year is just scary.... I feel as if I lost 10 years of my life....

[xtc]

roflmao

You missed some fun here!

Walmart at Christmas time is satan's lair.

[biggin]

no... that thread is equally as painful as wall mart and the tweakers at the dollar stores....

I had to explain I was not cooking meth TWICE..... seriously....

roflmao

You missed some fun here!

Walmart at Christmas time is satan's lair.

[AndrewH]

Wow, everytime I go to the $1 store I have to avoid the lady with 22 1/2 kids.

And Wal-Mart sucks this time of year. Especially the one near our house. Has a SAM's right next to it, plus also shares a parking lot with Lowes. Freaking pain in d ars just trying to get into the parking lot and find a space.

[Cowboys]

:)Golf balls work great!

[biggin]

I read about golf balls....

I am going with the scrubbers.... $12 for 66 of them....

[xtc]

I wondered about the pricing of those things. Were they in a big bag? where did you have the most success?

[biggin]

Dollar General, big lots had some but they were $1.50....

Dollar tree - no
99cent store - no
family dollar - no
.99 store - no

Basically I bought all of them I could find. I think I am going to use pillow stuffing on top and bottom and scrubbers in the center.

$1 for 6(6 to a bag) and they take up quite a bit of space.

I wondered about the pricing of those things. Were they in a big bag? where did you have the most success?

[poel_19]

scrubbers??

[rolloffhill]

-10 and the corner for Joel for not reading the thread....:flipa:

[greeneyed]

Would these work?
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/2776/b9071ca1.jpg

[biggin]

I saw them last night for $.50 each but I am not sure it would be worth it for the price.

Would these work?
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/2776/b9071ca1.jpg

[rolloffhill]

I think those would get expensive as they would crush down...but what do I know?? :)

[poel_19]

really im not lying none of that stuff was posted when i typed my post

[xtc]

I think those would get expensive as they would crush down...but what do I know?? :)

That's what I was thinkin too- I even thought about adding egg crate dividers to maintain multiple "levels"- but that just seems soo overkill.

[Trippy]

i was thinkink where could i throw my worn out socks .........might as well give it a try LOl .

[rolloffhill]

Your looking to grow bacteria, not fungus...:tease::hehe:

[AndrewH]

Would these work?
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/2776/b9071ca1.jpg

I'm also thinking there might be some sort of anti-bacterial agent applied to the bath and kitchen items, so you might wanna double check just to make sure.

[kewlkatdady]

you would need to verify that ON ANYTHING you put in your tank.

[Vivarium Concepts]

What about using LECA ( light expanded clay aggregate). Goes by trade names of Hydroton, Aliflor. Hydroponic growers use it. You can get 50# for $35 . Only problem I could see it that it will float. They have a rough texture to their surface so bacteria could colonize.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LECA

[biggin]

Cool idea VC.... very interesting but $$ wise it is just shy of bio balls.

But interesting none the less... gave me a new Google serarch.

[xtc]

Blake, the dollar general store down the street from me had 6 packs the other day. (Arapaho and Floydish)

[biggin]

I think I am good on materials.... I started drilling the bottom my 5g bucket last night....

freakin whip.

[AndrewH]

What about using LECA ( light expanded clay aggregate). Goes by trade names of Hydroton, Aliflor. Hydroponic growers use it. You can get 50# for $35 . Only problem I could see it that it will float. They have a rough texture to their surface so bacteria could colonize.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LECA

http://www.claytek.co.uk/images/leca_pic.gif

Looks like little taters. Cool idea.

[ElijahTurtle]

Please tell me someone is going to at least throw in a small bag of army men in with the rest of thier setup goodies!
:second: Awesome idea!