1. Welcome to Aquarium Space! We are a friendly online community for aquarium owners all over the world who love their tanks including their fish, reefs, corals, invertebrates and their aquatic livestock. If you haven't joined yet, we invite you to register and join our community!

what is a bio ball and what is its usage beneficial for?

Discussion in 'Aquarium Equipment & Decor' started by WarthogWilly, Aug 28, 2009.

  1. WarthogWilly

    WarthogWilly Thread Starter New Member

    Messages:
    86
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Can somebody please explain to me what a bio ball is, to me it looks like a plastic toy a cat would bat around, I can never find info on them, its like everybody else in the world was born knowing what one was.....except for me!
     
    WarthogWilly, Aug 28, 2009
    #1
  2. James0816

    James0816 New Member

    Messages:
    1,199
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    In a nutshell....that's exactly what it is...a toy for a cat to play with. ;)

    seriously though..it is ball that is specially made to create additional surface space for BB to grow on. That's all. Kinda like the...oh...what are they called...koosh balls...something like that.
     
    James0816, Aug 28, 2009
    #2
  3. WarthogWilly

    WarthogWilly Thread Starter New Member

    Messages:
    86
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    so its just a ball that floats around in your tank thats basically a house for good bacteria, is this something I should get? right now I have nothing other than caves, fake plants,gravel and a filter that bacteria can house on, so should i maybe get something??/????//
     
    WarthogWilly, Aug 29, 2009
    #3
  4. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

    Messages:
    5,172
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    38
    your spot on about the ball-->It goes in the filter if your filter is able to "accept/take" that particular type of media.

    Some can only "take" cartridges...canisters can pretty much "take" anything.

    What type of filter do you have and what is running in it media wise?
     
    MOD_Dawn, Aug 29, 2009
    #4
  5. WarthogWilly

    WarthogWilly Thread Starter New Member

    Messages:
    86
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    i have an old beast penguin hang over the back filter that runs through a mechanical/biological/chemical premaid insert fliter pad, other than that nothing else, no sponge or nothing like that......
     
    WarthogWilly, Aug 29, 2009
    #5
  6. James0816

    James0816 New Member

    Messages:
    1,199
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    You don't need to use with your set up. They are mainly used in sumps.
     
    James0816, Aug 29, 2009
    #6
  7. cooltow1

    cooltow1 Member

    Messages:
    594
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Here a HOB filter load with Bio balls you get no mechanical filtering with this srt-up but doesn't clog

    Rick
    100_1121 (640x479).jpg
     
    cooltow1, Aug 29, 2009
    #7