DIY biological filtration

If I am not high or something - biological filtration is made possible by things like ceramic rings, bio-balls, matrix?

These are not so expensive but still costs money. Isn't there a way to use normal free stuff as a bio filter substance? (free if you have some ) For example, the kind of small sandstone rocks I have in my 3ft tank, or maybe some asphalt like they use in the road. Can I just put it in the bottom of my HOB filter, and will it then serve as a bacteria hotel room and help with the bio filtration?

 

@Razer2007 ask the Proff.

 

Cheap stuff that works as a filter media:
Pot scrubbers (Crazy Store, 6 for R10)
Straws cut into little pieces
Hair curlers cut into little pieces
Normal aquarium gravel.
That grey rock they use in cement/concrete

 

I will try to avoid plastic as this is "slippery" for the bacteria. I was also thinking of that grey rock or my dad's old aquarium gravel which has a grain size of about 3-6mm. Pot scrubber, plastic or not, sounds like a good idea. Thanks dude +rep

 

Look at the profile of Bio-balls ....might steer you in the right direction for your DIY project

 

Thanks for the rep. Bio-balls are a great filtration method and I currently use pretty much all of that on the list in my sump. It works perfectly and I have had no problems with nitrites etc.

 

OK thank you. I could probably do with a combination but it should be the most effective methods because the HOB filter doesn't have that much space.

 

That is why I would rather buy a little bit of Matrix. (or bum a handful from uncle Henk or uncle Gert!) The increase in surface area can just not be beaten and worth the expense.

 

@Razer2007 - you can build yourself a really cheap build-in glass filter....say 4 or 5 compartment, works very well, see below:

 

@TomK, How much is it for about a handful, or two, of matrix then?

@OscaCT, That would be ideal but the tank is running so, lol, no.

 

I guess this is what you are tanking about.

I do have a filter sponge underneath everything clogged with stuff. The other sponge is clean and on top of my activated carbon and ammonia remover.

 

Don't laugh we used normal clay bricks broke it up into nice pieces with a hammer and that worked fine for years. The pieces has a rough surface somewhat porous and houses a lot of bacteria

 

Yes, that is the 1lt bottle and sell for about R180. For your HOB you probably need 100-200ml, with something on top, like a sponge, to secure it. It is very light and will just drift away otherwise. The water flow must be directed through it, no use if it just flow over and away.

 

That makes sense, @TomK

@Corne, that doesn't really sound like a bad idea. I could do it because we have a lot of bricks and a sledgehammer at home

 

@Razer2007 Try it bud if it don't work I wil personally buy you a bag of bio rocks from petstop (the gray ones shawn loves) that is how sure I am

 

:bike: I'll make sure it doesn't work then ... heh heh heeee

Jokes man. Yeah I'll deffo try it tomorrow when I clean the filter a bit.

 

Cool lol

 

I have loads of bio-balls here - i'll give you some

 

Those will take up too much space in my HOB

 

Ok tread jack but will 250ml of matrix help in a 4 foot at all ? in a HOB