Not all filters and filter mediums are created equal.

The aquarium industry is totally unique. Some people can have a perfectly operating aquarium, then read something about a new filter, light, food or marine salt. Then abruptly change what was once working trouble free. Filters are a prime example.

30 years ago, we used undergravel filters. They worked; however, there were draw backs. Then there were outside hanging filters and canister filters. They worked, but again there were draw backs. Then came the trickle filter. This is the easiest to use and most efficient. Then came the fluidized bed filter. This replaced many trickle filters. It was soon realized that fluidized bed filters produce product water that is very low in precious dissolved oxygen. Water from a fluidized sand filter should be run through a trickle filter to bring oxygen levels back to standard or above saturation. Then came the plenum filter. The plenum filter received too much hype in magazines. It has proved to be of questionable value and in come cases, a time bomb. A well designed under or over the aquarium trickle filter with BI OX® remains the best filter for both fresh and salt water aquariums.

History of filter mediums

The first mediums were from Europe. They have been around for over 100 years. They are usually made from ceramic and resemble noodles that are about 1/2″ – 3/4″ long. These shapes are not suited for aquatic application. Water channels through the rings creating low oxygen.

Mediums from other industries were introduced to aquarist’s in the late 1980’s. They were being used in a variety of applications from: cooling water in reactors to collecting dust in chimneys. None of these were designed for aquarium applications and their results were poor.

BIO-BALL is a common name used to refer to plastic balls. Plastic balls for the most part appear visually similar. Close inspection reveals significant differences.

The standard bio-ball is designed with a flat center plate. Attached to this plate are rods. Between each rod is a small hole. The basic problem with bio-balls is that water channels over and around them. The holes are too small to allow drops of water to go through them. The result is a trickle filter that is 40-%-70% dry or useless. Over sized filters are required to compensate for this mediums poor design.

BI OX® is a totally unique design that has earned US and international patents. BI OX® allows 90%+ of system water to come into contact with its textured surface. Smaller filters can be used to maintain larger aquariums. Only BI OX® has the ability to remove large portions of waste gases. It offers the most usable surface area™, allowing the maximum colonization of essential nitrifying bacteria. BI OX® also saturates fresh and salt water aquarium water with precious dissolved oxygen.

One gal. (325 pccs.) of BI OX® Super (20mm x 25mm) will maintain 45 gallons of salt water vs. 16 gallons of 1″ bio balls. One gal. (62 pcs.) of BI OX® Regular (40 min x 45 mm) will maintain 30 gallons of salt water vs. 9.2 gallons of 2″ bio balls.