Poly Fill as Bio Media?

**hungbobber** · 02-06-2012, 10:31 PM

How effective is PolyFill as a BioMedia? I know it's often used as a mechanical filter media but would it be good for bacterial growth? Tell me what you think!

**Goes to 11!** · 02-06-2012, 11:06 PM

Clogs pretty quick- I wouldn't use it for biomedia. What filter are you using it in? There is prob a better substitute? Like a thin course sponge for example.

**Lady Hobbs** · 02-06-2012, 11:18 PM

I use it in every filter I have. Great for fine polishing the water. I buy bed pillows when they're on sale and you get a ton of the stuff for $2.50-3.00.
I've used it for 8 years now. Coarse sponge on the bottom, fiber in the center and bio-max on top.

**Goes to 11!** · 02-06-2012, 11:25 PM

Originally Posted by Lady Hobbs

I use it in every filter I have. Great for fine polishing the water. I buy bed pillows when they're on sale and you get a ton of the stuff for $2.50-3.00.
I've used it for 8 years now. Coarse sponge on the bottom, fiber in the center and bio-max on top.

I agree that it's great for polishing LH and I have quilt batting on top of my AC sponges - but he is talking about using it for biomedia. I am still looking for more details here.

**Lady Hobbs** · 02-06-2012, 11:26 PM

That's what the sponge is for.

**Goes to 11!** · 02-06-2012, 11:30 PM

LOL - I know this - but we don't even know what kind of filter it is yet.

The OP is asking if polyfil is good AS biomedia. I say no and you are saying that also I think. Just to be clear.

**hungbobber** · 02-08-2012, 12:41 AM

i ask because im trying to expariment with sponge filters and i have yet to find a sponge that doesnt have antiacterial agents in it. but i have loads of polyfill. any ideas are welcome.

**smaug** · 02-08-2012, 12:43 AM

It works for biofilter. Anything with multi layers that will hold a biofilm works for biomedia. It is not the ideal media for use strictly as biomedia for some of the reasons atefitty states.

**Northernguy** · 02-08-2012, 12:46 AM

Aqua clear sponges are cheap enough and last for years.

**hungbobber** · 02-08-2012, 01:07 PM

My wife has some plastic mesh that she uses to knit different things. I thought about forming it into sort of a cylinder placing a plastic tube in the center for the air stone and packing PolyFill around it.

At first glance I thought sponge filters have low water flow so there "shouldn't" be any more of a problem with clogging. Also, you can pack PolyFill thick enough to get a very small pore size.

As the good book says 'Without counsel plans fail' Prov 15:22

Any reason why this shouldn't work, or work well?