<\/span>Media in a Submerged Sump Filter<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nFilter biomedia vary by the amount of effective surface area they give for beneficial bacteria to grow on. Note the term \u201ceffective\u201d is very important. Many media suppliers report their surface area as what a nitrogen molecule can get too. Since a nitrogen molecule is a billion times smaller than any beneficial bacteria this is VERY<\/strong> misleading. The square feet of surface area per cubic foot of biomedia (ft2\/ft3) actually available for colonization by beneficial bacteria is:<\/p>\n\n\n\nBiomedia<\/th> Effective\u201d Effective\u201d Cubic Cubic inches to get 100ft\u00b2<\/th><\/tr><\/thead> Fluidized K1 media 540<\/td> <\/td> 16<\/td> 320<\/td><\/tr> 30 PPI foam in 340<\/td> <\/td> 25<\/td> 500<\/td><\/tr> 30 PPI foam 340<\/td> <\/td> 25<\/td> 500<\/td><\/tr> 30 PPI foam air 300<\/td> <\/td> 29<\/td> 580<\/td><\/tr> Plastic pot scrubbers<\/td> 280<\/td> <\/td> 31<\/td> 620<\/td><\/tr> Static K1 media<\/td> 260<\/td> <\/td> 33<\/td> 660<\/td><\/tr> 20 PPI foam in 260<\/td> <\/td> 33<\/td> 660<\/td><\/tr> 20 PPI foam 260<\/td> <\/td> 33<\/td> 660<\/td><\/tr> 20 PPI foam air 230<\/td> <\/td> 38<\/td> 751<\/td><\/tr> Powerhead operated 140<\/td> <\/td> 62<\/td> 1240<\/td><\/tr> Aquarium gravel in 140<\/td> <\/td> 62<\/td> 1240<\/td><\/tr> Air operated 120<\/td> <\/td> 72<\/td> 1440<\/td><\/tr> Blue Matala pads<\/td> 120<\/td> <\/td> 72<\/td> 1440<\/td><\/tr> 1\/8 inch garden 100<\/td> <\/td> 86<\/td> 1720<\/td><\/tr> Bio balls<\/td> 100<\/td> <\/td> 86<\/td> 1720<\/td><\/tr> Alfagrog<\/td> 80<\/td> <\/td> 108<\/td> 2160<\/td><\/tr> 1\/2 inch lava rock<\/td> 60<\/td> <\/td> 144<\/td> 2880<\/td><\/tr> Seachem Matrix<\/td> 60<\/td> <\/td> 144<\/td> 2880<\/td><\/tr> Biohome Ultimate<\/td> 40<\/td> <\/td> 216<\/td> 4320<\/td><\/tr> Ceramic rings<\/td> 40<\/td> <\/td> 216<\/td> 4320<\/td><\/tr> Ceramic balls<\/td> 30<\/td> <\/td> 288<\/td> 5760<\/td><\/tr> Expanded clay 30<\/td> <\/td> 288<\/td> 5760<\/td><\/tr> Cubic inches to get 5ft\u00b2 = (5\/E.A.)x1,728 100ft\u00b2=(100\/E.A.x1,728)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>filter biomedia efficiency<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOtopharynx lithobates – Sulphur Head<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nNow a simple illustration is in order. Elsewhere we establish that fish are very healthy and well taken care of by a biofilter media which has very roughly 100 square foot of biomedia surface area per pound of fish. And very roughly 5.5 five-inch fish are in a pound of fish. A typical 40-gallon sump might have 24 gallons of submerged biomedia in it, or 3.2 cubic feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So foam in the submerged biomedia sump will support 3.2 x 400\/100 or 12.8 pounds of fish or and astonishing 70 five-inch fish. Matrix, Biohome or ceramic rings in the submerged media will support 3.2 x 30\/100 or 1 pound of fish or 6 five-inch fish. This is really a very astonishing calculation all sump owners should do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Note that for reasons we will delve into under fluidized bed sumps a 40-gallon fluidized bed filled with 3.2 cubic feet of 60% K1 media and properly circulating with air will filter the water and keep in excellent health an astonishing 104 five-inch fish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n