Description
Package Size: 2″x3″, since the balls vary in size considerably from batch to batch and even within a batch. An order is now a full bag, the number of balls may vary.
Filter Starter Balls kick start your filter by releasing a steady stream of beneficial bacteria that goes to work consuming ammonia and nitrite. These gel balls were originally designed for use in moving bed filters, but are really effective in all styles of filters.
They can be used to start up a new filter or to help keep the levels of ammonia and nitrite under control in heavily loaded tanks. We recommend a quarter bag of of balls for 40 gallons of water. They are designed for freshwater and may not be effective in marine systems.
When using the Filter Starter Balls, I’d suggest you place under the media so they won’t float away and leave the filter. If you are not confident you can retain the Balls in the filter, then I’d suggest you place them in a media bag.
Kiera –
Great product! However, I put the sample into my 75 gallon tank with bio motion. I also left my original media in the filter, and I immediately had a huge bacterial bloom (white cloudy water) I have an fx6 on the tank and not really sure what happened. It’s been a week and still a little cloudy with regular tank maintenance. From all the reviews it seems like a great and it might just be user error. 🙁
Don Chamberlain –
Kiera,
Over the five plus years I’ve been selling Biohome TM, I’ve had three or four reports like this. I believe this is the first time the customer correctly diagnosed the problem. Usually they assume the media is falling apart, but I’m sure that’s never happened. We worked with those customers as much as possible and I’m confident in every case it was a bacterial bloom as you reported.
Unfortunately, I have no idea why this happens sometimes. It may be just a coincidence or it may be the water chemistry is changed just a bit which triggers the bloom.
I hope it clears up soon. I’d love to hear how it goes and what you think of the media after using it awhile. I was surprised you ordered BioMotion for use in an FX6. It will be interesting to see how it works out. It was really intended for moving bed filter. The Plus should work OK, but I usually recommend Ultimate as it has a coarser structure and is a little bigger so I think it is better suited for a canister.
Good luck. Thanks for your orders, and…
Happy Fish Keeping,
Don
Charles LaBella –
I have just ordered these and don’t even need to experience them to know how well these work and what they will do to my canisters!! I currently run matrix in both my FX6 and changing to biohome so rather than do a complete change over and remove all matrix at once I am going to do one tray at a time per week !! By adding the balls I will quickly establish the new biohome while not losing to much of at all any of my cycle !! Thanks for making these available to us in the US and I have been ranting and raving about these for a while now and no one seems to even know what I am talking about or believes me that these are exactly what you say they are! Pondguru you truly are a guru and thanks for providing the platform for us to learn and educate ourselves with your almighty wisdom young grasshopper hahaha!! I salute you sir well done…-
Don Chamberlain –
Charles,
Hope your upgrade goes smoothly.
Happy Fish Keeping,
Don
Scott Chester –
After over analysis paralysis of Biological Media set up, I was thoroughly convinced BioHome was the answer. Ordered 2kg for my 46 gal bow, that established media in a Cascade 1000. I added 1kg to the media trays and sprinkled in the bag of balls to aid. It was now that I just read I maybe should not have used the entire bag that came with my BioHome, as it has been stated 1 ball per 6 gallons, and I definitely put in more than 8 balls. Should I be concerned for any reason? Should i break down the canister and remove some balls, is that even possible since the filter has been running for hours? Please advise. Sorry no other water parameter stats to report yet.. still new in the BioHome world.
Don Chamberlain –
Scott,
Sorry I didn’t get back to you on this earlier. I would have said not to worry, that’s impossible to overdose the Filter Starter Balls. I still feel that way, but your more recent comment makes me wonder.
Karol (verified owner) –
I added these filter balls to my Biorb 105 (29 Gallon) tank, along with filter media to the bottom of the tank, covered by Biohome substrate. This morning, I awoke to see my Serpea Tetras frolicking happily all over the tank, and they have a beautiful dark reddish tint to them. I haven’t seen them that color since I put them in the tank. Yesterday they were mostly all gray. It could be coincidence, but I can’t help but wonder if the water quality improved that much overnight. I feel great knowing that I have found the media that can make my fish so happy and healthy. Thank you for great products. 🙂
Don Chamberlain –
Karol,
That’s great news. Not often that I hear of such fast results.
Happy Fish Keeping,
Don
nicholasfelsoci –
Great Product from a great company! It really works!!