Does adding more bio media increase filtration rating?

For an aquaclear 20, I got biomedia included. If I add another aquaclear 20 bio media in it, then would it be like an additional aquaclear 20 to make 2 of them? Or, instead of 2x the filter, would it be like 20% more filter power or what?

 

nerp. Bio colonies increase/decrease to meet the demands of the tank. So it would depend on your tanks stocking. Its not a bad idea to add more filtration...its just not always needed. That being said You can add more mechanical media which can help to keep the tank cleaner.

 

For an aquaclear 20, I got biomedia included. If I add another aquaclear 20 bio media in it, then would it be like an additional aquaclear 20 to make 2 of them? Or, instead of 2x the filter, would it be like 20% more filter power or what?

Under ideal conditions, doubling surface area such as, say, adding another same-size foam, has an additive effect on filtration, to a limit. Say double the foam gets roughly double the filtration capacity, so long as flow rate and turnover rate is maintained. However you must realise that the filtration capacity will only ever meet current bioload, so with regards to adding new fish, this must be done slowly to allow bacteria to grow to the current increased bioload.

 

How is the tank stocked and how large is it ?

I would advise to just add another foam sponge block. The "bio-max" media included in the smaller Aquaclears look like large pellets, and are made different than the larger Bio-Max rings sold in the 500g bulk replacement package. The Bio-Max that looks like pellets have never appeared very porous to me.

I own a couple of AC filters so I am familiar with them.

I would suggest to add a 2nd foam block on top of the included one. Dont underestimate the ability of foam sponge to colonize your beneficial bacteria.
Adding media doesn't double the filtration. Your filtration is based on how much water flows through the filter and what type of media it has. There are a lot of variables, so it's hard to pin down how much actual advantage there is (in the measure of % increase for example) when adding media.

So adding additional bio-media only gives the beneficial bacteria extra room to colonize on.

As the other members advised, the beneficial bacteria only multiples at a rate to match the given bio-load. Many people add more, to compensate for a future increase of bio-load, to have extra to add to a new tank in the future, or to help guard against going through a mini-cycle for example.

Filter manufacturers rate filters for size of tanks from mainly a subjective stand point, and for marketing purposes. Most will make a statement like, "filters up to 50 gallon aquariums", but they never mention how this alleged 50 gallon tank is stocked.

I would also suggest taking a look at the thread a the top of the list under the "filters and filtration" section this thread is in. Its title says something like "DIY Media for HOB filters"..... a lot of good info there

 

I can rinse small sponges in tank water; however, I usually wash my aquaclear 110 sponge in running tap water because stuff is so difficult to get out if I just rinse it in tank water in a bucket. Thus, for my aquaclear 110 on my 40 gallon main tank, the 110's sponge doesn't really give me long term beneficial bacteria like a bio max. The bio max doesn't keep dirty water like a sponge, so I can more easily rinse it in a bucket of dechlorinated water.

However, for the aquaclear 20 or so, I could do just dechlorinated water rinses

 

FYI...

Learn here on why rinsing your media in tap water will not kill your bacteria.

Rinsing Biomedia In Tap Water

 

Thus, for my aquaclear 110 on my 40 gallon main tank, the 110's sponge doesn't really give me long term beneficial bacteria like a bio max.

I have to ask how you know the sponges don't give you beneficial bacteria like the bio max. Are you doing electron microscope scans of your sponges checking on bacterial colonies?

In another thread someone recently posted a link to an article about nitrifying bacteria. It stated in the article that large colonies of nitrifying bacteria appear to the naked eye like slimy brown stuff because they secrete a kind of slime to help them attach to surfaces and they have a slight brown coloration. Get enough of them together and they look like brown slime.

This raises the question, are you washing away your beneficial bacterial colonies when you're so diligent about cleaning your sponges?

 

Try slapping the AC110's foam sponge block against the side of the bucket.

It slings out a lot of the muck from the inside once you have the right technique.

I'm always surprised how much these blocks of sponge hold.

 

Try slapping the AC110's foam sponge block against the side of the bucket.

Swiss Tropicals recommends slapping the larger foam blocks on the driveway to loosen the muck trapped inside. Obviously the same basic principle being applied.

 

Even with a standard filter floss sock element - I am absolutely amazed at how much trash rinses out after one week....