What are bio balls used in filters?

Do I need to clean my bio balls?

As with an undergravel filter it is their "lackof proper maintenance" which turns them into a nitrate factory. As long as the aquarium is not the only source of nitrate problems, it's important to regularly rinse and clean them.

What can I replace bio balls with? An alternative would be to use a porous rock or sand bed. These two alternatives would provide a large surface area, but also an area that is oxygen-free deep within. This will allow the nitrifying bacteria the opportunity to convert nitrAtes to harmless nitrogen gas.

Bio balls are also good.

It is ideal for growing large colonies nitrifying bacteria. This is what makes sponge filters so efficient at biological filtering. The process of ammonia, nitrites being transformed to nitrates is what makes them so effective . Bio balls, which are larger media, work well in large sumps or external filters.

Which are better, ceramic rings or bio balls?

Ceramic noodles can kill both nitrifying and nitrifying bacteria. Bio balls cannot be used to eliminate nitrifying bacteria. The ceramic rings increase the surface of the noodles over time. They have tiny pores that aren’t easily seen by the human eye. These pores are where bacteria, and other harmful bugs make their home.