From: jartsu@vipu.hut.fi (Jartsu)
Subject: Re: Glass Fiber Noodles ?
Followup-To: rec.aquaria
Reply-To: Jari.Lehto@hut.fi
Organization: Helsinki University of Technology, Finland
Date: 31 Aug 92 14:14:11

In article <shane-310892103147@a-mac.psy.uq.oz.au> shane@psych.psy.uq.oz.au (Shane Brown) writes:

> G'Day folks .
>     While I was visiting the not-so-local Fish depot, I had my curiosity
> piqued by a new *wonder of science* bio-filtration media they were
> selling. The ad blurb described the media as a type of 
> compressed glass fibre product ...the things looked very much like
> largish ceramic noodles, but seemed to be more porous. The 
> manufacturers claims included the usual ammonia to nitrate cycle stuff
> via bacteria colonization, as well as conversion of nitrates themselves !
>     Great stuff right ? The kick is however, that they were (AUS) $ 49.95
> per 300 grams ( $ 1.00 AUS = approx   $ 0.73 US ). Naturally the 
> product was imported (isn't everything). Now, I know that I haven't
> made this easy for people since I can't remember the name of the
> product (and don't feel like cycling twenty clicks again to find out),
> but has anyone had any experience, or know anything about, these
> things ? The helpful guy in the shop said he had good reports from
> salt freaks, who seemed to be happy with the stuff. His theory was that
> if you put the noodles in a steady, low flow situation, 
> anaerobic action was possible given the porousness of the media.
>     Any backup, refutation or general comment most welcome !

The product is called Siporax. It is made by a German (if I remember
correctly) glassworks factory. Quite expensive, but definitely works,
even in my freshwater setup. 
The cover of the package and all ads tell you that 1 liter of Siporax
is capable of handling 200 liters of water. Maybe true with an ideal
relation between volume, plant quantity and fish quantity, but I would
suggest that you use as much as you can. I have it inside my Eheim
2215 canister, and it is filled with it, only having a few cm's thick
foam block on the bottom to stop mechanical debris.
Well prefiltered, and regularly rinsed, the media is very effective
and easy to maintain. Just keep it in the end of the filtration cycle
to prevent it getting clogged, afterall it is not ment for mechanical
filtration, it is a bio-action only media.
I think it is best in canister filters with a relatively large
mediavolume compared to flowrate. In trickle filters it may work if
you keep it on the bottom completely submerged. It'll definitely work
on trickles any way you put it, but on the top the anaerobic action
may only be a dream...
With a good FW setup you can almost reach the state where water
cahnges become unneccessary. Before using Siporax I had to change one
fifth of the water twice a month to keep Nitrates low. After breaking
in with Siporax I have changed the water only once per few months. I
could completely stop changing water, all values stay well within
limits, no matter how long I leave the tank alone. I only add some
water to compensate evaporation and some Sodiumbicarbonate to maintain
desired hardness. Nitrates stay on 0.
But remember, my tank is very densely planted, and plants make the
bio-action much more stabile.

> p.s. Me, buy these things ? Hell, I still use a UG     8).

Well, you can always turn it to RUGF and use canister with it...

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