Biohome Biorock - A Sustainable Alternative to 'Live Rock'?
Channel: Pondguru
Date: 31/01/2023

Filter Kits, Foams, Biohome, Biogravel etc: http://www.filterpro.co.uk
(FilterPro site has links to Biohome suppliers in other countries)
Eheim Mech: https://geni.us/lXrB7 (useful for under trays in filters which work bottom to top)
Eheim Substrat Pro: https://geni.us/98euQaB (decent alternative to Biogravel).
The Biorock is made from exactly the same materials as the Biohome filter media and has a porosity of approx. 50%.
The structure is perfect for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria to colonize so it allows for a full natural cycle to be achieved easily and compared to live rock it comes with none of the risks of bringing parasites / pests into the tank (e.g Bristleworms).
Since it is a manufactured 'rock' it does not contribute to the destruction of natural ocean habitats and actually helps to fund recycling efforts in the UK since the powdered glass used in the mix is from recycling plants.
In a time where the word 'sustainable' has no real meaning and has unfortunately become associated with questionable climate crisis agendas the Biorock offers a truly sustainable way to set up natural structure in any tank without destroying fragile ecosystems in Nature. 
*TIME STAMPS*
00:00 Intro and Biorock description
01:45 5kg box example
02:27 Example set up
03:20 Colour options
04:50 More set ups
06:26 Water / dye porosity demonstration
09:45 Internal structure
11:00 Benefits of Biorock
12:15 Plant growth and outro

*Avoid using water conditioners which claim to bind / remove / detoxify ammonia, nitrite and nitrate as it will have a pronounced starving effect on the bacteria. When bacteria is starved the population will be low as it grows in line with the available 'food'. 
A normal conditioner will allow the bacteria to fully populate the whole system and take away the 'need' to add more bacteria after maintenance / water change.
Most people get conned into regularly using bacteria additives and that is simply to mask the side effects from a damaging conditioner and a failing filter.
A normal conditioner like Tapsafe, Aquasafe, API Stress Coat etc. is all you need when a tank is properly set up, a filter is suitably sized (and properly set up) and Nature is allowed to so what Nature does.*

See below for notes on how much media is recommended for different stocking scenarios. The Q&A page of the FilterPro site has extensive notes on recommended treatments and how filtration works.

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Contact me on 07772848730 / sales@filterpro.co.uk
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Don't "eat ze bugs" - grow your own food and create a new system ....... you can check out my efforts to create a new system to navigate Agenda 2030 on my Thousand Yard Stare channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1pgJBGQrUfCUAhk63U5u5A

The following videos will be useful for learning more about filtration and filter media:
Sizing a canister properly and filter set up: https://goo.gl/om19un
Looking INSIDE different filter media: https://goo.gl/hZWS6c
Bacteria and filter media: https://goo.gl/123gAF
How to clean an aquarium: https://goo.gl/bPMhvh
Aquarium tips / filtration playlist: https://goo.gl/pXgqVj

A full cycle is completed by bacteria - the aerobic part of biological filtration which processes ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate followed by an anaerobic part which processes nitrate into soluble nitrogen which bubbles off to the atmosphere.
Therefore it requires a suitable amount of excellent quality filter media to be able to provide the environment for both aerobic AND anaerobic bacteria - that is what Biohome filter media does perfectly but even with such good media there are limitations and we recommend the following amounts for different stocking scenarios:
(1 US Gallon = 3.8 litres)
(1kg = 2.2 lbs)
Average community tropical aquarium = 1kg per 100 litres 
Average coldwater aquarium = 1kg - 1.5kg per 100 litres
Predator aquarium = 1.5kg - 2kg per 100 litres
Large cichlid aquarium = 1.5kg - 2kg per 100 litres
Malawi / Tanganyikan aquarium = 1.5kg - 2kg per 100 litres
Marine aquarium = 1.5kg - 2kg per 100 litres
Average mixed fish pond = 1kg per 200 litres
Average koi pond = 1kg per 150 litres

You may be disagreeing with the above figures but remember that they are for a FULL CYCLE not half a job - achieving 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite is quite easy since aerobic bacteria grows freely on any surface but the anaerobic bacteria responsible for COMPLETING the cycle needs more a specialized habitat.
I'm no 'expert' and we all are on a long path of learning.......use your own common sense to see what is true and what is nonsense.

Some of the links above may be to my affiliate programs on Amazon and Ebay so they will throw a few pennies my way if you make a purchase - it costs you nothing extra and helps towards keeping the lights on in my bunker.