Homemade Bio Balls Filter Media

Homemade Bio Balls Filter Media
Written By
Barry Index
Barry Index
Published: Dec 13, 2010
Updated: Nov 20, 2021
2 minute read

Step 1

Cut nylon scrubber pads into a variety of little blocks, between 1 to 3 inches in length. Make squares and rectangles and triangles in various sizes. The assortment of shapes gives beneficial bacteria colonies more surface area to grow inside the fibrous scrubbing material.

Step 2

Replace any current bio filter material with homemade nylon scrubber bio-balls. Changing the media is completely safe if you are not satisfied with the performance of your current filtration system. Conventional bio filter materials such as lava rocks, plastic balls, polyethylene beads, sponges and PVC material are less effective than nylon bio-balls because they are heavier, take up more space and are harder to maintain than the nylon shapes.

Advertisement

Step 3

Drop the blocks of nylon loosely into the pond filtration system. The blocks should be able to move freely inside the filter as water flows past them. The bacterial colonies consume organic waste matter and need to be able to release healthy byproducts back into the pond water.

Step 4

Add the prescribed amount of healthy pro-biotic bacteria to the filtration system as specified by the pro-biotic manufacturer. It can take 4 to 8 weeks to reach a healthful balance. Let the sunlight promote bacterial growth by keeping the filter uncovered.

Step 5

Plant a variety of pond flora, including hyacinth and taro. Plant life in the pond will cut down on the growth of algae and keep the water clear, allowing the bacteria in the bio-balls to do a more effective job.

References

Photo Credits

koi pond image by MPH from Fotolia.com

Barry Index

Barry Index lives in Los Angeles where he has been writing about writing since 1998. Recent freelance activities have brought his work to wider audiences through FictionAnitdote.com and several other writer-enthusiast sites. He received…

Sponsored
HomeSteady Logo

HomeSteady is the ultimate guide for all your household needs, from cleaning and HVAC to electrical, DIY and maintenance.

Property of TechnologyAdvice. © 2026 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.