curious question

They have ceramic "beads" for filters, that are designed to harbor beneficial bacteria. I have a Marineland Penguin 350 filter, that has 4 slots for filter media, to which I currently use all 4 slots. My question is, if I remove say one or 2 of the filters, and instead of placing the ceramic beads, can I use the left over shards from the terra cotta flower pots from my cave project, and receive the same benefits as the ceramic beads?

Yes. Any non-toxic materials that have a rough surface can be used as filter media also non-toxic tube, I have used normal aquarium gravel and cut up rubbed hose, plastic kitchen scourers are great media for larger filters

If you are going to change the media over put the terracotta pieces in one of the middle slots, that way healthy bacteria from above and below will colenise the new media in around 24 hours. Give it a couple of days to make sure then do the next slot. This way you shouldnt disrupt the bacteria too much upsetting your water stats

Hope this helps

I never thought of kitchen scours.. although they don't contain carbon, are you implying that the carbon is not a necessary part of the filter system? Seems a whole lot cheaper to go that route, as opposed to the expensive filter media with carbon. I will begin adding some terra cotta wrapped in a nylon stocking today..

Carbon is not necessary at all, I never use carbon only after I have medicated a tank. Activated carbon is not a good media, although it does have some properties for harbouring healthy bacteria it is usually used for the removal of medications, help with bacterial blooms etc because of its absorbtion qualities (ability to "hold" medications) which is different from adsorbtion which "sucks in". Activated carbon as a media only lasts around 4-6 weeks before it is "full" and becomes useless. There are some reports about activated carbon media becoming toxic after a time, but I am not sure how much truth is in that fact. I have left carbon sponges in the tank before because once the carbon has been used up the sponge itself does work as a normal sponge.

I am going to try and find some kitchen scours big enough for use as filter media. I have only seen small swatches of it in stores. And will get the terra cotta shards ready to place in my filter today...

Thank you, once again, Star!!!!

Small ones will be fine also, give them a good rinse in hot water first and should be ok.

Your most welcome

I have 2 slots on each side of my filter. Do I put the terra cotta in front of the filter , or behind the filter?

I am not familiar with your filter, had a quick google it looks like it would be better behind the filter

Ok... sounds good to me... can't wait to get started on it, but I have been under the weather for a day, and still not feeling par.

I placed the terra cotta shards in a pair of panty hose, and behind the blue carbon/fiber filters in my Penguin. I am assuming the beneficial bacteria will grow on the terra cotta, as well as the panty hose?

It will yes, but you may find the panty hose might clog quite quickly as its fine, a little like filter wool. Its easy to rinse off though

It pretty much lays flat on the bottom of the filter housing. But if I rinse off the panty hose, I rinse off the beneficial bacteria... right? Defeating the purpose....

Not using some tank water, you will loose some not all of it

Will play this out by ear... see what it does.. I can rinse it in the water bucket after a water change or vacuum..