Question 1

Can I add these directly into my fish tank or do I require a sump tank?

Accepted Answer

Ideally you want them in the filter where there is a constant water flow/current. If you have a canister filter you can put them in the tray, if you have a hang on the back filter you can put them in there to (next to/behind.infront of the normal filter) Id try to put them after the main filter though, that way the water gets filtered before it goes through the bio balls. They will definitely help, the more bio filter the better.

Question 2

Should these be replaced after a certain amount of time?

Accepted Answer

They do not have to be replaced, but if they get too dirty rinse them out in a bucket of aquarium water. For example when you do a water change, use your old water to rinse them out so they don't have all that gunk in them, but DO NOT rinse them in sink water or any other water that has any soap or bleach or any chemicals at all. Another thing would be to not rinse all of them from your aquarium at the same time. Rinse half one week and the other half two weeks later. That keeps your tank from losing too much of the good bacteria that keeps your tank cycled.

Question 3

Could this be draped over a sponge filter to colonize bacteria and then draped over a new sponge filter to jumpstart the cycle?

Accepted Answer

They have no beneficial bacteria until they are cycled, once cycled you can use them to seed/jumpstart another biological filter, you can put some in a canister filter with new bio-balls, or put some in a new wet dry filter.  If I remember this brand floats very well and  I used them in a compartment in a canister filter.  Not sure how to use them for a sponge filter?  I keep a spare sponge filter running in my wet dry sump to use in emergencies.  You can also squeeze out a cycled sponge filter with a new one so the biological material can colonize the new sponge.  There some good bacteria starting cultures that will speed up the cycling process, I like the Fritz brand.

Question 4

Says do not  rinse with tap water. My tap water is from my well no chemicals, straight from the ground. Is this ok?\

Accepted Answer

No, do not rinse at all.  You have to let the biologicals build up.  Well water has more chemicals than tap water except for fluoride.

ASIN	B000NRXB5G
Allergen Information	Buckwheat Free
Best Sellers Rank	#40,462 in Pet Supplies ( See Top 100 in Pet Supplies ) #2,562 in Aquarium Accessories
Brand Name	MarineLand
Customer Reviews	4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (2,518)
Global Trade Identification Number	00047431903197
Included Components	Aquaria 45090319: Bio-Filter Balls for C-Series Canister Filters, 90Pc
Item Form	Balls
Item Type Name	Marineland Bio-Filter Balls, Supports Biological aquarium Filtration, Fits All C-Series Canister Filters
Item Weight	181 g
Manufacturer	Marineland
Manufacturer Part Number	PA11486
Model Number	PA11486
Number of Items	90
Number of Packs	1
Pet Type	Dog
Target Species	Fish
UPC	047431903197
Unit Count	1 Count

Bio-Filter Balls, 90 Count, Support Biological Aquarium Filtration, Rite-Size S, T and X, Fit All C-Series and Magniflow Canister Filters

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