Is lava rock a good / effective filter bio media

Is lava rock a good / effective aquarium filter bio media?

Lava rock is very porous because it is the igneous rock that is produced as the molten lava erupting from the volcano cools down, & takes the shape of a porous rock. Lava rock has heaps of good bacteria due to the large surface area it offers where BB can spread. Lava rock is an awesome bio media that aquarists use in filters. Also, aquarists grow Pothos plant in lava rock & add it to the filter. Pothos plants can’t survive submerged in water so they should be grown in the filter outside the aquarium. If roots of the plant are dipped in water, then it can absorb heaps of ammonia byproducts & together with lava rocks, they can remove toxic chemicals such as ammonia, nitrites & nitrates from the aquarium water. Many aquarists use lava rocks as substrate for the growth of plants. They cause high water movement.

What type of Beneficial Bacteria do Lava Rocks hold?

As impure water passes through the lava rocks, good nitrifying bacteria absorb all oxygen from the incoming water to make room for denitrifying bacteria inside the lava rocks because they live in oxygen free places. Denitrifying bacteria are responsible for absorbing nitrates. Hence lava rocks offer a place for both nitrifying & denitrifying bacteria.

 

Lava Rocks can hold Nitrifying Bacteria:

Nitrifying bacteria lives in places where oxygen is available. They are responsible for breaking down ammonia into less toxic forms: nitrites & nitrates. Denitrifying bacteria needs oxygen for wiping out ammonia & nitrites from the aquarium water. Ammonia & nitrites are very toxic while nitrates are comparatively less toxic. Presence of high levels of nitrates could be toxic to the aquarium fish.

 

Lava Rocks can hold Denitrifying Bacteria:

When all oxygen inside the lava rocks is absorbed by beneficial nitrifying bacteria, then there is no more oxygen left which allows denitrifying bacteria to grow inside the rocks that are responsible for consuming nitrates.

Hence lava rocks can wipe out every impurity from the aquarium water.