{"product_id":"bioscape-160l-h-hanging-filter-replacement-bio-balls-1-pack","title":"Bioscape 160L\/h Hanging Filter Replacement Bio Balls (1 Pack)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe one piece of media in your filter you should almost never throw away.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the genuine BIS530C bio ball pack for the Bioscape Tropic Easy Clean 60 hang-on filter, the 160 L\/h model rated for aquariums of roughly 16 to 38 litres. Bio balls are the biological stage. Their moulded, open lattice shape gives nitrifying bacteria a large surface to colonise, and it is that bacterial colony — not the plastic — that converts ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat bio balls actually do\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFoam traps debris. Carbon adsorbs dissolved compounds. Bio balls do neither. They exist purely as real estate for bacteria, in the one part of a hang-on filter with reliable oxygenated flow across it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat has a practical consequence worth being blunt about: on a small tank, this media is the filter. A 20 to 30 litre aquarium has very little water to buffer a mistake, so a bacterial colony that gets wiped out shows up as an ammonia spike within a day or two, not a week.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhen to buy a fresh pack\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnlike foam and carbon, bio balls are not on a replacement schedule. Buy a pack when:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou are setting up a second tank and want to seed it — splitting mature bio balls between filters is the fastest way to cycle a new nano tank\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe original media has been lost, tipped out or accidentally cleaned in tap water\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eYou want to add biological capacity because the tank is stocked at the top of its range\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe plastic has physically degraded or gone brittle after years of service\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePart number\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBIS530C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSKU\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBIS530C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePack contents\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1 pack of bio balls\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eFits\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBioscape Tropic Easy Clean 60 Hang-On Filter, 160 L\/h (BIS530)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHost filter rating\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAquariums approximately 16 to 38 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHost filter power\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3 W\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eStage\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBiological filtration\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eService\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRinse gently in aquarium water. No replacement interval.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWater type\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFreshwater and marine\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhich hang-on filter do I have?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBioscape's Tropic Easy Clean hang-on range covers three sizes, and the media is sized to each. Ordering by flow rate is the reliable way to get the right pack.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eFilter\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eFlow\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAquarium range\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eBio ball pack\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTropic Easy Clean 60\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e160 L\/h\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApprox. 16 to 38 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBIS530C — this page\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTropic Easy Clean 80\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e320 L\/h\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApprox. 38 to 75 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/bioscape-320l-h-hanging-filter-replacement-bio-balls-1-pack\"\u003eBIS531C\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTropic Easy Clean 100\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e450 L\/h\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUp to approx. 110 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/bioscape-450l-h-hanging-filter-replacement-bio-balls-1-pack\"\u003eBIS532C\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe flow rate is printed on the filter body. These bio balls do not fit the Bioscape PRO canister range, the Tropic canisters or the Velocity internal filters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eThe three media stages in the 160 L\/h filter\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCode\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eMedia\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eStage\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eService\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/bioscape-160l-h-hanging-filter-replacement-foam-6-pack\"\u003eBIS530A\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFilter foam, 6 pack\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMechanical\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRinse, replace when it stops recovering\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/bioscape-160l-h-hanging-filter-replacement-carbon-cartridge-2-pack\"\u003eBIS530B\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarbon cartridge, 2 pack\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eChemical\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReplace periodically\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBIS530C (this page)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBio balls, 1 pack\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBiological\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRinse in tank water only. Do not replace on a schedule.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCare and maintenance\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRinse gently in aquarium water.\u003c\/strong\u003e This is Bioscape's own instruction for its bio-ball and ceramic media — rinse gently in aquarium water to preserve the beneficial bacteria. Never use tap water; chlorine kills the colony.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNever replace all your biological media at once.\u003c\/strong\u003e If you are adding a fresh pack, run it alongside the existing media for several weeks so the new balls colonise before anything old comes out.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDo not scrub them.\u003c\/strong\u003e The brown film on the surface is the bacterial colony. Scrubbing it off defeats the purpose.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKeep them wet during a service.\u003c\/strong\u003e Bacteria on media left dry on a bench start dying within minutes. Work with a bucket of tank water beside you.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKeep the foam clean.\u003c\/strong\u003e Bio balls only work with oxygenated water flowing over them. A blocked foam stage starves them.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eSuitable for, and not suitable for\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSuitable for\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBioscape Tropic Easy Clean 60 hang-on filters, 160 L\/h, freshwater or marine\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNano, betta and shrimp tanks running this filter at 16 to 38 litres\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeeding a newly set up nano tank from an established filter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNot suitable for\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe 320 L\/h or 450 L\/h hang-on filters — use BIS531C or BIS532C\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBioscape PRO canisters, Tropic canisters or Velocity internal filters\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClearing cloudy water — that is the mechanical stage's job\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRemoving tannins, odours or medication — that is the carbon cartridge\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInstantly cycling a new tank on their own. Fresh bio balls are sterile plastic until bacteria colonise them, which takes weeks unless they are seeded from a mature filter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eGoes well with\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/bioscape-160l-h-hanging-filter-replacement-foam-6-pack\"\u003eBioscape 160L\/h Hanging Filter Foam 6 Pack (BIS530A)\u003c\/a\u003e — the mechanical stage that keeps debris off the bio balls.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/bioscape-160l-h-hanging-filter-replacement-carbon-cartridge-2-pack\"\u003eBioscape 160L\/h Hanging Filter Carbon Cartridge 2 Pack (BIS530B)\u003c\/a\u003e — the chemical stage in the same filter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/bioscape-premium-bio-cylinder-filter-medium-500gm\"\u003eBioscape Premium Bio-Cylinder Filter Medium 500gm\u003c\/a\u003e — ceramic biological media for adding capacity where the filter has spare room.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/bioscape-tropic-easy-clean-hang-on-filter\"\u003eBioscape Tropic Easy Clean Hang-On Filter\u003c\/a\u003e — the filter range these balls belong to.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWarranty and delivery\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFilter media is a consumable and is not covered by a manufacturer's warranty term. Your rights under the Australian Consumer Law apply to this product and are not limited by any manufacturer's warranty. Ships as a standard parcel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eHow often should bio balls be replaced?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey should not be replaced on a schedule at all. Bio balls are inert plastic that houses your bacterial colony, and replacing them throws that colony away. Rinse them gently in aquarium water when they clog, and only buy a fresh pack if the originals are lost, damaged or you are adding biological capacity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eCan I clean bio balls under the tap?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Chlorinated tap water kills the nitrifying bacteria living on the surface, which is the entire reason the media is in the filter. Bioscape's instruction is to rinse bio balls gently in aquarium water. On a 20 to 30 litre tank, losing that colony can produce an ammonia spike within a couple of days.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill BIS530C fit my 320 or 450 L\/h Bioscape hang-on filter?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. The 320 L\/h Tropic Easy Clean 80 takes BIS531C and the 450 L\/h Tropic Easy Clean 100 takes BIS532C. The flow rate is printed on the filter body — check it before ordering.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWill fresh bio balls cycle a new tank?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot on their own. A new pack is sterile plastic with no bacteria on it, and colonising it from scratch takes several weeks. To cycle a nano tank quickly, take mature bio balls or foam from an established filter and run them alongside the new media.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat size tank does the 160 L\/h filter suit?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Bioscape Tropic Easy Clean 60 is rated for aquariums of approximately 16 to 38 litres and draws 3 watts. That covers most betta tanks, shrimp tanks and small nano setups.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDo I need bio balls if I already run foam and carbon?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, in practice. Foam handles debris and carbon handles dissolved compounds, but neither is designed to sustain the bacterial colony that processes ammonia. On a small tank with little water to buffer it, that biological stage is what keeps ammonia and nitrite at zero.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bioscape","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55293065494819,"sku":"BIS530C","price":14.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/bioscape-160l-h-hanging-filt-43179165745443.webp?v=1790234720","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/bioscape-160l-h-hanging-filter-replacement-bio-balls-1-pack","provider":"Nicks AOT","version":"1.0","type":"link"}