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PUREFLOW BIO / ENGINEERING FIELD GUIDE

Biofilter Media TypesPlastic Carriers, Sand, Ceramic and Brushes

Compare common biofilter media: moving bed carriers, fixed plastic, sand, ceramic rings and brushes, with pros and cons of each.

Explore the process ↗Open the workbench
6 MIN GUIDEUPDATED NOVEMBER 2026
Reference illustration for Biofilter Media Types: Plastic Carriers, Sand, Ceramic and BrushesEQUIPMENT REFERENCE
Equipment reference illustration. Confirm the supplied model configuration and installation arrangement from its approved documentation.
01Understand the mechanismInspect the relevant process stages.
02Review the operating dutyKeep assumptions and measured values visible.
03Prepare the next decisionUse the guide, tools and project checks.
INTERACTIVE PROCESS ATLAS

See the mechanism.
Understand the duty.

Select a route or a stage to inspect the process. The cutaway explains the equipment and water environment; it is a teaching illustration, not a project drawing.

Swipe horizontally to inspect the equipment. Stage buttons below also centre the selected component.
Aerated biological treatment and samplingPUREFLOW / INTERACTIVE PROCESS ATLASCONCEPT LAYOUT · NOT TO SCALETAN-NpH°CPRE-SCREENED SUPPLYBIOFILM ON MOVING CARRIERSMEASURE THE PROCESSAIR DISTRIBUTIONNH₄⁺ → NO₂⁻ → NO₃⁻Motion explains the process; it is not a measured flow rate or biological time model.
Pre-screened water reaches the biological stage and continues through the retained-media outlet.
Selected process stage

Feed the reactor

Define peak feed and the nitrogen load.

How it works

Pre-screened water enters the biological stage. Effective upstream solids removal helps protect the reactor.

What to establish
  • Define peak feed and the nitrogen load.
  • Check oxygen, pH, alkalinity and temperature.
  • Use supported media performance and the specified fill arrangement.

Continue this guide ↗

Motion explains direction and mechanism; it does not represent measured performance. Geometry, stage order, pipe routes and equipment configuration are conceptual. Use the approved project design, operating instructions and verified model data.

Key takeaways

  • Moving bed carriers: Small plastic shapes kept in motion by air.
  • Fixed plastic media: Sheets or blocks in a trickling or submerged filter.
  • Sand and fluidised beds: Very high surface area in a small space.
  • Ceramic and natural media: Porous rings or stones.
Reference illustration for Biofilter Media Types: Plastic Carriers, Sand, Ceramic and Brushes
Equipment reference visual; not evidence of a completed installation.
THE SHORT ANSWER

Moving bed carriers

Small plastic shapes kept in motion by air. Self-cleaning and compact, a favourite in RAS. They need aeration and a screen to hold them in.

Biofilter Media Types - Pureflow Bio
Reference visual. Equipment configuration and project details must be confirmed separately.
BIOFILTERS

Fixed plastic media

Sheets or blocks in a trickling or submerged filter. Simple and durable, but they can clog if solids are not removed first.

PLANNING WORKBENCH

Work with your own numbers.

Use the tools below to explore the relevant arithmetic. Enter measured values or declared assumptions. An estimate does not establish equipment capacity, biological performance or a safe operating limit.

Biofilter media planning scenario

Relate a defined nitrogen load to an explicitly supplied media conversion rate and fill share.

Assumptions and limits

Use a conversion rate verified for the media, water chemistry, oxygen, temperature and load. Example numbers are arithmetic inputs, not approved biological capacities or fill recommendations.

—TAN-N load · g/day
—Media volume · m³
—Nominal reactor volume · m³
Enter your values, or load the labelled arithmetic example. No design values are pre-filled.
FormulaMedia m³ = feed × TAN-N yield ÷ conversion rate. Reactor m³ = media m³ ÷ fill fraction.
Convert units before you calculate
Choose units and enter a value.

Planning arithmetic · inputs remain visible for review · example values are not operating recommendations

BIOFILTERS

Sand and fluidised beds

Very high surface area in a small space. They need careful flow control and are more specialised.

BIOFILTERS

Ceramic and natural media

Porous rings or stones. Good for small ponds and aquariums, heavier and harder to clean.

BIOFILTERS

Brushes and mats

Cheap and easy in ponds, but they trap debris and need manual rinsing.

BIOFILTERS

Choosing

Large farms lean to moving bed media. Ponds and aquariums use whatever fits the filter box. Whichever you pick, keep solids away from it with good mechanical filtration, see drum filters.

Pureflow Bio equipment for this

MBBR biofilters →Moving bed biofilters.Standard drum filters (RDF) →Automatic solids removal.
PROJECT REVIEW

Check the biological assumptions

Use these questions to prepare a project brief or an operating review. Check an item only when the information has been recorded for your installation.

0 of 3 checked

This checklist is a working aid in the current page session, not a saved maintenance record.

QUESTIONS

Biofilter Media Types FAQ

Which media has the most surface area?

Sand and some specialised media. But more surface is no use if it clogs.

Can I mix media?

Yes, in separate chambers or stages.

KEEP READING
Biological filters→MBBR biofilters→Trickle filters→How to Size a Biofilter: TAN Load, Media and Reactor Volume ↗Biofilter Start-Up and Cycling: How Long and What to Watch ↗

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