Very high specific surface
From 500–800 m²/m³ wheel carriers up to >5,500 m²/m³ structured chips — more nitrifying bacteria per cubic metre of reactor.
Filter Media
MBBR K1/K3/K5 bio media, bio balls and ceramic rings give nitrifying bacteria a large, protected surface to colonise inside your biofilter or moving-bed reactor. Made from 100% virgin HDPE, the media work in fresh and salt water and last indefinitely.
- Surface area500 – >5,500 m²/m³
- FormatsK1/K3/K5 · bio balls · ceramic rings
- Material100% virgin HDPE / sintered ceramic
- WaterFresh & saltwater
ISO 9001 CE OEM / ODM
15+ years in aquaculture engineering · Trusted by Japfa Group, Japan Nissui & Tropo Farms · Shipped worldwide in one container
Product Description
the biochemical ball is the use of advanced non-toxic plastic PP artificial processed into bio-filter balls porous structure, multi-sheet structure, mesh structure inside the porous adsorption nitrifying bacteria and settings, highly conducive to oxidation the role of oxygen in the convection exchange, but also for the denitrifying bacteria, breeding provides a huge surface area of biochemical growth.
Advantage:
- The sewage treatment plant aerates oxygenation and agitation to prevent sedimentation of large particles and remove some organic matter.
- aquarium (aquaculture farm) to the environment of eutrophic water body oxygenation, the biological culture of oxygen.
- live fish and seafood transport oxygen.
- aquarium (purifier) purification, filtration, water ozone sterilization, and aeration.
- Other process uses require diffusion of air.
Package and Shipment
Specifications
Models & configuration
Sizes and surface areas reflect standard industry grades — final specifications are confirmed by SIGMA's production line per order.
| Model | Capacity | Typical use | Core configuration |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIGMA-K1 | Φ10 × 7 mm | MBBR floating carrier | ~500–600 m²/m³ surface area |
| SIGMA-K3 | Φ25 × 10 mm | MBBR floating carrier | ~500 m²/m³ surface area |
| SIGMA-K5 | Φ25 × 4 mm | MBBR floating carrier | ~800 m²/m³ surface area |
| SIGMA-CHIP | Chip / sheet | Structured bio chip | >5,500 m²/m³ surface area |
| SIGMA-BALL | Φ30–50 mm | Bio ball (fixed bed) | Medium surface area |
| SIGMA-RING | Φ10–25 mm | Ceramic bio ring | High surface area (porous) |
| Material | 100% virgin HDPE / PP (floating types) · sintered ceramic (ring types) |
|---|---|
| Specific surface area | 500–800 m²/m³ (wheel types) up to >5,500 m²/m³ (structured chip types) |
| Filter compatibility | Moving-bed MBBR / fluidized bed (K1/K3/K5) · fixed bed, trickling tower and pond filters (bio balls, ceramic rings) |
| Water type | Freshwater / saltwater |
| Packing | By m³ / ton / bag (bulk bags) |
| Options | Different K grades, pre-seeded / pre-matured media, media retention screens |
System composition
Every format covered
K1/K3/K5 MBBR media for moving beds plus bio balls and ceramic rings for fixed-bed and trickling filters.
Virgin HDPE, durable and reusable
Chemically stable in fresh and salt water, with a long service life.
Self-cleaning in a moving bed
Constant tumbling keeps the biofilm thin and active for stable nitrification.
Selected to your load
Format and surface area matched to the biofilter type and the farm's ammonia load.
Mature supply chain
Shared with the water-treatment industry — stable pricing at volume.
Application
- Filling RAS biofilters, MBBR reactors and fluidized beds — the core consumable of biological filtration
- Trickling towers, submerged bio chambers and fixed beds ahead of pumps
- Koi-pond and aquarium biological filtration
- Biological stage of wastewater and industrial water treatment
Video
Filter Media
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is aquaculture filter media for?
High-surface-area media give nitrifying bacteria a large protected surface to colonise, forming a biofilm that converts toxic ammonia and nitrite into far less harmful nitrate inside your biofilter, moving-bed reactor or trickling filter.
What is the difference between MBBR media and bio balls?
MBBR media (K1/K3/K5) are small floating HDPE carriers that tumble freely in a moving-bed reactor, keeping the biofilm thin and active. Bio balls and ceramic bio rings are fixed-bed media for trickling filters, sumps and pond filters.
How much surface area does the media provide?
Protected surface area is typically 500–800 m²/m³ for wheel types, up to >5,500 m²/m³ for chip/structured types.
What is the filter media made of?
Media are made from 100% virgin HDPE (or sintered ceramic for ring types), chemically stable, durable, reusable, and work in both fresh and sea water. Bulk bio filter media is priced and packed by volume — buying by the m³ or ton keeps the cost per litre of biofilter capacity down versus small retail bags, so cheap bio filter media from SIGMA isn't lower grade, just a larger order size.
What is pond bio filter media and how is it used?
Pond bio filter media is the plastic or ceramic substrate that gives nitrifying bacteria a protected surface to colonise inside a biofilter or settling chamber. SIGMA supplies K1/K3/K5 MBBR carriers, bio balls and ceramic bio ring filter media as pond bio filter media — the same biological filter media for ponds that is used in koi filters and aquaculture biofilters alike. Media are selected by surface area and the type of filter: floating K-media for moving-bed reactors, and bio balls or ceramic rings for fixed-bed or trickling pond filters.
What are bio balls and how are they used in a pond filter?
Bio balls are a fixed-bed filter media — hollow plastic spheres with a textured internal surface — used to fill pond filter and sump biological chambers. They work well as bio filter balls for smaller and mid-size ponds where a moving-bed reactor isn't needed. SIGMA supplies bio balls for pond filters alongside K1/K3/K5 MBBR carriers and ceramic bio ring filter media.
What is MBBR filter media and what sizes are available?
MBBR filter media, also called MBBR bio media, is the floating plastic carrier that tumbles inside a moving-bed reactor. SIGMA supplies K1 bio filter media (K1 mbbr media, used as a K1 moving bed filter carrier) and the larger K3 bio filter media grade, sized by surface area to your bioload — the same media works as filter mbbr fill for a new build or as a top-up for an existing media filter mbbr tank.
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View details →Request a tailored quote
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