BioBalls to Speed Up Cycling

Random Aquarist · 04/12/2008, 06:17 PM

My tank is still cycling. It's taking forever. I'm adding 150lbs of sand soon, but should I also add bioballs to the sump to give more substrate? If so, could I remove the balls after cycling is finished, or would that mess up the tank?

abulgin · 04/12/2008, 06:39 PM

Go to your LFS and buy a bunch of cured live rock and throw that in your tank. Cured live rock will already be colonized with the necessary bacteria and will help spread it to your other substrate. Bioballs are totally useless until they get populated with bacteria.

What you should have done is start out with cured live rock--cycling is almost instant.

Random Aquarist · 04/12/2008, 09:03 PM

Skip this post.

Random Aquarist · 04/12/2008, 09:06 PM

I know I have the right bacteria.

Not only did I get Arag-Alive sand and bacteria-liquid-additive, but I see bubbles repeatedly appearing in the sand, even after I stir it up.

Maybe something's wrong.

But, nevertheless, I'll go get some LR rubble from the LFS tomorrow. After I'm done cycling, I'll use it in my amphipod culture.

Any other suggestions will be welcome.

EDIT: OMG, I'm watching a living striped worm feeding from the rock. Aren't these things called peanut worms? I've seen these in my tank before, but only dead ones. OMG, the first animal life in my tank!

EDIT: OMG, a second one. Maybe they weren't dead after all?

submytion · 04/12/2008, 09:41 PM

Get rid of the Bio Balls.

Random Aquarist · 04/12/2008, 09:57 PM

I never put them in the tank. My dad had FW tanks, so that's why I have bioballs in our former fish room and garage.

OnoIgotICH · 04/12/2008, 10:47 PM

i dont see why people hate bioballs...10 dollar balls? or 10 dollars per pound?

If the city uses it why shouldn't i?

demonsp · 04/12/2008, 11:45 PM

Bio balls are high maintance and costly as they should be replaced often.They arn not needed in SW.Your LR and SB are your best bio filters and support much needed life.

Quote:

Originally posted by OnoIgotICH
i dont see why people hate bioballs...10 dollar balls? or 10 dollars per pound?

If the city uses it why shouldn't i?

demonsp · 04/12/2008, 11:53 PM

This guys funny.He comes in for advice and then decides to say skip it.Any repley is only that much more helpfull. Then starts adding stuff thats not even needed.
You dont want to speed up the cycle.This is a slow and calculated hobby that can be fun and rewarding or fought with trouble.You cant see or can test for benificial bacteria that i know of.In a new setup the bacteria is low and young.It needs time to mature and multiply.This is what helps sustain your stock load.Let your tank cycle and remeber to measure twice and cut once.

If you want ill give you my paypal account and you can just send me money and ill send you pics of people who have been there and done that. Really,i dont mind.

Percula9 · 04/13/2008, 12:03 PM

In the old days before live rock and sand it took up to 6 weeks to cycle a tank. With live sand and rock half the time . There is no such thing as instant cycling. Have patients, nitrites will peak on one day and be gone the next. Once nitrites are gone you will be cycled. Don't try to rush things.

04/12/2008, 06:17 PM	#1
Random Aquarist Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: SLO County, CA Posts: 758	BioBalls to Speed Up Cycling My tank is still cycling. It's taking forever. I'm adding 150lbs of sand soon, but should I also add bioballs to the sump to give more substrate? If so, could I remove the balls after cycling is finished, or would that mess up the tank?

04/12/2008, 09:06 PM	#4
Random Aquarist Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: SLO County, CA Posts: 758	I know I have the right bacteria. Not only did I get Arag-Alive sand and bacteria-liquid-additive, but I see bubbles repeatedly appearing in the sand, even after I stir it up. Maybe something's wrong. But, nevertheless, I'll go get some LR rubble from the LFS tomorrow. After I'm done cycling, I'll use it in my amphipod culture. Any other suggestions will be welcome. EDIT: OMG, I'm watching a living striped worm feeding from the rock. Aren't these things called peanut worms? I've seen these in my tank before, but only dead ones. OMG, the first animal life in my tank! EDIT: OMG, a second one. Maybe they weren't dead after all? Last edited by Random Aquarist; 04/12/2008 at 09:20 PM.

04/12/2008, 06:39 PM	#2
abulgin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,664	Go to your LFS and buy a bunch of cured live rock and throw that in your tank. Cured live rock will already be colonized with the necessary bacteria and will help spread it to your other substrate. Bioballs are totally useless until they get populated with bacteria. What you should have done is start out with cured live rock--cycling is almost instant.

04/12/2008, 09:03 PM	#3
Random Aquarist Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: SLO County, CA Posts: 758	Skip this post.

04/12/2008, 09:41 PM	#5
submytion Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Topeka, KS Posts: 51	Get rid of the Bio Balls.

04/12/2008, 09:57 PM	#6
Random Aquarist Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: SLO County, CA Posts: 758	I never put them in the tank. My dad had FW tanks, so that's why I have bioballs in our former fish room and garage.

04/12/2008, 10:47 PM	#7
OnoIgotICH Moved On Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 287	i dont see why people hate bioballs...10 dollar balls? or 10 dollars per pound? If the city uses it why shouldn't i?

04/12/2008, 11:53 PM	#9
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	This guys funny.He comes in for advice and then decides to say skip it.Any repley is only that much more helpfull. Then starts adding stuff thats not even needed. You dont want to speed up the cycle.This is a slow and calculated hobby that can be fun and rewarding or fought with trouble.You cant see or can test for benificial bacteria that i know of.In a new setup the bacteria is low and young.It needs time to mature and multiply.This is what helps sustain your stock load.Let your tank cycle and remeber to measure twice and cut once. If you want ill give you my paypal account and you can just send me money and ill send you pics of people who have been there and done that. Really,i dont mind.

04/13/2008, 12:03 PM	#10
Percula9 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Orange County CA Posts: 3,819	In the old days before live rock and sand it took up to 6 weeks to cycle a tank. With live sand and rock half the time . There is no such thing as instant cycling. Have patients, nitrites will peak on one day and be gone the next. Once nitrites are gone you will be cycled. Don't try to rush things.