change bio balls to rock?

mayjong · 10/28/2009, 02:46 PM

i have a 8 month old 150 gallon tank, nitrate running kind of high. it has a MegaFlow Sump with bio balls. the bio balls are in a "wet-dry" chamber.
i see several suggestions to change out bio balls with rock, but i'm not sure why... would the rock go in the wet-dry chamber? if so, wouldn't that be the same as bio-balls?

thanks!

luther1200 · 10/28/2009, 04:09 PM

I wouldn't replace them with rock, if you are going to remove them don't replace them with anything. Small pieces of LR will act the same way. You would need large pieces and even then I am not sure you would get the desired affect.

How much LR is in the DT?

bergzy · 10/28/2009, 06:12 PM

if you have a sufficient amount of live rock for biofiltration in your display tank, then you would not need the bioballs.

if you dont have any live rock or very little...i suggest that you get at least 100 pounds of it or so. make sure it is fully cured before adding it to your system. i found that the one to two pounds of live rock per gallon to be outdated and unnecessary. but, you do still need a certain amount of live rock.

but...

you will still need a nitrate/phosphate/nutrient export method. this is where a refugium on a reverse main light cycle will help a lot. the refugium combined with regular water changes should help with nitrate control.

after this is all established, then i would take all the bioballs out...slowly ie a certain amount over a time frame of say a couple of months.

you dont have to take the bioballs out...but i would...'if' i had enough live rock.

Stanley-Reefer · 10/28/2009, 06:56 PM

I removed mine over a 2 month period on a 1 year old tank, just don't remove them all at once to avoid a spike...

mayjong · 10/29/2009, 08:51 AM

thanks!
i believe i need more live rock. tanks is 150 gallon and i know there is not 110lb of rock, looks like maybe 50-70lb...
i'll pick some up this weekend.
how long should i quarantine the rock?

10/28/2009, 04:09 PM	#2
luther1200 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NJ, shore Posts: 4,376	I wouldn't replace them with rock, if you are going to remove them don't replace them with anything. Small pieces of LR will act the same way. You would need large pieces and even then I am not sure you would get the desired affect. How much LR is in the DT? __________________ Matt, 65G reef tank Current Tank Info: 65g reef, mix of sps, lps, few softies. Hoping to upgrade within the year.

10/28/2009, 06:12 PM	#3
bergzy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: OC CA USA Posts: 5,299	if you have a sufficient amount of live rock for biofiltration in your display tank, then you would not need the bioballs. if you dont have any live rock or very little...i suggest that you get at least 100 pounds of it or so. make sure it is fully cured before adding it to your system. i found that the one to two pounds of live rock per gallon to be outdated and unnecessary. but, you do still need a certain amount of live rock. but... you will still need a nitrate/phosphate/nutrient export method. this is where a refugium on a reverse main light cycle will help a lot. the refugium combined with regular water changes should help with nitrate control. after this is all established, then i would take all the bioballs out...slowly ie a certain amount over a time frame of say a couple of months. you dont have to take the bioballs out...but i would...'if' i had enough live rock. __________________ The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule it. H.L. Mencken Ben. Current Tank Info: 180g sps, 90g cube clam biotope.

10/28/2009, 06:56 PM	#4
Stanley-Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Stanley, NC Posts: 1,933	I removed mine over a 2 month period on a 1 year old tank, just don't remove them all at once to avoid a spike...

10/29/2009, 08:51 AM	#5
mayjong Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Sacramento CA Posts: 2,426	thanks! i believe i need more live rock. tanks is 150 gallon and i know there is not 110lb of rock, looks like maybe 50-70lb... i'll pick some up this weekend. how long should i quarantine the rock?