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07/01/2007, 09:27 PM
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#1 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 179
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No Balls?
Why does everyone say to not use bio balls? I saw some cool ones with carbon inside. I would think the extra area for bacteria would be like putting live rock in your sump. Is there a good reason to not use them?
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Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you will be a mile away and you will have their shoes. Current Tank Info: 300G Mixed Reef w/150G sump/refugium |
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07/01/2007, 09:33 PM
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#2 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Charleston,SC
Posts: 71
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They build up slime that can cause nitrates to spike. The LR is doing what the bio balls would.
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07/01/2007, 10:31 PM
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#3 |
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Team RC Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: STL
Posts: 14,754
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It's the wet/dry type of filtration that doesn't allow for anerobic bacteria to do it's thing. That's why they are inefficient at breaking down nitrate. The carbon inside the bio-balls is just asking for trouble. Unless you plan to open and refill each one monthly then don't even think about it. Just get at least 1lb/gallon of live rock in your tank to serve as the primary bio filter and all is good. Just say no to bio-balls.
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-Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system |
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07/02/2007, 12:31 AM
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#4 |
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Moved On
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Garden Grove
Posts: 3,627
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personally i dont like the ones with carbon or foam in them because that media has to be replaced eventually...if you are going to get ones with media in them go with the ceramic beads
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07/02/2007, 06:19 AM
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#5 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Northeast Florida
Posts: 1,191
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I think that they just work too well. They quickly breakdown waste to nitrates before the skimmer has a chance to remove them from the system. They are fine for a dense fish only tank where ammonia is an issue, but for a reef tank, they aren't necessary and can lead to excess amounts of nitrates.
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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." -- Aristotle |
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07/02/2007, 06:26 AM
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#6 | |
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Team RC Member
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 41,560
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Quote:
IME if you don't use any liverock in your aquarium and you use bioballs the money you saved on rock will be spent on more frequest water changes. Go price out artificial salt.
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over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems *see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB* GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors Last edited by Gary Majchrzak; 07/02/2007 at 06:32 AM. |
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