Why does everyone hate Bio Balls?

AquamanE · 02/04/2008, 03:19 PM

If they are submerged instead of getting dripped on.

My Ecosystem used them in the area wher the overflow drains, and then right before pump in the baffles to decrease micro airbubbles.

Is this soo bad?

papagimp · 02/04/2008, 03:25 PM

Bioballs can trap detritus easier for one thing, which can lead to higher phosphate/nitrate levels. Also, the way they filter in general, colonized with aerobic bacteria and all, they'll do squat to remove nitrates from the tank. It's not that we all HATE them, I rather like em, but theirs better options for filtration. I'd rather have sufficeint live rock in the tank with a nice sandbed, then I don't usually have to worry about nitrate levels getting high at all, with bioballs, I've always had to perform more than usual water changes to battle an ever increasing nitrate level.

seapug · 02/04/2008, 03:44 PM

They aren't so bad when a small number kept submerged for the purposes you are describing. Some refugiums use them as a prefilter to purposefully create nitrate to "feed" the macro algae.
The real issue is when a large number of them are used in a trickle situation. It creates a huge population of aerobic, nitrifying bacteria that isn't balanced with an equal population anaerobic bacteria to consume the nitrate they produce.

02/04/2008, 03:19 PM	#1
AquamanE Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 6,544	Why does everyone hate Bio Balls? If they are submerged instead of getting dripped on. My Ecosystem used them in the area wher the overflow drains, and then right before pump in the baffles to decrease micro airbubbles. Is this soo bad? __________________ Eddie Soler FMAS BOD Member MACNA 2013 Chairman "I'd rather die living than live to die" Current Tank Info: 200G mixed reef with 60G sump, Radion LED’s , Bubble King skimmer, blah blah blah.

02/04/2008, 03:25 PM	#2
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	Bioballs can trap detritus easier for one thing, which can lead to higher phosphate/nitrate levels. Also, the way they filter in general, colonized with aerobic bacteria and all, they'll do squat to remove nitrates from the tank. It's not that we all HATE them, I rather like em, but theirs better options for filtration. I'd rather have sufficeint live rock in the tank with a nice sandbed, then I don't usually have to worry about nitrate levels getting high at all, with bioballs, I've always had to perform more than usual water changes to battle an ever increasing nitrate level. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

02/04/2008, 03:44 PM	#3
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	They aren't so bad when a small number kept submerged for the purposes you are describing. Some refugiums use them as a prefilter to purposefully create nitrate to "feed" the macro algae. The real issue is when a large number of them are used in a trickle situation. It creates a huge population of aerobic, nitrifying bacteria that isn't balanced with an equal population anaerobic bacteria to consume the nitrate they produce. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.