bio-ball removal from 125 established reef tank

micromount · 02/04/2009, 07:56 PM

I want to remove the bio-balls from wet-dry system and drill out a 10 gal tank and connect to the wet-dry The refugium will be put in the tank. I plan on putting the phosban reactor in the compartment where the bio-balls are. The return pipe goes right against the cover so pipes will have to be cut. So it will be easier to take bio-balls out all at once. Am I courting disaster taking them all out at once?
My son works at LFS and can keep the fish at store if I can get them out. Would it be better to remove the fish for several weeks?

buccard · 02/04/2009, 08:04 PM

If you have a lot of live rock-it is undoubtedly hosting nitrifying bacteria...It would be best to remove the bioballs a little at a time and watch the water params. I think the amount of liverock would be directly proportional to how quickly you can remove the bioballs-IMHO.

good luck....

micromount · 02/05/2009, 05:21 AM

Anybody else with suggestions?
Thanks.

vito is hooked · 02/05/2009, 07:24 AM

I did the same about a year ago, 1 handfull a day till there all gone, no need to remove fish. Remember, Nothing good happen's fast in this hobby. Just curios, what is your NITRATE' reading? Best thing I ever did was remove them and put in a REFUGIUM. NITRATE- 0

Indymann99 · 02/05/2009, 11:22 AM

+1 on the remove a handful per day, and test every other day or so. Adjust removal rate based on testing results.

02/04/2009, 07:56 PM	#1
micromount Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 193	bio-ball removal from 125 established reef tank I want to remove the bio-balls from wet-dry system and drill out a 10 gal tank and connect to the wet-dry The refugium will be put in the tank. I plan on putting the phosban reactor in the compartment where the bio-balls are. The return pipe goes right against the cover so pipes will have to be cut. So it will be easier to take bio-balls out all at once. Am I courting disaster taking them all out at once? My son works at LFS and can keep the fish at store if I can get them out. Would it be better to remove the fish for several weeks?

02/04/2009, 08:04 PM	#2
buccard Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lakeland, Florida Posts: 970	If you have a lot of live rock-it is undoubtedly hosting nitrifying bacteria...It would be best to remove the bioballs a little at a time and watch the water params. I think the amount of liverock would be directly proportional to how quickly you can remove the bioballs-IMHO. good luck.... __________________ Roger Save a fish, click on the red house. Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon-mixed reef

02/05/2009, 05:21 AM	#3
micromount Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 193	bio-ball removal Anybody else with suggestions? Thanks.

02/05/2009, 07:24 AM	#4
vito is hooked Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Port Charlotte FL Posts: 845	I did the same about a year ago, 1 handfull a day till there all gone, no need to remove fish. Remember, Nothing good happen's fast in this hobby. Just curios, what is your NITRATE' reading? Best thing I ever did was remove them and put in a REFUGIUM. NITRATE- 0 __________________ IT'S THE SAME THING-ONLY DIFFERENT Current Tank Info: 300gal with 180gal Ref/Sump M/H lighting 2-175 watt 10.000 K 3 150watt 15.000 K 8 blue actinics 4 Purple OCTOPUS Extreme-X200 Skimmer Max Flow 4200gph Return

02/05/2009, 11:22 AM	#5
Indymann99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,447	+1 on the remove a handful per day, and test every other day or so. Adjust removal rate based on testing results. __________________ 120g DT 100lbs LR / 200 lbs LS, 45g fuge, VectraM1 Return, Herbie drain, 4x RW-8, 2x AI Hydra 26 w AWM, ASM G2, Apex controller, Apex BoB w floats ATO