Bio Balls, yes or no?

[Crawfishy]

I'm setting up my 28g nano. Do i need the bioballs if i have LR? What are the pros and cons?

Thanks.

[jflick345]

Nope. Their purpose is to provide a place for bacteria to grow which is why you have the LR anyway. The biggest con is they can become a source of excess nitrates and trap detritus

[wooden_reefer]

Originally Posted by Crawfishy

I'm setting up my 28g nano. Do i need the bioballs if i have LR? What are the pros and cons?

Thanks.

Use the bioballs in QT where nitrification, not also denitrification, is important.

[Crawfishy]

If I cycle the tanks with the bioballs included, for later use in the QT, will their removal immediately after the cycle harm the DT?

Thanks.

[wooden_reefer]

Originally Posted by Crawfishy

If I cycle the tanks with the bioballs included, for later use in the QT, will their removal immediately after the cycle harm the DT?

Thanks.

It depends on how you cycle both the QT and DT.

The question is will there be still enough nitrification in DT after you remove the bioballs from the DT, transfered to QT.

If you used the seed and waste method, not any gradual method, the density of bacteria at the end will be so high that removing the bioballs will not upset anything. How could the DT be upset at this stage? There is no bioload with livestock to upset anything.
There will be still plenty enough for the DT.

Use a HOT power box or canister filter with a medium other than live rock for QT. You can cycle for both the QT and DT with the same cycling water.

But simpler is to cycle QT and DT medium separately. All you need is an additional container. No big deal at all.

[Crawfishy]

Thanks, guys.