Any use or need for used bioballs?

DaveWF · 10/20/2010, 09:40 PM

I finally pulled the last of all of my well used bioballs out of my biocube and replaced it LR. Is there any need or use for used bioballs or should I just toss 'em?

johnwonus · 10/20/2010, 10:33 PM

Bio balls are old school nowadays. You will not find many people using them today as they have been called many things including nitrate factories in your tanks. I would advertise them on craigs list and if they dont sell toss them.

nd31male · 10/21/2010, 02:25 AM

toss em

lordofthereef · 10/21/2010, 05:43 AM

I still know some people that use them as copepod farms and it works out really well. I would list them, see if they sell. If not, just give them away. If someone gets a use out of them its better than the dump.

jason2459 · 10/21/2010, 05:47 AM

I've seen them used in denitrators and ozone reactors. Someone will want them.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

chimmike · 10/21/2010, 07:26 AM

you know, I was kinda thinking about something.

There's lately been this fascination with algae screens.

Why not use acrylic and develop a trickle style system where you stack bioballs, one on top of the other, and the acrylic is only as wide as one bioball, so it trickles down over rows of bioballs in perfect order? Similar to algae screen, easily removed for rinsing, great spot for pod propagation, and still allow a lot of the 'funk' to flow down through, eh?

Palting · 10/21/2010, 07:34 AM

I use them for my QT. They are the most efficient way of breaking down harmfull ammonia to relatively harmless nitrate. I keep a few in my sump, then load them up with the rest of the bioballs into my QT whenever I need to.

Chris27 · 10/21/2010, 08:07 AM

QT is a good use for them, but also they are still used very frequently in the pond industry. They are also very good for a FO display that is light on rock.

clownfreak · 10/21/2010, 08:20 AM

They are sometimes used in breeding operations too. To answer the question directly, I wouldn't toss them, there are many other uses for them.

DaveWF · 10/21/2010, 09:36 AM

Fair enough. It seems that, for my purposes and what I'm allowed to have "aquarium related" I have no use for them. What would be a fair asking price on CraigsList for 'em?
I don't have an exact count.... whatever typically comes with a 29g biocube. I can get a count if that's necessary.

They're sitting dry, in a couple of bowls. Should I leave them "as is" or rinse them off?

thanks for all the advice!
Dave in Lombard

10/20/2010, 09:40 PM	#1
DaveWF Moved On Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Lombard, IL Posts: 818	Any use or need for used bioballs? I finally pulled the last of all of my well used bioballs out of my biocube and replaced it LR. Is there any need or use for used bioballs or should I just toss 'em?

10/21/2010, 05:43 AM	#4
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	I still know some people that use them as copepod farms and it works out really well. I would list them, see if they sell. If not, just give them away. If someone gets a use out of them its better than the dump. __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

10/21/2010, 05:47 AM	#5
jason2459 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 9,671	I've seen them used in denitrators and ozone reactors. Someone will want them. Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk __________________ rebuild and recovery log: No more red house, you'll have to click on my name and visit my homepage! You can check out my parameters at reeftronics dot net website and look for my username. Current Tank Info: 180g mixed reef w/ a beananimal overflow to a dolomite RRUGF. \| 20g long G. Smithii Mantis Tank

10/21/2010, 07:26 AM	#6
chimmike oxygen abuser Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Parrish, FL Posts: 5,089 Blog Entries: 2	you know, I was kinda thinking about something. There's lately been this fascination with algae screens. Why not use acrylic and develop a trickle style system where you stack bioballs, one on top of the other, and the acrylic is only as wide as one bioball, so it trickles down over rows of bioballs in perfect order? Similar to algae screen, easily removed for rinsing, great spot for pod propagation, and still allow a lot of the 'funk' to flow down through, eh? __________________ -Mike Tankless wonder Geaux Noles!

10/21/2010, 07:34 AM	#7
Palting Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 6,912	I use them for my QT. They are the most efficient way of breaking down harmfull ammonia to relatively harmless nitrate. I keep a few in my sump, then load them up with the rest of the bioballs into my QT whenever I need to. __________________ Anything I post is just an opinion. One of many in this hobby. Believe and follow at your own risk of rapid and complete annihilation of all life in your tank :) Current Tank Info: Incept 3/2010, 150 RR, 50g sump, 20g fuge, 150w 15K MH x3, T5 actinics x8, moonlight LED x6, 1400gph return, Koralia 1400 x4, 300 g skimmer, 4 tangs, 2 mandarins, 2 perc, 6 line, 3 cardinals, 2 firefish, SPS, LPS, zoas, palys, shrooms, clam

10/20/2010, 10:33 PM	#2
johnwonus Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 90	Bio balls are old school nowadays. You will not find many people using them today as they have been called many things including nitrate factories in your tanks. I would advertise them on craigs list and if they dont sell toss them.

10/21/2010, 02:25 AM	#3
nd31male Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 53	toss em

10/21/2010, 08:07 AM	#8
Chris27 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 4,452	QT is a good use for them, but also they are still used very frequently in the pond industry. They are also very good for a FO display that is light on rock.

10/21/2010, 08:20 AM	#9
clownfreak Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 405	They are sometimes used in breeding operations too. To answer the question directly, I wouldn't toss them, there are many other uses for them.

10/21/2010, 09:36 AM	#10
DaveWF Moved On Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Lombard, IL Posts: 818	Fair enough. It seems that, for my purposes and what I'm allowed to have "aquarium related" I have no use for them. What would be a fair asking price on CraigsList for 'em? I don't have an exact count.... whatever typically comes with a 29g biocube. I can get a count if that's necessary. They're sitting dry, in a couple of bowls. Should I leave them "as is" or rinse them off? thanks for all the advice! Dave in Lombard

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