Bio Balls

LAMBrose1994 · 10/14/2014, 09:51 AM

Hello Everyone,

I have read a lot of controversy online about Bio Balls my question is.

What's everyone's thoughts on bio balls are they a beneficial part to filtering or are they do they become a nitrate factory causing problems further down the road.

I have a 94L tank with a skimmer I have the bio balls in my tank but considering removing them.

Thank You :-)

RocketEngineer · 10/14/2014, 09:59 AM

My reading leads me to consider them TOO efficient at converting ammonia into nitrates such that they out compete bacteria in other locations that live in close association with the bacteria that would convert the nitrate into nitrogen gas. In a reef setup there are better methods for reducing ammonia into nitrates that are more closely modeled on nature. The non-porous nature of bio-balls is why they become a problem as there is no place for the bacteria that don't like oxygen to grow and it is these low oxygen conditions where the bacteria are using the nitrates and producing nitrogen gas.

thegrun · 10/14/2014, 10:02 AM

Unless you keep them clean (and cleaning them would likely remove most of the beneficial bacteria) they tend to increase your nitrates as they do a great job of breaking down ammonia to nitrates and nitrites to nitrates, but cannot break down nitrates since they have no anaerobic zones to host the bacteria that break down nitrates. Live rock is a much better solution.

BioCubeGuy · 10/14/2014, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LAMBrose1994

Hello Everyone,

I have read a lot of controversy online about Bio Balls my question is.

What's everyone's thoughts on bio balls are they a beneficial part to filtering or are they do they become a nitrate factory causing problems further down the road.

I have a 94L tank with a skimmer I have the bio balls in my tank but considering removing them.

Thank You :-)

I've heard that Bio-balls are beneficial for fish only tanks but not Reefs. I'm really not sure why. I just removed mine and replaced them with a media basket. I'm sure other members will chime in and answer it for ya.

10/14/2014, 09:51 AM	#1
LAMBrose1994 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: London, United Kingdom Posts: 47	Bio Balls Hello Everyone, I have read a lot of controversy online about Bio Balls my question is. What's everyone's thoughts on bio balls are they a beneficial part to filtering or are they do they become a nitrate factory causing problems further down the road. I have a 94L tank with a skimmer I have the bio balls in my tank but considering removing them. Thank You :-)

10/14/2014, 09:59 AM	#2
RocketEngineer Space is big. Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Maryland Eastern Shore Posts: 3,226	My reading leads me to consider them TOO efficient at converting ammonia into nitrates such that they out compete bacteria in other locations that live in close association with the bacteria that would convert the nitrate into nitrogen gas. In a reef setup there are better methods for reducing ammonia into nitrates that are more closely modeled on nature. The non-porous nature of bio-balls is why they become a problem as there is no place for the bacteria that don't like oxygen to grow and it is these low oxygen conditions where the bacteria are using the nitrates and producing nitrogen gas. __________________ -RocketEngineer "Knowledge is what you get when you read the directions, experience is what you get when you don't." - Unknown Current Tank Info: None Currently

10/14/2014, 10:02 AM	#3
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	Unless you keep them clean (and cleaning them would likely remove most of the beneficial bacteria) they tend to increase your nitrates as they do a great job of breaking down ammonia to nitrates and nitrites to nitrates, but cannot break down nitrates since they have no anaerobic zones to host the bacteria that break down nitrates. Live rock is a much better solution.