Bioballs gotta Go. How do I do it?

jtemple42000 · 08/10/2006, 04:28 PM

I can not get my nitrates down. Everthing else is good. Somy bioballs need to go. How so I take them out.? 5-10 at a time till they are gone?

params:
75 gal with about 100lbs of live rock with ozone injection
ph - 8.1
ammon - 0
nitrites - 0
nitrates - 40ppm
temp - 79.3
salinity - 1.024 (refracto)
redox - 290 and climbing (after my to 5 gallon water changes the last two days.)

5 gallon water changes every week
tank has been running for about 7 months
I do not test anything else....

xenias look good, torch looks good, sebae seems to be affected a little. Its not opening up as big as it use to. Fish are doing good. 2 blue chin triggers (male & female,) mated yellow stripe maroon clowns.

I had read about a refugium? What exactly is it? What does it do? How do I put one together?

Thanks

Fragmented · 08/10/2006, 04:49 PM

I removed mine all at once and replaced them with chatomopha. I keep it lit to help stabalize PH. I didn't have any problems. It has been over a year since I made the switch.

jtemple42000 · 08/10/2006, 04:51 PM

the chaetomorpha need to be completely submerged correct?

Alamo · 08/10/2006, 05:02 PM

Mine is and lighted in my fuge.

smcdonn · 08/10/2006, 06:31 PM

Don't take them all out at once. Take a few out little by little.

Peter Eichler · 08/10/2006, 07:35 PM

Take half out, then half again. Nitrosomas and Nitrobacter multiply pretty quickly and with the amount of live rock you have you shouldn't have any problems. If you're really worried about it take 25% out at a time.

jtemple42000 · 08/10/2006, 07:40 PM

I just took out about 25%. I'll keep an eye on things to see what happens.

Thanks for the help.

hopper · 08/10/2006, 09:56 PM

I took the bioballs in my overflow and sump out all at one time against the advice of others as I was having the same problem. I replaced the ones in the sump with LR rubble and put a durso in the overflow. I didn't have any problems and the nitrates went down. You are probably doing it the right way though. A little at a time. You know the old saying in reefkeeping....... be patient.

jimbo045 · 08/10/2006, 10:57 PM

I replaced the balls with a blue sponge type filter pad. JD

08/10/2006, 04:28 PM	#1
jtemple42000 Premium Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Granger, IN Posts: 416	Bioballs gotta Go. How do I do it? I can not get my nitrates down. Everthing else is good. Somy bioballs need to go. How so I take them out.? 5-10 at a time till they are gone? params: 75 gal with about 100lbs of live rock with ozone injection ph - 8.1 ammon - 0 nitrites - 0 nitrates - 40ppm temp - 79.3 salinity - 1.024 (refracto) redox - 290 and climbing (after my to 5 gallon water changes the last two days.) 5 gallon water changes every week tank has been running for about 7 months I do not test anything else.... xenias look good, torch looks good, sebae seems to be affected a little. Its not opening up as big as it use to. Fish are doing good. 2 blue chin triggers (male & female,) mated yellow stripe maroon clowns. I had read about a refugium? What exactly is it? What does it do? How do I put one together? Thanks __________________ Jim If anything absolutely can NOT go wrong, it will anyway. Current Tank Info: 210 in wall mixed reef

08/10/2006, 04:51 PM	#3
jtemple42000 Premium Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Granger, IN Posts: 416	the chaetomorpha need to be completely submerged correct? __________________ Jim If anything absolutely can NOT go wrong, it will anyway. Current Tank Info: 210 in wall mixed reef

08/10/2006, 06:31 PM	#5
smcdonn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 925	Don't take them all out at once. Take a few out little by little. __________________ 180g IN WALL, REEF Current Tank Info: 180 gallon

08/10/2006, 07:35 PM	#6
Peter Eichler Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Milwaukee Posts: 6,081	Take half out, then half again. Nitrosomas and Nitrobacter multiply pretty quickly and with the amount of live rock you have you shouldn't have any problems. If you're really worried about it take 25% out at a time. __________________ April 2015 TOTM

08/10/2006, 07:40 PM	#7
jtemple42000 Premium Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Granger, IN Posts: 416	I just took out about 25%. I'll keep an eye on things to see what happens. Thanks for the help. __________________ Jim If anything absolutely can NOT go wrong, it will anyway. Current Tank Info: 210 in wall mixed reef

08/10/2006, 04:49 PM	#2
Fragmented Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Nevada City, CA Posts: 919	I removed mine all at once and replaced them with chatomopha. I keep it lit to help stabalize PH. I didn't have any problems. It has been over a year since I made the switch.

08/10/2006, 05:02 PM	#4
Alamo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 59	Mine is and lighted in my fuge.

08/10/2006, 09:56 PM	#8
hopper Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Bossier City, La. Posts: 623	I took the bioballs in my overflow and sump out all at one time against the advice of others as I was having the same problem. I replaced the ones in the sump with LR rubble and put a durso in the overflow. I didn't have any problems and the nitrates went down. You are probably doing it the right way though. A little at a time. You know the old saying in reefkeeping....... be patient.

08/10/2006, 10:57 PM	#9
jimbo045 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Aiea, HI. Posts: 1,788	I replaced the balls with a blue sponge type filter pad. JD