Bio Balls

minispider · 05/15/2007, 07:42 PM

I have 110 g reef tank with 130lbs of live rock and 3" of sand, do I need the bio balls in the sump, they are turning a little tan color, all my readings are normal, would my readings stay the same if I remove them?. Is it a good idea to get them out?. Your responses will be greatly appreciated

bertoni · 05/15/2007, 07:50 PM

If the tank isn't heavily stocked, I would remove them slowly, over 5-6 weeks or so, to give the live rock time to catch up with any new filtration demand. Sometimes, bio-balls lead to higher nitrate levels.

coast2coast7390 · 05/15/2007, 08:40 PM

do you use a pre filter pad before them...if not i would do so...the only reason that the bioballs create more nitrates is that they simply work to well...i have been using bioballs in my 29 and the nitrates stay around 20 with water changes...this is because the tank is heavily stocked with out a protien skimmer

minispider · 05/16/2007, 05:40 AM

i do use a pre filter before them, so is it a good advise to remove them?

papagimp · 05/16/2007, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by coast2coast7390
...the only reason that the bioballs create more nitrates is that they simply work to well...

The reason they create more nitrates is that the beneficial bacteria that colonizes on them is strictly aerobic bacteria, which will not eat up the nitrates, only ammonia and nitrite. And with bioballs or prefilters, and any other means of aerobic filtration in the tank, the aerobic bacteria will form quicker and less anerobic bacteria will colonize, causing a rise in nitrate levels that must be dealt with by other means, such as macro algae in a fuge, deep sand bed, added rock for more anerobic zones, ect. ect. ect. I would also advice that you remove them slowly and allow the bacteria to colonize elsewhere in the tank. The work great, but in a reef system have this one major drawback.

05/15/2007, 07:42 PM	#1
minispider Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Pembroke Pines, Fl Posts: 177	Bio Balls I have 110 g reef tank with 130lbs of live rock and 3" of sand, do I need the bio balls in the sump, they are turning a little tan color, all my readings are normal, would my readings stay the same if I remove them?. Is it a good idea to get them out?. Your responses will be greatly appreciated

05/15/2007, 07:50 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	If the tank isn't heavily stocked, I would remove them slowly, over 5-6 weeks or so, to give the live rock time to catch up with any new filtration demand. Sometimes, bio-balls lead to higher nitrate levels. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

05/15/2007, 08:40 PM	#3
coast2coast7390 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Garden Grove Posts: 3,627	do you use a pre filter pad before them...if not i would do so...the only reason that the bioballs create more nitrates is that they simply work to well...i have been using bioballs in my 29 and the nitrates stay around 20 with water changes...this is because the tank is heavily stocked with out a protien skimmer

05/16/2007, 05:40 AM	#4
minispider Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Pembroke Pines, Fl Posts: 177	i do use a pre filter before them, so is it a good advise to remove them?