bio balls???

geminianspark · 02/12/2009, 01:47 PM

So my current setup is a 29 gallon rectangle with a about 5small fish and some corals with PC lighting, connected to a 29gal biocube with 2 fish and some frags with metal halide lighting. The rectangle tank has an overflow that pumps into the middle compartment of the biocube filter area that has some live rock, a carbon pack, a nitrate pack and a phosphate sheet. The protein skimmer on the biocube is also running and pulling out a minimal amount of "gook". Then I have a pump in the biocube that returns water back to the other tank.

My question... what is the purpose of bio balls and are they really necessary?

Sisterlimonpot · 02/12/2009, 02:01 PM

Bioballs actually allow maximum surface to allow good bacteria to grow, the bad thing about bioballs is that they work great at the beginning but eventually they become producers of nitrates and unless youâ€™re willing to clean them in a manner that you keep the good bacteria up to maintain stability in your tank then youâ€™re better off not using them. A good substitute is to allow live rock to take the place of this process. A good rule of thumb is to have 1-2 lbs of live rock for every gallon of display tank volume. So in your case you want about 30-60 lbs if LR to take up the biological filtration.

Sisterlimonpot · 02/12/2009, 02:03 PM

How long has your tank been up and running?

reefdat · 02/12/2009, 05:02 PM

Loose the bio-balls and add more LR.

roneil · 02/12/2009, 05:22 PM

i have a megaflow 1 sump and i got rid of the bio balls and added live rock.

02/12/2009, 01:47 PM	#1
geminianspark Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: hampton roads, VA Posts: 30	bio balls??? So my current setup is a 29 gallon rectangle with a about 5small fish and some corals with PC lighting, connected to a 29gal biocube with 2 fish and some frags with metal halide lighting. The rectangle tank has an overflow that pumps into the middle compartment of the biocube filter area that has some live rock, a carbon pack, a nitrate pack and a phosphate sheet. The protein skimmer on the biocube is also running and pulling out a minimal amount of "gook". Then I have a pump in the biocube that returns water back to the other tank. My question... what is the purpose of bio balls and are they really necessary?

02/12/2009, 02:01 PM	#2
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	Bioballs actually allow maximum surface to allow good bacteria to grow, the bad thing about bioballs is that they work great at the beginning but eventually they become producers of nitrates and unless youâ€™re willing to clean them in a manner that you keep the good bacteria up to maintain stability in your tank then youâ€™re better off not using them. A good substitute is to allow live rock to take the place of this process. A good rule of thumb is to have 1-2 lbs of live rock for every gallon of display tank volume. So in your case you want about 30-60 lbs if LR to take up the biological filtration. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

02/12/2009, 02:03 PM	#3
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	How long has your tank been up and running? __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

02/12/2009, 05:02 PM	#4
reefdat Moved On Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: La Posts: 56	Loose the bio-balls and add more LR.

02/12/2009, 05:22 PM	#5
roneil Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: St Charles, Missouri Posts: 492	i have a megaflow 1 sump and i got rid of the bio balls and added live rock.