Bio-balls-Nitrates-liverock?

Shaummy · 08/03/2006, 09:31 PM

okay folks... sorry this may be long....

I of course have heard that bio-balls are bad and contribute to elevated Nitrate levels. But what I don't know is this before I describe my situation below. How do you know when you are ready to remove them from a wet/dry setup?

I have a CPR sump that currently holds some bio-balls and the white spagetti type media. I've had it for years that way, and with pretty much a FO so it never became an issue really. I have some tufa and a few hunks of LR in the tank for quite a while mostly for decoration. If I was estimating, it's be like 30-40lbs all together.

About 2 years ago, I removed the crushed coral and placed 4-6" of sand in the tank bottom.

I happen to be in a situation where I only have 1 fish (blue throat trigger) in the tank. Is this the time to remove the bio-ball/spagetti media from the Wet/Dry? Do I have to replace it with something? I'm not sure how much rock I can get in the sump and have it submerged.

Please give me some advice here..Nitrates are high in my tank (60-80?), but I think my skimmer helps keep them somewhat in check along with a light bio load right now.

this is a 90gallon tank if that matters...

thanks all for your time and talent.

whiirly · 08/04/2006, 06:00 AM

can you double the LR in your tank?
then depending how your sump is set up I would convert that into a refugium

Swamp Donkey · 08/04/2006, 06:56 AM

I took out my bioballs and media replaced with refugium and my nitrates dropped instantly.

jjjimmy · 08/04/2006, 07:38 AM

Bio balls and wet/dry filters if used at all were meant for tanks without LR IMO. Bio balls are a known nitrate factory and if you want to use them, fine. If you do you will also need something for export of the nitrates being stored by the bio balls. Either a huge powerful skimmer or my preference a refugium.

It has come to be known that it is easier to maintain your system if no bio balls are used and LR put in their place instead. The more LR the better although it seems that there is a movement to less LR these days (or maybe that is just my perception).

Even if you do not add a refugium removing the bio balls and putting however much LR in there as possible (without restricting flow) should help you with your nitrate problem.

Teremei · 08/04/2006, 05:04 PM

There is a move to less LR? How do you say? I have 160# of LR in my 125. I know that is considered about normal, but deffinatly not "light". I just set it up a month ago too.

jjjimmy · 08/04/2006, 07:29 PM

It seems that every tank that I see pics of here being set up only have a fraction of the LR that I used to see.

Shaummy · 08/04/2006, 08:53 PM

Here is what the wet/dry that I have looks like, I have a skimmer mounted externaly on the left side, but it's probably pretty inefficient becasue it draws the water from the return area that it dumps into.

CP900

How much LR would I need to add to this setup to remove the media that is in the W/D?

I'm really new to this sort of setup that uses LR instead of the media.

How would you guys do it?

Bryan89 · 08/04/2006, 10:34 PM

If your only aim is to reduce nitrates, you 'could' setup a sulphur reactor. Properly setup, it will rapidly (w/in 4 weeks) reduce nitrates from your levels to zero. Are you intending on changing to a reef or just lowering the nitrates to minimize algae growth? Another option is a new Deltec reactor that uses vodka and a zeovit like media to convert nitrates to nitrogen gas. I imagine that would be very expensive, prices aren't even listed at Deltec USA yet. Last option would be a set of large (50%or more) and frequent water changes once a week for a few weeks to lower the nitrates to more manageable levels. Then just increase the peridoicity of your water changes and it should help to minimize the rise in Nitrates. This worked well for me in Hawaii with my fish only setup.

HTH

Bryan

MarineOne · 08/04/2006, 11:04 PM

what about chaeto?

aaronpentz · 08/10/2006, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bryan89
If your only aim is to reduce nitrates, you 'could' setup a sulphur reactor. Properly setup, it will rapidly (w/in 4 weeks) reduce nitrates from your levels to zero.
Bryan

Do you have any info on this. I am looking around and can only find stuff from 5-6 years ago.

Do you have any pictures of your setup?

08/03/2006, 09:31 PM	#1
Shaummy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Chicago burbs Posts: 857	Bio-balls-Nitrates-liverock? okay folks... sorry this may be long.... I of course have heard that bio-balls are bad and contribute to elevated Nitrate levels. But what I don't know is this before I describe my situation below. How do you know when you are ready to remove them from a wet/dry setup? I have a CPR sump that currently holds some bio-balls and the white spagetti type media. I've had it for years that way, and with pretty much a FO so it never became an issue really. I have some tufa and a few hunks of LR in the tank for quite a while mostly for decoration. If I was estimating, it's be like 30-40lbs all together. About 2 years ago, I removed the crushed coral and placed 4-6" of sand in the tank bottom. I happen to be in a situation where I only have 1 fish (blue throat trigger) in the tank. Is this the time to remove the bio-ball/spagetti media from the Wet/Dry? Do I have to replace it with something? I'm not sure how much rock I can get in the sump and have it submerged. Please give me some advice here..Nitrates are high in my tank (60-80?), but I think my skimmer helps keep them somewhat in check along with a light bio load right now. this is a 90gallon tank if that matters... thanks all for your time and talent. __________________ Shaummy Current Tank Info: Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef, hermits, snails,Lyretail Anthias,Orange back Fairy Wrasse,Blue Reef Chromis,small blue tang, Flame Hawk, Royal Gramma

08/04/2006, 06:00 AM	#2
whiirly Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Orland Park ILL Posts: 3,177	can you double the LR in your tank? then depending how your sump is set up I would convert that into a refugium __________________ Whiirly A.K.A The One and ONLY:)> Current Tank Info: 180 might as well be a FOWLR

08/04/2006, 07:38 AM	#4
jjjimmy Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Algonquin, IL Posts: 2,867	Bio balls and wet/dry filters if used at all were meant for tanks without LR IMO. Bio balls are a known nitrate factory and if you want to use them, fine. If you do you will also need something for export of the nitrates being stored by the bio balls. Either a huge powerful skimmer or my preference a refugium. It has come to be known that it is easier to maintain your system if no bio balls are used and LR put in their place instead. The more LR the better although it seems that there is a movement to less LR these days (or maybe that is just my perception). Even if you do not add a refugium removing the bio balls and putting however much LR in there as possible (without restricting flow) should help you with your nitrate problem. __________________ How strange it seems that the truth is something that most do not want to hear.

08/04/2006, 07:29 PM	#6
jjjimmy Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Algonquin, IL Posts: 2,867	It seems that every tank that I see pics of here being set up only have a fraction of the LR that I used to see. __________________ How strange it seems that the truth is something that most do not want to hear.

08/04/2006, 08:53 PM	#7
Shaummy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Chicago burbs Posts: 857	Here is what the wet/dry that I have looks like, I have a skimmer mounted externaly on the left side, but it's probably pretty inefficient becasue it draws the water from the return area that it dumps into. CP900 How much LR would I need to add to this setup to remove the media that is in the W/D? I'm really new to this sort of setup that uses LR instead of the media. How would you guys do it? __________________ Shaummy Current Tank Info: Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef, hermits, snails,Lyretail Anthias,Orange back Fairy Wrasse,Blue Reef Chromis,small blue tang, Flame Hawk, Royal Gramma

08/04/2006, 06:56 AM	#3
Swamp Donkey Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Mchenry Il Posts: 659	I took out my bioballs and media replaced with refugium and my nitrates dropped instantly.

08/04/2006, 05:04 PM	#5
Teremei Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Chicago (one hour west) Posts: 2,751	There is a move to less LR? How do you say? I have 160# of LR in my 125. I know that is considered about normal, but deffinatly not "light". I just set it up a month ago too.

08/04/2006, 10:34 PM	#8
Bryan89 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Rockford, IL Posts: 914	If your only aim is to reduce nitrates, you 'could' setup a sulphur reactor. Properly setup, it will rapidly (w/in 4 weeks) reduce nitrates from your levels to zero. Are you intending on changing to a reef or just lowering the nitrates to minimize algae growth? Another option is a new Deltec reactor that uses vodka and a zeovit like media to convert nitrates to nitrogen gas. I imagine that would be very expensive, prices aren't even listed at Deltec USA yet. Last option would be a set of large (50%or more) and frequent water changes once a week for a few weeks to lower the nitrates to more manageable levels. Then just increase the peridoicity of your water changes and it should help to minimize the rise in Nitrates. This worked well for me in Hawaii with my fish only setup. HTH Bryan

08/04/2006, 11:04 PM	#9
MarineOne Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Fox Valley Posts: 144	what about chaeto?