opinions

bundy13 · 12/13/2006, 11:40 PM

this is my filter for 135 ga.

would you take the bio balls out?

if yes what would be the best replacement

thanks ,tanks has been up for about a year

sir_dudeguy · 12/13/2006, 11:56 PM

well what type of tank is it? Is it a fish only tank? If so, then no. If it is a reef tank, then yes take them out IF youv'e got live rock. Bioballs arent gonna get you far in a reef tank most of the time.

And dont just yank em all out at once...do it slowly over time...like a handfull every week or so.

drummereef · 12/14/2006, 12:23 AM

That thing is sick! Who makes it?

popimp06 · 12/14/2006, 12:26 AM

that is one bad filter how much you pay and were did you get it
replace the bioballs with lil pieces of lr

sir_dudeguy · 12/14/2006, 12:28 AM

it almost looks like one of those things where they tried to make an "all-in-one" product, where they are usually not as good as buying everything seperate lol. But hell, if it works, it works!

drummereef · 12/14/2006, 12:29 AM

It's like something from the movie Tron.

JamesJR · 12/14/2006, 01:26 AM

If I am not mistaken, that looks like a german made filter from aqua-medic. I am pretty sure the Fuher would have been proud to know his country makes such fine filters.

troybob333 · 12/14/2006, 02:31 AM

The sad thing I would buy it just from how it looks.

jeffb3t · 12/14/2006, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by troybob333
The sad thing I would buy it just from how it looks.

That's because we will just mod it to make it work great... and still look good.

serpentman · 12/14/2006, 06:17 AM

That is an impressive looking piece of equipment. It looks especially ideal for anyone with a lack of space.

Oh, and yes, get the bioballs outta there.

Shagsbeard · 12/14/2006, 07:47 AM

Wonder if it makes coffee in the morning.

Looks great. Bio-balls are used to increase the aerobic space in your system, and live rock has quite a bit of aerobic space already. The bio-balls work great in systems that have plastic "furnature" rather than live rock, but in a live rock system they tend to over do it.

sir_dudeguy · 12/14/2006, 10:10 AM

the bad thing about the bioballs is that they cannot break down nitrates. Live rock breaks amonia to nitrite, nitrite to nitrate, and then it can break down nitrates even further (into a gas i believe, which then escapes the tank and into the atmosphere).

Bioballs can break down amonia to nitrite, and nitrite to nitrate....but then it stops there. Cant break down nitrates, so they just build up. Same with any other filter media that is meant to hold bacteria (so everything but stuff like carbon and whatnot)

bundy13 · 12/15/2006, 12:51 AM

right jamesr its german aquamedic reef 1000,about 1.500 us here in mx. it cost me 2.800 us since everything for my tank is almost double or more real expensive.

and like sir_dudeguy sayd i think from what ive learned here on RC that it would of have been better to buy everything seperate.

its for up to 260 ga. i have 135 ga tank 1 hp. chiller 2x250 mh 2x54 t5 acntincs

i dont know exactly how much lr. i have but its full of it

i was abandoned by the only aquarium company that was supposed to set up,stock,maintain ,everything but feed my tank ,they were doing a half assed job as i know know

they dissapeared overnight and they have me reading here on rc. till 3 4 in the morning trying to keep up and fix alot of their mistakes

i live in a small beach town in mexico so there are no lfs for many miles ,the few others that were left to take care of their tanks gave up ,

it is supposed to be a fish and coral ,i heve
1 emperor angel
1 yellow tang
1 powder blue tang
i naso tang
1 o. clown

some yellow star polyps, 1 toadstool leather thats not doing to good ,some candy cane trumpets that are looking better after some water paremeters adjustments,i made ,1 bubble tip anemone thats just hiding but it is alive and it might be recovering ,all fish are doing great their all nice and plump and seem very healthy corals are recoveryng but look better everyday the people that were maintaining were idiots and im doing better by myself ill post some pics tommorow,alot to learn all at once but its addicting as all you know,thaks for your help and time.

so i should replace the bioballs slowly with crushelrd .?
how ofted should i scrub them down or shoulD i?

bundy13 · 12/15/2006, 01:51 PM

what size pieces of LR should i use?

what other good choices do i have?

should i clean the LR once it has been in for a while ,thanks

12/13/2006, 11:40 PM	#1
bundy13 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 353	opinions this is my filter for 135 ga. would you take the bio balls out? if yes what would be the best replacement thanks ,tanks has been up for about a year

12/13/2006, 11:56 PM	#2
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	well what type of tank is it? Is it a fish only tank? If so, then no. If it is a reef tank, then yes take them out IF youv'e got live rock. Bioballs arent gonna get you far in a reef tank most of the time. And dont just yank em all out at once...do it slowly over time...like a handfull every week or so. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

12/14/2006, 12:23 AM	#3
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	That thing is sick! Who makes it? __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

12/14/2006, 12:26 AM	#4
popimp06 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: the hood Posts: 386	that is one bad filter how much you pay and were did you get it replace the bioballs with lil pieces of lr __________________ what it do Current Tank Info: 75 aga. 80lbs fiji live rock 45lbs live sand 3 t5s.

12/14/2006, 12:28 AM	#5
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	it almost looks like one of those things where they tried to make an "all-in-one" product, where they are usually not as good as buying everything seperate lol. But hell, if it works, it works! __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

12/14/2006, 12:29 AM	#6
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	It's like something from the movie Tron. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

12/14/2006, 01:26 AM	#7
JamesJR Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 2,733	If I am not mistaken, that looks like a german made filter from aqua-medic. I am pretty sure the Fuher would have been proud to know his country makes such fine filters. __________________ Just when I thought you couldn't be any dumber you go and do something like this....And totally redeem yourself! Current Tank Info: 20 gallon

12/14/2006, 02:31 AM	#8
troybob333 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: NE Indiana Posts: 50	The sad thing I would buy it just from how it looks.

12/14/2006, 06:17 AM	#10
serpentman part time superhero Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Deep in the Heart of the Snowbelt (NE OHIO) Posts: 5,698	That is an impressive looking piece of equipment. It looks especially ideal for anyone with a lack of space. Oh, and yes, get the bioballs outta there. __________________ BS in Marine Bio ('96), First SW tank in 1992. Current Tank(s) 300g SPS with 90g frag tank and 40 anemone tank - decommissioned 46g LPS/Softy Cube 300g FOWLR under construction - decommissioned

12/14/2006, 07:47 AM	#11
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	Wonder if it makes coffee in the morning. Looks great. Bio-balls are used to increase the aerobic space in your system, and live rock has quite a bit of aerobic space already. The bio-balls work great in systems that have plastic "furnature" rather than live rock, but in a live rock system they tend to over do it.

12/14/2006, 10:10 AM	#12
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	the bad thing about the bioballs is that they cannot break down nitrates. Live rock breaks amonia to nitrite, nitrite to nitrate, and then it can break down nitrates even further (into a gas i believe, which then escapes the tank and into the atmosphere). Bioballs can break down amonia to nitrite, and nitrite to nitrate....but then it stops there. Cant break down nitrates, so they just build up. Same with any other filter media that is meant to hold bacteria (so everything but stuff like carbon and whatnot) __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

12/15/2006, 12:51 AM	#13
bundy13 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 353	thanks for your time right jamesr its german aquamedic reef 1000,about 1.500 us here in mx. it cost me 2.800 us since everything for my tank is almost double or more real expensive. and like sir_dudeguy sayd i think from what ive learned here on RC that it would of have been better to buy everything seperate. its for up to 260 ga. i have 135 ga tank 1 hp. chiller 2x250 mh 2x54 t5 acntincs i dont know exactly how much lr. i have but its full of it i was abandoned by the only aquarium company that was supposed to set up,stock,maintain ,everything but feed my tank ,they were doing a half assed job as i know know they dissapeared overnight and they have me reading here on rc. till 3 4 in the morning trying to keep up and fix alot of their mistakes i live in a small beach town in mexico so there are no lfs for many miles ,the few others that were left to take care of their tanks gave up , it is supposed to be a fish and coral ,i heve 1 emperor angel 1 yellow tang 1 powder blue tang i naso tang 1 o. clown some yellow star polyps, 1 toadstool leather thats not doing to good ,some candy cane trumpets that are looking better after some water paremeters adjustments,i made ,1 bubble tip anemone thats just hiding but it is alive and it might be recovering ,all fish are doing great their all nice and plump and seem very healthy corals are recoveryng but look better everyday the people that were maintaining were idiots and im doing better by myself ill post some pics tommorow,alot to learn all at once but its addicting as all you know,thaks for your help and time. so i should replace the bioballs slowly with crushelrd .? how ofted should i scrub them down or shoulD i?

12/15/2006, 01:51 PM	#14
bundy13 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 353	thanks what size pieces of LR should i use? what other good choices do i have? should i clean the LR once it has been in for a while ,thanks