To Bio Ball or Not To Bio Ball that is the question.

[saltybell]

I am currently running bio balls in my wet/dry sump. I have been told to take them out. Just trying to get some opinions. Who uses them who doesn't? I have a protien skimmer running and a refugium. Any advice?

 

[bc_slc]

Take them out, but slowly, a few a week so you don't make your nitrates/nitrites/ammonium spike.

Mat

 

[mmkeeper]

The reason for removing them is that they are wonderful place for nitrates to develop. If you have 0 nitrates then it would be a preventative measure, if you are measuring some nitrates that is the place I would look to change first.

 

[Krish]

I ran a wet/dry and evertually through frustration from algae and high nitrates, I converted into a sump and things have never been better since

 

[mfinn]

I would take them out as long as you have enough live rock to provide bio/filtration.

 

[Brenden]

I removed mine in 3 phases and put LR rubble in.

 

[ronj]

i agree.....they are not needed if you have live rock...they are only for your bacteria to grow on....live rock is all you need

 

[saltybell]

I have a 60 gallon tank and about 50lbs of live rock. So is that enough rock to remove the bio balls?

 

[Meche]

Would this advice also apply to "bio max" ceramic beads in my canister filter? I have no LR now but after the tank has been cycled, I will be adding some.

 

[mfinn]

I have a 60 gallon tank and about 50lbs of live rock. So is that enough rock to remove the bio balls?

That may work for a light bio load. Most recommend 1 to 1-1/2 lbs of rock per gallon of water. It also depends on the quality of live rock. Solid round chuncky boulder type of rock would require more rock, than rock that has alot of surface area to colonize bacteria.

 

[shallowreef]

Lose em' Convert that part of the sump into a fuge if you can.

 

[LakeEd]

Would this advice also apply to "bio max" ceramic beads in my canister filter? I have no LR now but after the tank has been cycled, I will be adding some.

Meche,

It depends on what type of tank you are hoping to have. If your plans are for a fish only, small bio-load (not many fish)... you MAY be okay with only a canister filter. If you were wanting to do more fish and corals... then Live Rock would be the way to go. Corals don't like higher nitr"A"te levels.

For a "Fish Only" system... the canister filters do well with the nitrogen cycle. They do leave you with Nitr"A"tes... which your fish can handle up to about the 50-ish level. From there, your weekly water changes help keep that under control.

Personally, the best bio-filtration we could use for our tanks is Live Rock. I wouldn't wait until your tank has cycled, but add the Live Rock now and remove the contents of that canister filter... so the Live Rock will cycle with your tank!

 

[aquaticImports]

I would also suggest taking them out . The bio in your live rock is all you need. Bio balls trap all kinds of particles that will effect your levels. I have four 125 plummed in one sump with no bio except the live rock .I have about 144 lbs.of live rock in each tank. That gives me pleanty of bio to support the system and the corals.