Well i see that almost everyone on this forum really dislikes Bio Balls and from what i can see becuase of Nitrate build up. The thing is i have a 29Bio Cube and i still have the stock setup with the Bio Balls in the second Chamber. ( My first tank and was new to the hobby so i didn't even know about fuges's or skimmers ) I was thinking about slowly removing the Bio Balls and making a ruge in the second chamber and adding a skimmer, but then i thought why fix something if it aint broken. My tank has been set up for about 6 1/2 months and all my tests have zero amonia, nitrite, and nitrate, my water is clear, and all my life stock is happy and growing. So my question is, are bio balls really all that bad seeing as that my tank is doing so good, or will eventually over time this start to go downhill and a fuge and or skimmer necessary for my tank?
Are Bio Balls really THAT bad?
- Thread starter Pandomime
- Start date
The reason they're generally not suggested is because they tend to build up detritus and then they become nitrate factories, because all the detritus and the aerobic bacteria breaking it down start to create lots and lots of nitrate until the bioballs are cleaned, then you run into issues of the sudden lack of a nitrate producing area if/when you clean the bioballs, and you can get nitrite/ammonia spikes. It's just a big hassle if you don't keep them clean by cleaning a few at a time.
10% at a time, whether cleaning or removing, it has the same effect on the biological filtration of the tank one way or another. Granted, I did 100% out of my tank all at once, but that was when my tank was young and I didn't really have much in it anyway. Still you'll be within a very very safe margin if you just do 10% of the bioballs at a time.
Meh. at your convenience. Maybe at water change. You can actually clean them without disturbing the bacteria on them by just rinsing them in the SW from your water changes. Then you could clean them all without worrying about any spikes in your levels.
The problem with smaller tanks like that is that parameters change so quickly that it's really hard to create a stable environment. I say get rid of the bioballs all together, 10% at a time, so you don't have to worry about cleaning them and such.
I know if it ain't broke don't fix it, but I doubt they're creating much more of a positive impact than your LR is, so they're more or less unnecessary.
The problem with smaller tanks like that is that parameters change so quickly that it's really hard to create a stable environment. I say get rid of the bioballs all together, 10% at a time, so you don't have to worry about cleaning them and such.
I know if it ain't broke don't fix it, but I doubt they're creating much more of a positive impact than your LR is, so they're more or less unnecessary.
Billybeau1
Premium Member
I still have bio-balls and what I do is cut a piece of bonded filter pad and lay it on top of the bio-ball chamber. This traps any junk that gets past the filter and keeps the bio-balls doing what they are suppose to do. De-nitrification.
I change the filter pad about every three months.
I change the filter pad about every three months.
bocareefguy
New member
What do you replace the bioballs with? LR frags?
Don't need to replace them with anything as long as your tank has LR in it already. LR does the job, but the more LR, the more filtration. That's why people suggest to use LR rubble. You just have to becareful if its in a tight spot without a lot of flow, because detritus will settle under and around the live rock rubble, and give you the same nitrate problems.
bocareefguy
New member
I've got close to 30 lbs of LR in a 29 biocube. I've got lots of brown crap in my chambers (is that the detritus?), but my levels are all in check - no amonia, trites, trates.
tperk9784
New member
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10115057#post10115057 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Billybeau1
I still have bio-balls and what I do is cut a piece of bonded filter pad and lay it on top of the bio-ball chamber. This traps any junk that gets past the filter and keeps the bio-balls doing what they are suppose to do. De-nitrification.
I change the filter pad about every three months.
Even with a filter pad Bio balls still release Nitrates into the water column, something we don't want to happen. Which is where nitrate factory came from.
The term nitrate factory is a huge misnomer IMO. People make it sound like bio balls manufacture nitrates out of thin air.
chrisaggie
Premium Member
Nitrate will be produced no mater what media is used (including live rock). Bio balls do not create excess nitrate. Bio balls have gotten the term "nitrate factory" because if detritus, organic mater, food, etc is trapped in them this matter will create more nitrate than if this matter was filtered out other way and removed from the aquarium. Bio balls serve no purpose in a reef tank, but are not bad as long as they can be kept clean (which in many cases does not happen).
Gary Majchrzak
Team RC
Lots of bad info here.
Bioballs produce nitrates whether they're clean or dirty because that's what they were designed to do.
Bioballs are used in a wet/dry filter to quickly and efficiently reduce ammonia and nitrites to (less harmful) nitrates- thus the reason they are dubbed "nitrate factories". Bioballs provide a surface for aerobic ("oxygen loving") bacteria.
Anaerobic "oxygen hating" bacteria are found in DSB's and live rock.
Anaerobic bacteria degas nitrates- that's one of the main reasons people use live rock and deep sand beds in aquariums.
chrisaggie
Premium Member
Gary, what do you think the bad info was?
I agree 100% with your statement but don't see the dispute.
I agree 100% with your statement but don't see the dispute.
