Bio balls or no bio balls

[Marinworld]

must disagree with your idea that bio-balls are no good for a reef tank, but good for a fish tank.
Since the bio-balls do a good job of ammonia and nitrite conversion, it is just a matter of keeping them free of debris, since the live rock will handle the nitrate.

Why not simply prefilter the water before reaching the bio-ball chamber. You can still have a refugium in the line of return as well. I've installed many systems, and have no problems.

MO only, and this comes from doing this on a commercial basis. Not just with one system.

Good Luck,
Don

 

[Uncle Salty 05]

Bio-balls are too efficient at ammonia and nitrite conversion.
Depending on the bio load of the tank the live rock can't always keep up with the nitrate produced by the bio-balls.
How many of the systems you have installed consistently have an undetectable nitrate reading?

 

[b_s_c1]

My nitrates have always been near zero. I have not kept a heavy load and done water changes evey 3 to 4 weeks. Just four fish and a few corals have been the only thing in the tank for over a year now. I have seen all the pics posted of different coral tanks and decided I wanted one like that. That is the reason for all the questions. When the last of the bio balls have been removed I added 20 more lbs of live sand in the display tank. Since then I have been getting a dark green waste in my skimmer instead of the dark brown I have been getting. Any idea of why the change in color?

 

[Uncle Salty 05]

Could be something in the sand, hard to say.
The fact that your skimmer is pulling it out is good.
You might want to skim a little wet for a few days.
Do you still have the four small fish?

 

[b_s_c1]

I have all four fish and do not plan on getting rid of them. They are all reef safe.

I been skimming real wet for a week with one water change this weekend and no change in color. Not really worried about it because all water test are good and everything is healthy. I was just wondering what it might be.

 

[Marinworld]

Uncle Salty 05,

Your remark about Bio-balls being too efficient at removing ammonia and nitrite is very bewildering. I find nothing wrong with using whatever method that is "too efficient".

The systems that I have running don't have any problem with high nitrate levels. If the Live Rock cannot keep up with the conversion rate of the bio-balls, then you either have some BAD Live Rock, or your system or maintenance procedures are flawed in some way.

I have NEVER installed a system using bio-balls that create this scenario. If nitrates are/do accumulate, generally they can be traced back to the maintenance procedures of the hobbyist.
Overfeeding, little or no servicing of prefilters, poorly adjusted protein skimmer, little or no water changes, bad test kits, poor water flow, etc., etc.

More often than not correcting the above pops the system back to health. And NO nitrate. This goes for Nano Cubes to 1,000 gallon displays.

Your thoughts and opinion are interesting, and I challenge it, not to be rude, but as healthy debate, which is good for all of us. That's what is so exciting about this hobby!!!

Regards,
Don

 

[b_s_c1]

I plan on keeping a close watch on the water quality over the next few months with no change to maintenance habits, or the bio load.

I agree with you Marinworld about the bio balls. That is why I could not understand why nobody with reef tanks were using them. The only thing I could think is that my bio load was so small that the lr was able to keep up with the nitrate.

I wanted what was best for a reef tank with a few fish. Adding to the bio load I could see were I might run into a problem with the balls.

Uncle Salty and a few other members made some very good points.

I will keep an eye on it and see if the S/R/R works for me.

My next project is to redo the lighting, so it will be some time before I start adding more coral.

 

[Uncle Salty 05]

Could be a small algae bloom from the nutrients in the live sand?
Just a guess though.

 

[b_s_c1]

I must have over looked a post because it would have brought up this question sooner.

Can someone please explain the use of vodka in an aquarium?