Bio Balls Question When You Remove Then?

[fasturtle30]

Im asking myself when you need and when you dont the bio balls over your Wet/dry? as u see on my equiptment, i have 45 LR cycling and also LS, even is im still cycling having bio balls affects the nitrates level actually? should i leave then til i cycle complete? should i remove some of them? i suppouse you can remove them when your tank is completely stablished and LR can be biological filter itself so you dont need bio balls, is that right? appreciate your comments

 

[drummereef]

If you bump up your live rock to at least 55lbs then I'd take them out. There is no need for them if you have enough live rock and it isn't going to hurt the cycle either way.

 

[fasturtle30]

thanks drum i should add 10 more pounds LR then and after that remove bio balls right? do you do that at once or lil by lil? any good formula to do it safe?

 

[drummereef]

Do you have any inhabitants in the tank or is it just cycling?

 

[fasturtle30]

i dont have anything yet but the LS n LR i expect to buy janitors and cleaning crew after i get my tank cycled, ive been cycling for about 2 weeks and a half til today here is my last test made today:

april 12th
S.G.= 1.025
ammonia=0.0
nitrite=0.50
nitrate=5.0

(I have the wet/dry full of bio balls now and skimmer working 24/7 as well)

 

[drummereef]

Ok, then you are fine to take the bio balls out now. Not going to hurt a thing. I'd get the rest of the live rock in there and finish the cycle, then add the cleanup crew. The extra live rock might add a little time onto the cycle but probably not much.

 

[fasturtle30]

mhh thanks drum for all this information, i guess i will do that and see what happen, of course i will let you informed about my progressing hey drum about the clean up crew ! how many of them you advice to put in the tank? and any special suggest? i wanted to add a abalone i heard they r good cleaners, but someone told me they are not to easy to keep alive is that true?

 

[drummereef]

I like nassarius and cerith snails for the sandbed and astrea/turbos for the glass. Just add a few of each at a time and see how it goes. You can always add more as the tank demands. Don't know much about the abalone, sorry. Just make sure to get all the live rock in first then let the tank fully cycle and you are good to go.

 

[fasturtle30]

thanks thats the crew i was thinking about ! i also wonder about the red legs? here is some info about abalone only is you just wonder http://www.petsolutions.com/Abalone+Racer-I-171000L-I-C-75-C-.aspx

and what about the empty space after i remove bio balls? should you i add live rock in there or is not part of cycling process? i guess when u got stablished tank and you have nitrates problems you should put Lr in there? thanks

 

[drummereef]

Thanks for the abalone info. I would just use the extra space for water volume. You could attempt to do a diy fuge in there, but might be a bit of work depending on the design of the wet/dry.

 

[fasturtle30]

i see a diy fuge huh ! here is my wet/dry i use anyways :
http://www.petpromenade.com/ProductDetail.jsp?LISTID=36670000-1083629054

i was wondering also i want a starfish those chosoship are good looking it would be ok if i add one or two after i cycled or i should add then later same day i add my fish?

 

[drummereef]

You might want to consider doing a diy sump/fuge anyway. That way you could upgrade the skimmer and customize it how you like. I don't recommend stars because they then to starve and die-off in home aquaria. Especially in smaller tanks.