bio balls yes or no?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10470816#post10470816 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by spongebob120
I removed my bioballs about a month ago and filled the empty chamber with a sponge as the water from chamber 1 of my biocube was making too much noise falling into the now empty chamber 2. my nitrate levels have since dropped from about 10 to 7.5 ppm.
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did you have mechanical filtration before the bioballs
 
bio balls

bio balls

I had done some research, i just wanted opionins on the issue since I am pretty new to the hobby
 
For all that suport the use of bio balls. Do you clean them and how ofter? I am in the middle of what to do here, because I have been using them and never cleaned them. I have not had any problems with nitrates, and everything is doing good. The reason I am confused is that everybody has told me that once I got some more rock to get rid of them, and that is now. So what is the Verdict ? Should they stay or should they go?

By the way the sump is an AGA megaflow #3 if the matters.

Here is a link to some pics of the tank.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1174642
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10470748#post10470748 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by A.T.T.R
they DO NOT ADD ANY EXTRA NITRATE they can not.. they can not make what isnt there.
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It's actually the bacteria on the surface of the biomedia that "adds" nitrates.
Why use bioballs as a surface area for aerobic bacteria to process ammonia and nitrites if they "can not make what isnt there" (ie: less harmful nitrates from more toxic ammonia).

One is not necessarily better off using bioballs in addition to live rock.
 
Again should they stay or should they go?

Please some one a strait answer of stay or go.

Lets make it a poll just type in stay or go!!!!!!!!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10470941#post10470941 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by shuturhole316tx
For all that suport the use of bio balls. Do you clean them and how ofter? I am in the middle of what to do here, because I have been using them and never cleaned them. I have not had any problems with nitrates, and everything is doing good. The reason I am confused is that everybody has told me that once I got some more rock to get rid of them, and that is now. So what is the Verdict ? Should they stay or should they go?

By the way the sump is an AGA megaflow #3 if the matters.

Here is a link to some pics of the tank.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1174642
Click to expand...

not supposed to clean them...but if they start to look like junk is being caught up in them...you can rinse them in a bucket of old tank water...but thats about it no scrubbing
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10471004#post10471004 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by shuturhole316tx
Again should they stay or should they go?

Please some one a strait answer of stay or go.

Lets make it a poll just type in stay or go!!!!!!!!
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I would never base your decision on a poll.
One thing that you must learn is that many know something but few know a little more.
Educate yourself and do a little more research.
After you learn the true function and limitations of bioballs in a wet/dry biological filter you can reach your own decision.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10471174#post10471174 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by coast2coast7390
i think they already did a poll a while back...and for the record most voted go/take them out...because of the ''nitrate factory'' belief
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coast- what function do you believe that bioballs perform in a wet/dry filter?
 
bio balls

bio balls

My understanding of what they do is to provide an oxegyn rich envioment to allow the growth of bacteria that break down amonia into nitrite and nitrite to nitrate
 
Great pics! By the way, I noticed one of those stick on thermometers. I hope you have another one as well

I would never base your decision on a poll.

I do have a digital thermometer.


I dont wont to base my decision on a poll, but I do wont to get as much input as posable. Thanks
 
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<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10471447#post10471447 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by shuturhole316tx
How do you do quotes?
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hit the quote button on the top right hand side of the post you want to quote
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10471499#post10471499 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by shuturhole316tx
Thanks, I looked all around but did not see that.
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you're welcome :D

One word of advice to those getting rid of their bioballs:
don't toss them into the garbage can. Clean 'em up and take 'em to your LFS for credit- there's bound to be others that will pay good money for the things.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10471248#post10471248 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gary Majchrzak
coast- what function do you believe that bioballs perform in a wet/dry filter?
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ok i guess thats true...let me ask you this what else are they supposed to do...they do their job...is it their fault they do it soooooo well
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10471548#post10471548 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by coast2coast7390
ok i guess thats true...let me ask you this what else are they supposed to do...they do their job...is it their fault they do it soooooo well
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it's no fault that bioballs quickly convert more toxic substances to less toxic substances (nitrates) because it's what they were designed to do.
Bioballs do not rid an aquarium of nitrates and that's the crux of the matter here.
I hope that I've helped someone here.
Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow :)
 
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