bio balls yes or no?

[The0wn4g3]

I'm sorry, but I cannot buy into the belief that bio-balls with increase nitrate levels in anyway if used properly. I perform maintenance on literally thousands of gallons of reef tanks and they ALL use bioballs and liverock (1-2lbs per gallon of premium figi). And I have never cleaned them. (it's been about 3 years)
The key is to use them properly. You can't expect to through some bio-balls into the sump and not do any maintenance for a month... You must keep clean mechanical filtration on top of the bio-balls.
I can't for certain say that a refugium would be better than bio-balls, but if you can I would use a refugium. I would NOT take the bio-balls out just to do it. That usually leaves a lot of empty sump space.
If you cannot change the bio-ball area into a refugium, the next best thing would be to hang, i believe they are called, micron bags. You HAVE to keep them cleaned though, if they backup water flow they WILL increase nitrates.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10496378#post10496378 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by The0wn4g3
I'm sorry, but I cannot buy into the belief that bio-balls with increase nitrate levels in anyway if used properly.

Whether or not you "buy into the belief", bio balls were originally designed to provide a large surface area in a (relatively) high flow area for aerobic bacteria to rapidly convert ammonia and nitrites to nitrates.
There's no debating this- research how bioballs function in a wet/dry biological filter.
If you're into aquarium maintenance this should be 'old hat'.
Growing macroalgae in a system filtered by bioballs can be useful because macroalgae utilize nitrates that accumulate to fuel their growth.

 

[The0wn4g3]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10496657#post10496657 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gary Majchrzak
Whether or not you "buy into the belief", bio balls were originally designed to provide a large surface area in a (relatively) high flow area for aerobic bacteria to rapidly convert ammonia and nitrites to nitrates.
There's no debating this- research how bioballs function in a wet/dry biological filter.
If you're into aquarium maintenance this should be 'old hat'.
Growing macroalgae in a system filtered by bioballs can be useful because macroalgae utilize nitrates that accumulate to fuel their growth.

Yea, sorry maybe I didn't make my post clear enough.
The nitrate is already in the tank, it was just converted from nitrite or ammonia. With that being said, the nitrate can be broken down via other methods such as live rock, macro algae, etc. That's the way I've always thought of it at least.

 

[ChrisKil]

I read a lot of different opinions on this when setting up my tank. There is no one answer to anything in this hobby. I ending up going with just live rock and sand.

 

[coast2coast7390]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10497221#post10497221 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ChrisKil
I read a lot of different opinions on this when setting up my tank. There is no one answer to anything in this hobby. I ending up going with just live rock and sand.

thats true too
there is no one way of setting up a tank...

 

[catfisher]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10482156#post10482156 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gary Majchrzak
What's not true-
the bioballs in your system aren't performing properly?
I don't think so.
You're nitrates are low because you have LIVEROCK in the system... and who knows how often you change your water......or if you're running a DSB or honkin' skimmer....

My main point was that Bio Balls are NOT a nitrate factory. I have 0 Nitrates in my tank. I have NEVER detected Nitrates. I do not have a DSB. I do a 10% water change once a week. I am running a Coralife Superskimmer. You would know that is you took the time to read my signature...

 

[seapug]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10487116#post10487116 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bertoni

Some people add bio-balls back into a tank to help deal with phosphate issues. The nitrate is consumed in a refugium, along with phosphate. [/B]

Hey Bertoni, can you please elaborate on the use of bio-balls to deal with phosphate? I've been removing bioballs from my tank and have noticed a huge increase in hair algae. This phosphate issue may be at play so I'm a little curious. Might be time to put them back. Thanks.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10661825#post10661825 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by catfisher
My main point was that Bio Balls are NOT a nitrate factory. I have 0 Nitrates in my tank. I have NEVER detected Nitrates. I do not have a DSB. I do a 10% water change once a week. I am running a Coralife Superskimmer

exactly my point.
What do you think happens to ammonia, nitrites and nitrates in between your 10% weekly water changes?

 

[bertoni]

Adding bio-balls to help with phosphate problems has been tried a number of times. The idea is that the bio-balls add nitrate to the water column, which can then feed macroalgae that would otherwise be nitrogen limited.

 

[stoneskid]

had bio balls in the sump for a few months, then switch to all LR. Everything is great now.