Bio Balls

[VahanM]

I have a wet/dry filter with bio balls. Do I have to clean the bio balls? If so, how should I do it and how often?

 

[Savas]

No, do not clean the balls as long as you have a pre-filter prior to the bioballs.

 

[XSiVE]

If you want to keep nitrates from building up too high, you can clean 10% of them or so with each weekly water change.

 

[Carlos]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10402903#post10402903 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by XSiVE
If you want to keep nitrates from building up too high, you can clean 10% of them or so with each weekly water change.

I would be more concerned about making sure that sponges and pads are clean and kept clean on a regular basis. That is where most of your nitrates will come from.

Bioballs are supposed to be media that harvests the bacteria that will turn ammonia into nitrites and then nitrates. I would not clean them unless you really see some detritus. Maybe take them out and rinse them with salt water to remove some of the big detritus particles but that is about it.

Carlos

 

[Savas]

I would agree with that, but no more than 10%.

 

[Savas]

I also removed my bioballs and replaced them with live rock rubble. I had readings of 0.0 for the major items, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, etc.. and those readings remain unchanged.

When I pulled the bioballs, I poured a good dose of Cycle on the live rock to help seed it.

 

[VahanM]

I have one of those sponge pads that the water goes over before going into the bio balls and I change that every 2 weeks with a water change so I'll just leave the balls alone.

Thanks guys.