Blue Bio Balls

[Mike5252]

Can someone please tell me why using the bio balls in your sump is a bad idea? I've heard that several places.

I was think of adding this to my sump to assist with nitrate removal, however I've also been told it will have the reverse effect.

What should I do?

 

[Meisen]

lol is this post for real?

 

[Meisen]

Sorry saw the thing about blue balls and a very commonly asked/answered question, thought it was a joke.

Anyway, WELCOME TO RC!

Assuming it was a serious questions, yeah, aerobic bacteria breakdown nitrite to nitrate. Giving them a huge surface to do so on (bioballs) without a corresponding anerobic site will result in a build-up of nitrate. Enter the miracle of Protein Skimming! Protein skimming aims to remove these proteins before they can accumulate (as detritus and DOCs) and/or get broken down by said aerobic bacteria. When you run without bioballs, it eliminates a place for detritus to accumulate and become a so-called nitrate factory. Though if you have poor flow and dead spots in your tank or sump, the same basic thing will happen.

So most folks now run w/o bioballs for reef tanks. Some folks still run them and as long as you are aware of the detritus issue and do water changes, it can work.

 

[ConsultantERP]

This is an issue with ANY area of your tank that accumulates detritus. Its not the bio balls that cause the problem, its their ability to trap waste and the fact that most of the time they are the first thing in your sump that your tank overflows into. This could just as easily be live rock in the form or rubble, to replace bio balls. Filter socks have the same problem, the difference with filter socks is that they are eaisly change out, bio balls are not.

I just hate the term nitrate factory, if I did not have a nitrate factory I would only have nitrites. I believe what everyone is saying, is "Keep your tank clean, and don't let ditritus accumulate.

 

[Mike5252]

Thanks for the advice. I've always had a protein skimmer on my tanks, but have not used the 'bio balls'. The type of sump I was going to use/add has a place for filter media before the bio balls. Perhaps this will reduce the detritus on the bio balls, as the media would be changed/cleaned?

I've also noticed I posted this in an "advanced" forum. My apologies, it should probably been elsewhere.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[ConsultantERP]

If this is a reef tank then the bio balls do not add much to the system. Your live rock will do the job nicely. Also, when people say "Change your filter media often", many of them are saying daily. If your sump has an area between the drain line/skimmer area and the pump going back to the tank, then this area will act to trap waste, and will be easy to clean out, between and during water changes. I use a shop vac to do the water changes, sucks out the water, cleans the bottom, and is easy to dipose with litte mess. Oh yeah, I only use the shop vac for this purpose (important).

 

[tmz]

The bioballs are usually placed in a high flow area and are consequently exposed to water rich in oxygen. Great for bacteria that convert ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate. This is there purpose and works fine in freshwater where nitrate is not a s big a concern and nitrite is much more of a concern.
In a marine tank the nitrate produced moves in the water where it is taken up by nuisance algae before the skimmer or liverock or deep sand bed can deal with it or it's cause. High nitrate levels can also be harmfullto corals and other invertebrates.

Fortunately,there are bacteria that convert nitrate into free nitrogen but thery live in anoxic(oxygen poor zones).Deep in the sand bed or inside ther rock ,the water that reaches them has already had it's oxygen depleted by the other bacteria.

While detrius accumulations will make thesituation worse,even if clean bioballs or any other media in a fast flowing oxygen rich environment will use ammonia and nitrite and produce nitrate. The ammonia and nitrite used there would otherwise be consumed on the surface of the sand or live rock where it could be more easily processed by the anoxic bacteria.

 

[Mike5252]

Thanks for the explanations. Just FYI, this is on my 210gal FOWLR tank. Approx 150lbs live rock, 4in sand, sump is bare (except skimmer & heater).

It is an upgrade from my 125gal, as the residents were out growing their home. 2 puffers, 2 triggers, 1 tang. All about 3 years old and considered part of the family.

 

[tmz]

While excess nitrate is less of a concern in a FOWLR tankk than a reef tank,it can still fuel nuisance algael.