Brioballs vs Live Rock Rubble

[FreDre]

It's my understanding that a lot of people replace the bioballs in the back chamber of their Bio cubes and replace it with live rock rubble...why is this? Wouldn't bioballs really do the same thing as live rock rubble...which is esbalish beneficial bacteria colonies??? What are the actual benefits to replacing the bio balls.

 

[sir_dudeguy]

No, bioballs do not do exactly the same thing. Like live rock, yes, they break down amonia to nitrite, and nitrite to nitrates...but thats it. Live rock can break nitrates down once more, but bioballs cannot, and they're just gonna build up. So really, they're just a nitrate factory, which isnt good in a reef tank.

If you've got over 15 pounds or so of live rock in your display (if this is your BC14 that we're talking about, that is) then you really dont need anything back there...rock rubble will help sure, but IMO its not really needed. Just dont use the bioballs...you'll get lots of nitrates eventually!

 

[seapug]

The way I understand it is if the live rock is submerged it basically becomes a mini refugium and will improve denitrification. Submerged bioballs will not become a site for denitrification (no anoxic pores). On the other hand, if water is allowed to "trickle" through it, live rock acts identically to bioballs.

 

[coast2coast7390]

i second seapug

 

[aznlmpulse]

I 3rd seapug

 

[Agu]

I don't want to attach frags to bioballs, it looks funny and kinda funky.


Live rock rubble looks more natural for mounting frags, and where else to keep it but in your tank and out of sight ?

Just a different take on the issue .............

 

[coast2coast7390]

haha thats a good point bioballs float...but it would look funny...