Opinions on bio-balls
- Thread starter Nu2SW
- Start date
snowroach
New member
Only on his Fish systems. He doesn't have any boi-balls on the coral system. The problem with them is they creat a lot of nitrates.
Live Rock basicly does the same thing filtration wise. Bio-Balls are more effective for a high bio-load such as systems with a lot of fish. Hense why John uses them in the fish systems. Best thing to do is get a good skimmer and a lot of live rock.
Live Rock basicly does the same thing filtration wise. Bio-Balls are more effective for a high bio-load such as systems with a lot of fish. Hense why John uses them in the fish systems. Best thing to do is get a good skimmer and a lot of live rock.
Justin74
New member
That sounds like plenty of rock for filtration,unless you wanted more to aquascape with.
The old rule was 1-2(generally 2)lbs of LR for every gallon in the system. This has been a recent topic of debate with some pros who now feel less is more. The problem being with especially "wall" like scapes that theres being more and more places for detritus and waste to settle in more available nooks and crannies which inturn defeat the purpose for the LR as main source of bio-filtration, and eventually become continually problematic unless these issues are addressed. I wish I could refer you to the article Im referring to,but cant remember off the top of my head, seems to me it was written by Eric Borneman, possibly in there new forum @MarineDepot, but dont quote me
-Justin
The old rule was 1-2(generally 2)lbs of LR for every gallon in the system. This has been a recent topic of debate with some pros who now feel less is more. The problem being with especially "wall" like scapes that theres being more and more places for detritus and waste to settle in more available nooks and crannies which inturn defeat the purpose for the LR as main source of bio-filtration, and eventually become continually problematic unless these issues are addressed. I wish I could refer you to the article Im referring to,but cant remember off the top of my head, seems to me it was written by Eric Borneman, possibly in there new forum @MarineDepot, but dont quote me
-Justin
dots
Premium Member
Bioballs and wet/dry systems in confuction with canisters are kinda reffered as "old ways" of doing things in a reef. These were the standard a few years ago, and some who started out with them, and are comfortable with these "tools" will swear by them. Hence a strong reaction to using them or not.
As the biology has been better understood, people have relized what is "really" going on with the bioballs/wet-dry/canisters and are getting away from them.
I currently see a trend of "less is more" with more natural filtration methods such as macro algae, and live rock only, supplemented with a filter sock to catch the large debris and polished with the skimmer. The same is tru with addivitves, that less is more and as clean, stable water that you can get with near salt water conditions is the best for "long term" success
We may even start to see other, more barren tanks with Bare-Bottom tanks getting heavily used in the SPS community, which could throw a loop into the DSB thought of tank stability.
We have to remember that this hobby is not set in stone and every day, week, month there are new discoveries that shake the very things we may "think" we understand.
On a side note, we need to take what others say as oponion, not gospel. Even mine for example!! I was in San Mateo a few weeks ago, and my friend was second guessing me and asking the LFS worker the same question. I nearly laughed when the guy said that the balls helped the ANaerobic bacteria breathe. Biology has been awhile, but I thougt anaerobic meant without air? Surely it was an honest mistake in nomenclature, but this guy is responsible for accurate and honest guidance. A mistake in aerobic versus anaerobic, makes me question if he knows what he is talking about in the first place or knows the difference between anerobic or aerobic bacteria. Examples of this are common, people tend to guess a little more than they understand. But do not admit that they are educated guesses rather than set in stone, which nothing here is.
A little off topic, but there but my point is that there are a lot of opinions out there that may all lead to the same place, make sure you double check someones "opinion" and form your own.
Sorry for the long post, I find some things are very debateable and one versus the other may not be "wrong", hence people still using them with success. For instance: this one or the t-5 versus MH debate on SPS. I'll get off my soapbox now, thanks.-Doug
P.S. I don't have bioballs..........the things are junk.:lolspin:
As the biology has been better understood, people have relized what is "really" going on with the bioballs/wet-dry/canisters and are getting away from them.
I currently see a trend of "less is more" with more natural filtration methods such as macro algae, and live rock only, supplemented with a filter sock to catch the large debris and polished with the skimmer. The same is tru with addivitves, that less is more and as clean, stable water that you can get with near salt water conditions is the best for "long term" success
We may even start to see other, more barren tanks with Bare-Bottom tanks getting heavily used in the SPS community, which could throw a loop into the DSB thought of tank stability.
We have to remember that this hobby is not set in stone and every day, week, month there are new discoveries that shake the very things we may "think" we understand.
On a side note, we need to take what others say as oponion, not gospel. Even mine for example!! I was in San Mateo a few weeks ago, and my friend was second guessing me and asking the LFS worker the same question. I nearly laughed when the guy said that the balls helped the ANaerobic bacteria breathe. Biology has been awhile, but I thougt anaerobic meant without air? Surely it was an honest mistake in nomenclature, but this guy is responsible for accurate and honest guidance. A mistake in aerobic versus anaerobic, makes me question if he knows what he is talking about in the first place or knows the difference between anerobic or aerobic bacteria. Examples of this are common, people tend to guess a little more than they understand. But do not admit that they are educated guesses rather than set in stone, which nothing here is.
A little off topic, but there but my point is that there are a lot of opinions out there that may all lead to the same place, make sure you double check someones "opinion" and form your own.
Sorry for the long post, I find some things are very debateable and one versus the other may not be "wrong", hence people still using them with success. For instance: this one or the t-5 versus MH debate on SPS. I'll get off my soapbox now, thanks.-Doug
P.S. I don't have bioballs..........the things are junk.:lolspin:
Nu2SW
New member
LOL thanks doug, Made me laugh a little... I just didnt see how a little plastic ball could do anything beneficial to a tank.
But exactly like you said, I wanted imput from other people to kinda form my own... So far, there not worth anything to me in my mind, I just dont see the use behind them.
But exactly like you said, I wanted imput from other people to kinda form my own... So far, there not worth anything to me in my mind, I just dont see the use behind them.
CaliforniaDreamer
Premium Member
Bio-Balls have a lot of room for nitrobacter and nitrosomonas bacteria to grow. The different forms of ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œbio-ballsââ"šÂ¬Ã‚ just provide a large surface area for them to grow. These bacteria are "Nitrifying" bacteria in that they convert ammonia (nitrosomonas) and nitrites (nitrobacter) to nitrites and nitrates. They do this in the presence of oxygen. The ANaerobic bacteria that sacramentodots is talking about provides for de-nitrification which changes nitrates to gaseous nitrogen thus removing from the tank. These bacteria cannot grow and live in areas of high oxygen. It is my understand that current theory is that if the nitrites and nitrates are produced very close to the anaerobic de-nitrifying bacteria it will be quickly converted to free nitrogen. This is able to happen in the live rock and deep substrate. There are many accounts written that document the reduction of high levels of nitrates by simply removing bio-balls from trickle filters assuming LR and Sand Bed.
hiepatitis
In Memoriam
I used to have a nitrate problem until I got rid of my bio-balls and replaced it with a refugium. Now it's almost untraceable
