removing bio balls and putting in base rock o.k. ?

[charles6299]

i took out the bio balls and put in small pieces of base rock.....will this help buffer the water ?........will the rock eventually become live ? .........will this still produce nitrates ? ...does this help w/ PH ?

 

[ej1698]

Awesome setup, I didn't but any bio balls in from the get go [advice from bob fenner - wwm ] and my nitrates are at 10 [day 23] , rock stays live {use a light on it..but you don't have to ] my Ph steady at 8.2

Goodluck & looks great

EJ

 

[doody]

I don't think many people use any rock in place of bio balls as the rock might trap detrious there.

 

[syndrome]

I want to remove my bio balls and put in lr. I want to fill it with lr up to about half waf way , would this work more then the bio balls.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a37/chrispoop/P1010013.jpg

 

[So Cal shaggy]

most reefers would rather use live rock pieces or rubble in place of bio balls it gives them more surface area and also helps keep PH stable keep good flow going over it and detritus should not be a big problem. I have base rock pieces in my overflow and to make sure there is no buildup of detritus every 6 months I take it out and give it a wash in a bucket of water the flow in my overflow is enough that there is not a problem but I always want to be sure

 

[doody]

Maybe I should ask what corals you plan to keep? If you wanna keep SPS, you probably don't want any rock in there that might trap detrious. If softies/lps, you'd probably be fine.

 

[syndrome]

no corals its a fowlr

 

[M. Python]

Itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s better to use all the live rock in the display. You donââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t want a wet dry or bio balls. Actually bio balls have more surface area then the rock but this is unnecessary if you have enough live rock in the tank to support your system. Bio balls exposed to the air, as in a wet dry is what you donââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢t want. I would rather see you use your sump as a refugium, it would be the better set up by far.

 

[DesertBandits]

The rock is good cause it can become a spot for sponge and little tubeworms. Natural filtration. If you can get 1 little piece of lr (yours was dead right?) you can get your sponge/ tubeworm filter started up.

 

[charles6299]

i agree.....it can only better the water quality and help buffer....

 

[ej1698]

Hey,

here's a picture of my sump / set up with live rock. I use a light on it as well.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h68/Bueller427/P3030017.jpg