what's a bio ball mod?

[johnvu713]

been hearing about this and dont know what it does. Any link or instruction would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a bunch

 

[geo]

[moved]

 

[impur]

You use a bioball to turn a powerhead into a needlewheel usually for a skimmer. I did one, here are some pics

Modified venturi

Works!!

 

[baotchi]

I did that bioball mod also... Didn't work well. It couldn't stay balanced. I spent an entire night trying to make it work and I ended up giving up on it. It would rattle, make a loud noise, even completely stop... The MJ's impeller was never centered and secure. I'll try the fishline mod instead, looks way more stable and I saw some interesting results. HTH

 

[Runner]

I had a similar experience with the bioball mod. What is the fishline mod?

 

[impur]

Mine ran fine for about a month then started having the same probs you guys are stating. I changed impellers and it works fine again. I wonder how long it will last this time?

If i have the same problem i'll go with the fishingline mod too.

 

[baotchi]

Runner, search the DIY forum for the Maxi Jet Fishline Mod. I don't have the link handy and I'm at work now. It's way easier than the bioball thing and should hold pretty well. I will even do my version of this mod by adding a second run of fishline to the impeller...

 

[dhnguyen]

You guys would have better luck with the bio ball if you cut off the MJ impeller blades and glue the bio ball onto it permanently. Mine is totally quiet, balanced and has been running for about a year making tons of tiny bubbles.


D.

 

[impur]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6469756#post6469756 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dhnguyen
You guys would have better luck with the bio ball if you cut off the MJ impeller blades and glue the bio ball onto it permanently. Mine is totally quiet, balanced and has been running for about a year making tons of tiny bubbles.


D.

Good to know!! Thanks for the info.

 

[miatawnt2b]

has anyone seen the fishingline mod and the bioball mod side-by-side? Which is better?

-J

 

[dhnguyen]

I have not seen them side by side but by design and the physics of it all, the bio ball would generate more and finer bubbles than the fishline. Although the fishline mod would move more water than the bio ball though.

D.

 

[allstar.h2o]

This one is made froam a Lee's bioball. I snipped it down with nail clippers and super glued it to the shaft. Haven't tried the fishing line mod but this works well.

Those are older pics. I cut out some pins to make the needle density less dense, bubbles seem a little finer now.

 

[dhnguyen]

I used a Coralife bio ball which is by design less dense than the Lee's and that's exact how I did mine as well. Mine works like a champ.

D.

 

[baotchi]

I tried to chop the impeller's blades and to glue the ball, but it still didn't work as I intended... Maybe it depends of the type of bioball.

 

[dhnguyen]

got a photo of your bio ball?

 

[tabndust]

going to try this today

 

[johnvu713]

can i glue bio ball to a mag 7?

 

[dhnguyen]

I don't have a Mag 7 to compare but I would assume that if the diameter of the bio-ball is large enough to fit it, I don't see any reason why you couldn't.

D.

 

[baotchi]

I don't have a camera handy right now, so no pic of my bioball... I read that it doesn't fit a MAG7, didn't try it tho, didnt open my Mag up to look at the impeller either...

 

[mmoore0803]

What kind of glue did you all use....I tried superglue and something else (I'm not at home so don't know the brand)....neither worked though the superglue held for about a week....I was thinking of rigging some clip or rod to hold the needle wheel in place.....unless there is some ultra strong reef safe epoxy that will hold the bio ball wheel to the main impellar shaft (all fins were cut from the original shaft)