Bio-Balls a necesity ??

I like szrazzt am only intrested in removing them for the space...I'm sure they have their purpose, but I was hoping that sufficient LR and a large Fuge will take the place of the balls. When you buy a sump ....( larger tanks ) most don't come with a fuge, but they do have bio-balls.... creating an area to grow benifical bacteria to assist in removal of the nitrates etc.......where a refrugium does the same, except with plants doing the removal.....and then you have the MUD to assist in replenishing the needed elements.

am i close ??

 

Like uncle Jed said about detrius settlement in the tank. I clean in and around all my rocks with the vaccum hose, so I dont get any problems. I still want to set up a fuge and frag tank.

 

you can get rid of the bio balls,
refurgium is more important

 

Amen..........I totally agree with Unclejed. The problem with this hobby is that many ppl hear something and continue to repeat the story. Truth be told, at least 50% of ppl who suggested to get ride of the BB probably dont even have any exp. with them. Theres nothing wrong with BB, I have had them all my "reefer" life(22 yrs) and still going strong. The best thing that anyone can do is to research any topic for themselves and make up your own mind. Luna

 

Well i did it, went ahead and removed the BB and moved the sump pump over the 10 inches where the BB where located...instantly the bubbles were gone ( water a little milky from the epoxy i guess but cleared up in aboiut 30 minutes ) ...and i have tons more room.

30 gallon fuge will be operation tomorrow and will tie it into the system. I will post updates if I see any chemistry changes in the next few days. I hoping the fuge will take the load the balls were meant to do and then some!

Thanks for the advice all !

 

You removed all of the bio balls in an established tank?!

 

Yes, my first thought also! It will probably cause a mini crash and/or cycle. Hope things work out but it will definitely shock the system.

 

Things have moved on in the 10 years since I was last in the hobby - but when I left
general opinion was - Bioballs - whilst offering a large surface area for the oxgyen loving bacteria - provided an unsuitable enviroment for anearobic ( dont want oxygen) bacteria - the later bacteria species being the ones that convert Nitrate to Nitrogen gas

my own experience - so Im not just knocking because others knocked

I had Bioballs - on a bare bottom tank system- with limited live rock - hence I had a very high nitrate reading 40ppm - my filter system was unbalanced - I took advice from a fellow UK reef expert - who told me to ditch 50% of my bioballs and do a 20% water change that day - and remove the other 50% and do another 20% water change the week after

result - Nitrate at less than 10ppm within 2 weeks of following his advice

in tanks with sumps - plenty of live rock - DSBS etc - then I can see that the bacteria balance would still be OK whilst using Bioballs - as you have an alternative area for the non oxygen consuming bacteria to live in

 

Bioballs? hmmmm. it really comes down to system design and what your housing (for animals) Bio balls are great and do an excellent job but very redundant in a reef tank where you would have liverock. if you want a reef display, you dont want them. If you are lacking space or if you have a fish only tank or a shark tank or any other system that is more for production then bio balls, kaldness media, or any man made nitrifying surface area, then they are an excellent way to manage your bio load, keep your system clean and also deal with medications and getting rid of medications because the are uniform in size shape and design. they definately have there place in the aquatic husbandry world just dont use them for every application.

by the way bioballs are GREAT for degassing if you have super saturated gasses....ooooh

 

40ppm isnt that high, now if you had over 100ppm then you would have a point. Your filtering system wasnt balanced b/c you had a bare-bottom, that wasnt helping you in any way. BB do a great job, the trick is, not to have that many. Luna