bio-balls or no bio-balls!

Hey, Newb. Bio balls and LR serve the same purpose--they're available surface area on which the necessary biological filtration (bacteria) can grow. If you have enough LR, then bioballs aren't necessary. "In the beginning," they were all the rage, as their unique design and shape/form allowed so much bacteria to inhabit a relatively small sphere. Turns out that they are high maintenance b/c if/when they get dirty with sediment, algae or detritus; they're nearly impossible to clean without removing the bacteria. As a result--they can end up being more problematic than they're worth.

As you've probably read, if you have enough live rock, bioballs aren't needed. This might be where your confusion lies. If you're going to go with a lot of LR, then your sump doesn't have to have any media on which bacteria can grow--so there's no "replacing" the bioballs with LR in the sump. The sump becomes a place where you simply keep your protein skimmer, phosphate reactor if you use one, and other mechanical filtration (filter socks, filter floss, etc). FWIW, the reactor and the mechanical filtration is optional, depending on if you're going to keep corals.

For now, I'd be pretty comfortable with stocking your display tank with lots and lots (and lots) of the porous rock that we refer to as live rock, and not bothering with the bioballs. It's not a bad idea to just buy dry "base rock" and it will become live rock in time. This method is much cheaper, and you don't have any chance of inheriting hitchhikers and/or other pests that can wreak havoc in your coral reef.

Good luck!

 

thank you.

 

I slowly got rid of my bioballs over a 4 week period. took out 25% each week, replaced with LR rumble in sump. I do run a foam filter in my drip tray to help keep LR rumble pieces clean.. its my only filter in system, and does collect alot of crap. so daily cleaning is required. chaeto/mangoves/no bioballs = lowest nitrates I had sinice 1998..

 

i got maybe 50lbs of live rock in my 75gallon tank i got bio balls filled up in the sump should i get rid of my bio balls?

 

Great post.

 

super great post.

 

you can if you want to.. if you dont have a nitrate problem, you can just leave them.. if you do have a nitrate problem and do routine cleaning, WC, etc.. and still have a problem.. the bioballs may be dirty.. either clean them in old tank water, or slowing remove them and replace with LR rubble.. also I would make sure your LR in your tank is at least 6 months old.. if not there may not have enough bacteria to handle your bioload without the bioballs down in the sump. so the answer lies with what you want to do..

 

Ok just to jump on this bandwagon, I have been buying supplies slowly to set up my tank salt when i move in 2 months. I have a 46 bow and I have 75 pounds of base rock plus 120 pounds of live sand. I am using a sump with bio balls for my current fresh water setuo. I have my heaters in the sump and am planning on putting the Protein Skimmer in the sump as well. Everyone is sudgesting dumping the bio balls if you have live rock/ live sand and a protein skimmer. I will have Live Sand and a protein skimmer, but no live rock all base rock. If i pull the bio balls out when i do set up salt, what do I have in the sump besides the heaters/ skimmer/ and return pump? Shouldent there be something in there to catch the big debris that gets sucked in by the overflow?

 

That's personal preference. Some folks use no mechanical filtration other than their protein skimmer. Personally, I use a filter sock. Some use filter floss, and again, some use nothing. That's another great debate. Many feel that suspended particulate in the tank contributes to coral health by acting as food. Some don't care for the "dirty" look it gives the tank.

I've done it both ways. My preference is definitely to use mechanical filtration in addition to my skimmer. If you go without mechanical filtration, you must be diligent about maintenance, especially siphoning out the detritus that's prone to become resident in your sump.

 

I'm a huge fan of low maintenance. Any bio balls or live rock rubble or filters in the sump have to be maintained. It collects crap. I use no filters at all and my water is perfectly clear. It is no big deal to siphon out the sump during water changes, and I only do that every couple of months. I used to run very fine filter floss and had to change it out every 3-4 days. After doing away with that the skimmer picks up 90%. I love low maintenance and low operating costs.