Bioball debate

I'm not interested in the filter setup but this is mind boggling

I've never understood this, they say they cause high nitrates but they're basicslly the same as live rock, right? They're porous and hold bacteria. So why do people frown upon them?

let's say you ran a 100 micron filter sock before the bioballs, that way little to no food would ever get stuck on them. What's the problem with these things? Similar if you didn't run a filter sock before them, live rock and bioballs could both hold detritus.

 

You're correct they both tend to accumulate detritus.

In my opinion if you have enough live rock within the display you need neither bio-balls nor live rock rubble.

Eventually even if you use a sock, detritus will build up, it just does.

I have tried both bio-balls and rubble and neither made any noticeable difference what so ever. I have never used them in a "wet-dry set up".

 

I'm sure they are effective and really...shouldn't be a nitrate factory if the bio load of that tank isn't too crazy. I personally have never even thought about using them because I've never had an issue with my bio-filter. BTW, bio-balls are great in a fish only tank w/out live rock because yes, they do the same thing.

 

Biofilm is not limited to Liverock/Bioballs.It can/does grow on any hard surfaces.The glass,overflow,decorations etc. You cannot stockpile bacteria.The population is food limited just like every other organism.Having more LR/bioballs will do nothing but catch more detritus.

 

So for us newbies who are working on a diy refugium/sump for a fowlr, what would you recommend? I was looking at the bioballs but because I already have live rock, I don't need bio filtration in the sump?

 

Correct, in my fuge I have a little rock and some caulerpa. That's it! Some people have a deep sand bed with rock and macro algae

 

Pros:

1) In a fish-only system without live rock, bio-balls provide a large surface area for nitrifying bacteria.

2) When used in a wet/dry trickle filter, the bacteria does not compete with livestock for oxygen, thereby allowing for a larger bio-load.

Cons:

1) As already mentioned, detritus will collect on them regardless, which in turn, increases nitrate production.

2) Maintenance must be done carefully so as not to disturb the bacterial colonies.

When used in the proper context, bio-balls can be a major asset to a system; otherwise, they're just something more to maintain unnecessarily.

 

I've never had a problem with detritus on bio-balls - I simply periodically cleaned the pre-filter on the drip tray. I think this is key.

 

Agreed. Most people will add some type of decoration whether its a FO tank or not and this allows alot of surface area and IME is usually sufficient as long as good maintenace and stocking levels are observed.
I actually have a small ammount of BB in my sump.They are in the first chamber and are vigorously tumbled by the inflow of water keeping detritus from forming on them.I am sure they are not needed in my system but whenever we disturb the tank i.e. move things around we are potentially causing the death of some of these bacteria.When that happens it is totally conceivable that you could have alot of bacteria populate where it is less likely disturbed. BB in the sump.We also know that different bacteria grow in different parts of the system.(aerobic/anaerobic zones) Bio balls are not the enemy IMO as they are sometimes portaryed.They can be your friend if used properly.
Even dead decorations in a FO tank become live in a saltwater system.It's majic!!!!LOL

 

A big reason bio balls are NO3 factories is they are so efficient at converting ammonia to nitrates, but unlike live rock they produce too much oxygen to convert the nitrates to nitrogen gas. This is done in low oxygen areas of liverock by anaerobic bacteria