Bio Ball Question

[zero1870]

I was wondering if you ever have to change out the bio balls... if so, how often?

 

[lazypinoy]

usually u just rinse them off with old water changed water and not tap water because the chlorine kills the bacteria in it.

 

[copernicus45]

The main point of Bio balls is to build up benificial bacteria to aid in Biological filtration, you dont want to replace the balls unless you need to, you can fill up a bucket with tank water and swash them around in it to get any built up sand or fish poo off, but i wouldnt wash them with freshwater especialy not hot water, in fear of killing off the good bacteria

 

[cgrant]

also you shouldnt clean all the bio-balls at once, do ~1/4 of them during one of your water changes.
clean bioballs ~once a month.

 

[peckhead]

does stirring up the bio balls mess anything up?

 

[jktenpro]

Have you purchased a wet-dry yet? What type of set up do you have? Do you have filter floss above the bio-balls on a drip plate? I use 2 pieces of floss above mine and rinse them out every week with tap water. The bio-balls are over 1 1/2 years old and have not built up anything on them yet. My nitrate has never been beyond 3 and is usually 0. I replace the floss every 3 months or so. If the bio-balls do become dirty and you see an increase in nitrate then what was stated above is true. Rinse out about 1/4 of the bio-balls a week at a time with old tank water from a water change, but the bio-balls should not need to be replaced. Husbandry is the key.