bio balls to base rock

[ekclark]

My system has been up for about a year now and I am tired of my trates going up because of the wet dry. I was thinking of changing it over and putting some baserock in the sump, that I assume would become live in time. Will this help? The water moves at about 500 gph in there, give or take, but could life take hold on some rock? It would be in the trickle part. Should I remove the bio balls a few at a time or will it be okay to move it along a little quicker (like two weeks) Thanks for any advice.

 

[thomas712]

Originally posted by ekclark
I am tired of my trates going up because of the wet dry.
What makes you believe it is your wet dry causing the nitrates?
If your going to remove your bio balls I would only do a couple of handfuls a week.
Have you ever cleaned some of your bio balls?
Is there a pre filter and do you keep that clean?
If you are going to replace them with base rock what makes you think you won't have to clean the rocks? They will just get dirty too, and they won't do as good a job as the bio balls on oxygen or as a bacteria base.
Thomas

 

[reefnut]

From what I understand wet/ dry filters can become nitrate producers because debris gets caught and decomposes. If you replace them with base rock the rock could do the same thing. IMO, if you plan to remove the bio-ball remove the trickle part all together. Does your main tank have enough live rock to support your bio-load? If so then a wet/ dry is unnecessary. Remove the bio-balls slooooowly...

 

[jonthefb]

i know this thread is old, but wet dry;s do work and they work well, but you too have to WORK at keeping theri performacne optimal....this means celaning out a third of the bio balls in SALTWATER (cant stress this enough) and replacing them at least once a month....if this is done properly a wet dry will function properly and you shouldnt have any problems!
good luck
jon

 

[iluvfish]

Thanks guys! Yes - this answers my questions. Now I feel better about the wet/dry all together!

 

[garycarr]

Johnthefb, you say that the bioballs need to be replaced once a month. You mean thrown away and new ones added? I have never done this. I have cleaned a handful of mine every few months.

 

[iluvfish]

One more ? - I know that bioballs harbor beneficial aerobic bacteria and other great things - how long does that take to build up.
I've only had mine set up for about a month, so when should I start cleaning the bioballs? I don't want to get rid of the beneficial stuff before it starts! Thanks again!!!

 

[jonthefb]

thanks kip!
yeah i meant to clean them out by giving them a rinse in sw and then replacing them, not throwing them away completely......
iluvfish, it takes about 6weeks to 1 month to develop the bacteria needed to support your tank....i would wait however until about three months after the tanks been up, and then take out maybe 1/6th of the balls and clen them out.....then gradually work up to 1/3 as your tank progresses!
good luck
jon
p.s i asked you in another thread, but where in colorado are you located at?
good luck
jon