Canister filter to clean out my bio balls?

[ken2588]

Hey guys,
My nitrate levels are extraordinary high in my 250 gallon saltwater tank. I was thinking of buying a canister filter just to rinse out the bioballs in my sump and doing water changes more often? or how do people usually do this?
I plan to make this tank a reef tank eventually. and I noticed that my sump has two different batches of bio balls, and a protein skimmer. Is it good to have bio balls in your sump if you're going reef? Or would it be better to remove them slowly and change it into some other substrate? Thanks for any help or advice. I just got into the hobby when my brother left the tank for me to take care of.

 

[acrylic51]

You say your nitrates are high??? What levels are we talking? Water changes are a big key to the solution or I should say regular maintenance on any type of filtration system you might choose to run. What you could do is prepare to do a water change and save some of the water you drain from the tank and remove a portion small amount and discard them. The remaining bioballs you can rinse in the water you drained from the tank to remove any debris that might have settled on them. IMHO I don't believe that by going to a canister filter will negate your issues with nitrates. Again will require diligent effort to keep the canister clean as well. Constantly running water through decaying matter will ultimately lead to this issue. Again water changes are key. They don't need to be massive, but consistent IMO.
Bio balls are a debateable topic and always will be. I can't say there is a good concise answer to that question. What works for one might not work for another....Just to many variables to say. Most do not run bio balls in their sumps just for the mere fact they do collect debris over time. Even running something as simple as filter socks collect large particulates, and they need to be changed out everyday or other day to keep levels down, so there really isn't a simple cure all for maintenance. I am suggesting you remove the bio balls slowly!!!!!!
Any pics of the setup? Should have said it earlier in the post, but WELCOME!!!!!!

 

[flower]

Welcome to the site!
Get some stockings and fill them with your bio balls, that way you can rinse them in saltwater, keeping the good bacteria and still rinse the solid yuck off. Adding some Macroalgae will eat nitrates and phosphates.

 

[ken2588]

wow thanks guy for the quick reply, i'll take a picture of the set up and post it soon!

 

[ken2588]

Here is my set up. Can someone tell me if its set up correctly? and if the lights would work well for a reef tank? Thanks.
My questions are, is it okay to have that opening gap that was supposed to separate the bioballs and the return pump and skimmer?
What type of lights do i have? are they t5? Mh?
What type of problems will i face with the current setup? What can i do to improve it if I want to eventually get into a reef tank and have montiporas, hard and soft corals, etc.?
Thanks for any advice, I've been doing alot of research, and they all say different things, I'm just trying to get more info.

 

[ken2588]

Here are two more pics of the sump.

 

[beaslbob]

You have measurable (let alone high) nitrates only because you nitrate consumers have not kept up with the nitrate producers.
I would add macro algaes (like chaetomorphia) to you system to consume the nitrates.
A good place to do that IMHO would be replace the bio balls with macro algaes and turn that area into a refugium.
my .02

 

[ken2588]

Hey thanks for the advice. But how do I come about doing that change to a refugium? Should I remove one of the drain lines and bio ball section and just add chaeto in there? and would I need a lamp underneath as well?

 

[beaslbob]

Originally Posted by ken2588
http:///forum/post/3279856
Hey thanks for the advice. But how do I come about doing that change to a refugium? Should I remove one of the drain lines and bio ball section and just add chaeto in there? and would I need a lamp underneath as well?
I can't really see everything in the pictures and am not familiar with that particular sump.
If you have two bio ball sections I would remove the bio balls from one and add the chaeto and add a light. Just to see how it works.
For the light a 6500k ~15w pig tail light from wall mart in a round clip on spot type reflector would do. It if would fit between the top of the stand and the sump.
I noticed the balls are on some kind of ledge and there appears to be a water level higher than the balls. If that is the case then you should be able to just put the macros in there and the chaeto would break up the bubbles much the same as the bio balls would.
I also noticed there appears to be a space below the wall between the bio ball section and the sump/pump section. That may cause some problems keeping the water level high in the refugium section. Most refugiums have baffles down to the bottom so the water flows in, down then back up and over the baffle before the sump section.
You may also want to add a sponge filter to the pump intake if it does not have one already. To prevent macros from entering the pump.
Perhaps others familiar with that particular design can help.
But I encourage you to look at your sump and just make changes. It's not all that critical. The important thing is to get the chaeto or other macros thriving. After that I think you will find some surprising results.
my .02

 

[ken2588]

thanks for the great advice beaslebob! i've already taken out a portion of the bio balls and i think im gonna put some baffles on .

 

[jstdv8]

BTW the light you are showing in the pics is a compact flourecent