coral or bio balls?

[big slick]

Newbie guy here, but thought I'd throw this one out there for whoever....
I just made the switch from fresh to salt about a month ago. Got a 125gal reef ready, and had a sump built by my LFS. Put 40lbs of Fiji LR in with 20 lbs of lace. I am running my sump with 1. hard coral 2. a rolled piece of sponge filter as my mechanical 3. water then rolls over miracle mud with seaweed/I can't remember the term 4. into the pump chamber
I have 35lbs of live sand sitting under 50lbs of fine crushed argonite. I test my water every other day, and think I am just about through my cycle as I have two blue/green chromis and a couple of clarkis. If you were me, looking long term at building my reef tank, would you swap out the hard coral in the sump for bio balls? Or do you stick with the coral and the PH benefits???

 

[mburnickas]

First I would not have used fish for a cycle but whatever. You did not need the mud either but not a big deal. I like bio balls since it adds more O2 then anything out there. Just keep them clean. I use a u-tube with a pre-filter and yet another pre-filter before my wet/dry. I use Kents Superbuffer-dKH and it keeps the Ph at 8.2 with a small delta.
Lastly, do you want a DSB or not. Just asking since I have over 200lbs of Southdown in my little 75.
There are MANY ways to do the filter process. Mine is one of thousands. Do a search and it will keep you reading for days. I read as much as I can since these people are fish gods on this board and know a great deal.

 

[eg_hatch]

For long term, the natural method is the best, a deep sand bed(no less than 3 inches), a refugium(it houses macroalgaes and will bring your phosphate, nitrates, nitrite levels down), and plenty of live rock with water flowing through it. Porous and light pieces are the best.

 

[dreeves]

If you have 5 people..you will generally have 5 opinions on bio-balls...
Bio-balls are simply a way to increae the biological capabilities of a given setup...the increased area of each ball allows for a far greater growth of bacteria to process the amonia and nitrite...alot of people will discourage the use of the balls based on their ill thought claims of their being nitrate factories...bio-balls, like any filtration needs to be cleaned...during water changes...just dip the balls in the saltwater you are about to dump out...stir them around and put them back...
As far as swapping the coral out for them...I think you are referring to a coral skelton??? If this is the case...then leave there as well...the pores will have to be rinsed out on that as well...same way as with the balls.

 

[msd2]

Originally posted by dreeves
If you have 5 people..you will generally have 5 opinions on bio-balls...
Bio-balls are simply a way to increae the biological capabilities of a given setup...the increased area of each ball allows for a far greater growth of bacteria to process the amonia and nitrite...alot of people will discourage the use of the balls based on their ill thought claims of their being nitrate factories...bio-balls, like any filtration needs to be cleaned...during water changes...just dip the balls in the saltwater you are about to dump out...stir them around and put them back...
As far as swapping the coral out for them...I think you are referring to a coral skelton??? If this is the case...then leave there as well...the pores will have to be rinsed out on that as well...same way as with the balls.
very true about opinions on the bio balls. Id say if ur diligent in washing ur balls then sure use em. But if u get lazy at times and let ur balls slide then ur gonna have a mess :nope: and nobody likes messy balls. Im lazy myself and got a nice nitrate spike so be honest w/yourself

 

[dburr]

Id say if ur diligent in washing ur balls then sure use em. But if u get lazy at times and let ur balls slide then ur gonna have a mess and nobody likes messy balls.

 

[thomas712]

It comes down to this, where do you want your bacteria to grow? Personally I use bio balls, but in a system as large as yours you can have the bacteria culturing on them or you can have them growing naturally on the sand and rocks in the tank where many approve of the natural way with them growing on the sand and rocks.
I like the breakdown of the ammonia and nitrites that my bio balls take care of, I like the fact that it is supplying oxygen to the system, I prefer my bacteria growing on those balls and processing my water. Still the bacteria covers everything in the tank.
For the most part I agree with Dreeves post
If I could I would attach a large fuge to my tank and then take out the bio balls.
Thomas

 

[big slick]

Thank you to all who replied. And yes, I meant to say coral skeleton before.......Hey, how do I post pictures on here with my dig camera?
Like I said before, newbie.
PS. How do you all feel about miracle Mudd? Some seem to swear by it, and others are totally against it. I went with it, and am happy so far. Any thoughts?