lr @ bioballs???
- Thread starter new-guy
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al mc
Active Member
Yes. Many people do replace the bioballs with LR. I use rock rubble as it increases the surface area of rock/bacteria exposed to the water. If your system has been running for some time I would do it gradually. Example: replace 1/4 of the bioballs with a similar amount of LR every 4-5 days.
There is much debate about it, but my personal experience and that of others, is that bioballs are 'nitrate factories'. They are great at helping reduce ammonia ands nitrites, but seem to get 'dirty' over time and start throwing off nitrates. The people who do use the bioballs gently clean a portion of them weekly to try to keep the nitrates down.
There is much debate about it, but my personal experience and that of others, is that bioballs are 'nitrate factories'. They are great at helping reduce ammonia ands nitrites, but seem to get 'dirty' over time and start throwing off nitrates. The people who do use the bioballs gently clean a portion of them weekly to try to keep the nitrates down.
hefner413
Active Member
My mind isn't made up on this topic yet.... it just seems to me that bioballs and live rock would have little difference in a sump... beneficial bacteria would grow on either surface, it seems. And people say that bioballs are nitrate factories due to buildup of waste on them - so why wouldn't a pile of LR have the waste buildup just the same causing increased nitrate production?
acrylic51
Active Member
I'm on the fence with the issue as well.....I don't understand why "rubble" or LR wouldn't collect the same detrius as bioballs.....I've used bioballs on a previous setup, and did clean them from time to time with no ill affects. With that in mind....Most wet/dry systems have some type of prefilter before the water actually gets to th bioballs, and that is where most detrius is caught......
I prefer not to run either, and use filter socks, but they have to be changed out every 2 days IMO.
I prefer not to run either, and use filter socks, but they have to be changed out every 2 days IMO.
al mc
Active Member
My experience is different. My nitrates were always a problem in my fisrt tank that had a wet dry with bioballs until I changes out the bioballs for LR rubble. Nothing scientific, just personal experience. However, I do admit that maybe the nitrates just went down because I removed 'dirty' bioballs and my tank may have just been maturing.
hefner413
Active Member
Originally Posted by acrylic51
http:///forum/post/2487084
I'm on the fence with the issue as well.....I don't understand why "rubble" or LR wouldn't collect the same detrius as bioballs.....I've used bioballs on a previous setup, and did clean them from time to time with no ill affects. With that in mind....Most wet/dry systems have some type of prefilter before the water actually gets to th bioballs, and that is where most detrius is caught......
I prefer not to run either, and use filter socks, but they have to be changed out every 2 days IMO.
good point acrylic - I do think that the prefilter is the issue a lot of times, and that the bioballs get blamed for the nitrates when it's a dirty prefilter problem.
http:///forum/post/2487084
I'm on the fence with the issue as well.....I don't understand why "rubble" or LR wouldn't collect the same detrius as bioballs.....I've used bioballs on a previous setup, and did clean them from time to time with no ill affects. With that in mind....Most wet/dry systems have some type of prefilter before the water actually gets to th bioballs, and that is where most detrius is caught......
I prefer not to run either, and use filter socks, but they have to be changed out every 2 days IMO.
good point acrylic - I do think that the prefilter is the issue a lot of times, and that the bioballs get blamed for the nitrates when it's a dirty prefilter problem.
hefner413
Active Member
Originally Posted by spanko
http:///forum/post/2487120
My opinion is take out the bio balls and replace with a clump of chaetomorpha with a good 6700k light over it and run the light 247 for nutrient uptake and export. Get the nutrients befroe they become nitrate.
hmmm... now that's an idea..
I'm still trying to decide what to do with the 180 I'm setting up.. so glad to get some ideas. I've only got a cannister on my 55, so no personal experience with a sump at all yet.
http:///forum/post/2487120
My opinion is take out the bio balls and replace with a clump of chaetomorpha with a good 6700k light over it and run the light 247 for nutrient uptake and export. Get the nutrients befroe they become nitrate.
hmmm... now that's an idea..
I'm still trying to decide what to do with the 180 I'm setting up.. so glad to get some ideas. I've only got a cannister on my 55, so no personal experience with a sump at all yet.