moraym
Active Member
I think someone took the original quote way out of context, which was: MorayM:: Maintaining biological filtration longterm with bioballs requires maintenance as well to continue them being effective
Whereas the debate probably rages on as to whether or not bioball maintenance is needed in all tanks, I simply doubted hocky98 would perform the maintenance needed to even attept to hold an excessive bioload in his tank.
Bioballs do serve a function, as I've stated several times. But if they are your only line of defense, they require assistance in the form of maintenance.
As bioballs (or wheels, or even LR) become convered with and saturated with broken down wastes and dissolved organic compounds (DOCs), they can contribute further to the nitrate levels in a tank. LR less-so since the organisms on healthy LR should keep them from being saturate with DOCs, as does water flow through porous LR, more water flow than in a trickle system (balls). As long as appropriate maintenance is done on the aquarium, they will serve a function. However most people seem to have issues performing standard maintenance such as water changes, much less rinsing a few bioballs once in a while.
This is all counteracted by bioballs/wheels not being your sole source of filtration, as opposed to the tank way up on this thread. Over a year or so, DOCs WILL build up on the bioballs moreso than other filter media and LR.
That's why a prefilter, such as a filter sock, is so essential. It captures excess debris, particles, and DOCs before it hits the bioballs, allowing them to not be saturated/covered w/ DOCs, at least not as swiftly.
This is becoming like the DSB discussion, is it effective, is it not, with what maintenance, over what time period, etc. And I still think for hocky's tank, LR is a much more effective method than the current wheel/ball setup that isn't adequate for that fish load.
Whereas the debate probably rages on as to whether or not bioball maintenance is needed in all tanks, I simply doubted hocky98 would perform the maintenance needed to even attept to hold an excessive bioload in his tank.
Bioballs do serve a function, as I've stated several times. But if they are your only line of defense, they require assistance in the form of maintenance.
As bioballs (or wheels, or even LR) become convered with and saturated with broken down wastes and dissolved organic compounds (DOCs), they can contribute further to the nitrate levels in a tank. LR less-so since the organisms on healthy LR should keep them from being saturate with DOCs, as does water flow through porous LR, more water flow than in a trickle system (balls). As long as appropriate maintenance is done on the aquarium, they will serve a function. However most people seem to have issues performing standard maintenance such as water changes, much less rinsing a few bioballs once in a while.
This is all counteracted by bioballs/wheels not being your sole source of filtration, as opposed to the tank way up on this thread. Over a year or so, DOCs WILL build up on the bioballs moreso than other filter media and LR.
That's why a prefilter, such as a filter sock, is so essential. It captures excess debris, particles, and DOCs before it hits the bioballs, allowing them to not be saturated/covered w/ DOCs, at least not as swiftly.
This is becoming like the DSB discussion, is it effective, is it not, with what maintenance, over what time period, etc. And I still think for hocky's tank, LR is a much more effective method than the current wheel/ball setup that isn't adequate for that fish load.
