simple questions

[chumbuckit]

Heads up! I'm new at this.
I have a 10 gallon tank with 10 lbs of live rock and a couple inches of L.S. I have a brittle starfish, peppermint shrimp, 10 hermits, and couple snails.
Before I start buying fish and coral I want to make sure my tank is in balance. I have a question.
The bio balls in my filter system lay on the bottom, under my two filters. They are always submerged in the water before it discharges into tank. I don't see any algae on them (like I think there should be), is this because there always submerged. Do they go on top of my cloth filters so there not submerged, allowing them to grow some bacteria?

 

[jakob4001]

sorry, I am not able to help you about the bioball issue; but as far as putting fish in, it being only 10 gallon tank, you really won't be able to put more than fish safely in, 2 at most depending on species; anything mroe would add to the bioload; most corals prefer near perfect water in order to really thrive

 

[fshhub]

if they are in the water and you cylced then there is bacteria on them, and them not being wet would only hinder the bacterial growth by killing it
as far as actual placement goes, what does the manufactureer suggest?? if i were to use a system with bio balls i would follw their suggestions, but i myself woudl not use them, especially in a reef system, i can not give specific detail on their usage
HTH and welcome aboard

 

[goldrush]

bio balls should not be completely submerged.also with the lr and ls you should consider not using them at all (overkill).don't remove them all at once though,do it over time.

 

[fshhub]

the lr and ls is much more reliable, and more stable than the balls, and will not become a future problem for nitrates(as the balls very well may), which you really don't want alot of in a reef, the bio balls are the ones i would remove, especally in a reef, the rock just makes it look more reef like too
and overkill, not a chance, especially in a small system the water is hard enough to control and a good bio filter would only help this(lr and ls is a biofilter), my vote is to definitely leave them in