Tell me about bioballs....
- Thread starter jennln
- Start date
U
usirchchris
Guest
Originally Posted by jennln
http:///forum/post/2909060
And why I wouldn't want them?? I've been reading several posts lately that seem to regard them as a bad thing. I'm currently using a wet/dry with bioballs. So please explain to me why they are not the best option and what some better alternatives may be? Thanks.
Keep up on maintenance and they are fine. They can hold nitrates if they get dirty...just don't let them get dirty...it's that simple
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http:///forum/post/2909060
And why I wouldn't want them?? I've been reading several posts lately that seem to regard them as a bad thing. I'm currently using a wet/dry with bioballs. So please explain to me why they are not the best option and what some better alternatives may be? Thanks.
Keep up on maintenance and they are fine. They can hold nitrates if they get dirty...just don't let them get dirty...it's that simple
sickboy
Active Member
Live Rock.
The bio-ball only build aerobic bacteria and can accumulate waste, live rock won't/shouldn't build up waste and, depending on size, can build anaerobic bacteria as well.
I use bioballs in my nano though, just swish them around in some clean saltwater periodically to clean them.
The bio-ball only build aerobic bacteria and can accumulate waste, live rock won't/shouldn't build up waste and, depending on size, can build anaerobic bacteria as well.
I use bioballs in my nano though, just swish them around in some clean saltwater periodically to clean them.
jtt
Member
Originally Posted by sickboy
http:///forum/post/2909123
I use bioballs in my nano though, just swish them around in some clean saltwater periodically to clean them.
please define "periodically"
http:///forum/post/2909123
I use bioballs in my nano though, just swish them around in some clean saltwater periodically to clean them.
please define "periodically"
trouble93
Member
Originally Posted by JTT
http:///forum/post/2909124
please define "periodically"
I use bio balls and about 20lbs of live rock in my sump...I take my bio balls out just about every two weeks or so(I have a very high bio load). So I have to stay on top of them by cleaning them often. This is one of those subjects you WILL get mixed reviews on, just remember what works for someone else may not work for you. And what works for you may not work for someone else.
http:///forum/post/2909124
please define "periodically"
I use bio balls and about 20lbs of live rock in my sump...I take my bio balls out just about every two weeks or so(I have a very high bio load). So I have to stay on top of them by cleaning them often. This is one of those subjects you WILL get mixed reviews on, just remember what works for someone else may not work for you. And what works for you may not work for someone else.
sickboy
Active Member
Originally Posted by JTT
http:///forum/post/2909124
please define "periodically"
I would say chemistry defines "periodically"
http:///forum/post/2909124
please define "periodically"
I would say chemistry defines "periodically"
jennln
Member
Originally Posted by trouble93
http:///forum/post/2909129
I use bio balls and about 20lbs of live rock in my sump...I take my bio balls out just about every two weeks or so(I have a very high bio load). So I have to stay on top of them by cleaning them often. This is one of those subjects you WILL get mixed reviews on, just remember what works for someone else may not work for you. And what works for you may not work for someone else.
Well I'm starting to think, especially now, that my way isn't working. I was told not to clean them, but rather just swish them around a bit so that the ones at the bottom could come up to the top, thus allowing "stuff" to build up on them. However, if this is not the case then I'm assuming that this may be a huge contributor to the nitrate situation I'm having. So should I be rinsing them in the old water with every water change I do? Ugh...every day I read or ask questions here I feel like more and more of an idiot for taking the advice of someone who obviously didn't know instead of researching more myself first.
http:///forum/post/2909129
I use bio balls and about 20lbs of live rock in my sump...I take my bio balls out just about every two weeks or so(I have a very high bio load). So I have to stay on top of them by cleaning them often. This is one of those subjects you WILL get mixed reviews on, just remember what works for someone else may not work for you. And what works for you may not work for someone else.
Well I'm starting to think, especially now, that my way isn't working. I was told not to clean them, but rather just swish them around a bit so that the ones at the bottom could come up to the top, thus allowing "stuff" to build up on them. However, if this is not the case then I'm assuming that this may be a huge contributor to the nitrate situation I'm having. So should I be rinsing them in the old water with every water change I do? Ugh...every day I read or ask questions here I feel like more and more of an idiot for taking the advice of someone who obviously didn't know instead of researching more myself first.
blacktop pete
Member
i read here they were ok to use as long as u rinsed a small portion of them when u perfomed your water changes. on new tanks u should wait six months before u start rinsing.
spanko
Active Member
To really keep up on it some rinse a portion of them at every water change. Take out the old water and use it to swish a portion of the bio balls free of any accumulated detritus. There was a suggestion somewhere (Florida Joe has seemed to take credit (hee hee)) that you use different colored bioballs. Maybe four different colors that way you can keep track of which have been cleaned and which have not.
The reason people don't like them is that they do require an increased amount of maintenance as compared to live rock.
The reason people don't like them is that they do require an increased amount of maintenance as compared to live rock.
blacktop pete
Member
i agree spanko if you are lazy this hobby is not for you. maint is the key.
nwdyr
Active Member
bo balls are great! I use them on all my tanks , when I am doing a water change I just stick the hose in and mix them up a bit. You don't want to "clean" them b/c that "stuff" is what you need and why you used the balls to begin with. I once tried the LR in my back chamber on my nano tank and boy was I sorry! If you have LR in the tank why would you put it in the back chamber
sometimes people think too hard , and yes maintenance is needed in this hobby!
florida joe
Well-Known Member
ONE MORE TIME
I personally clean my Bio-Balls this way
1. Place some new saltwater in a five gallon plastic bucket, or any other type of good-sized deep plastic container. This is where you will rinse and clean the bio-balls off. If you are planning for a water change, water removed from the aquarium may be used for this as well.
2. Turn off the filter.
3. Remove about 1/4 of the bio-balls from the filter chamber and place them into the container with the saltwater.
4. Stir and swish the bio-balls around in the saltwater to break all the gunk or organic matter loose that is stuck on them. If they are extremely dirty, you may have to repeat this step. DO NOT scrub the bio-balls! Just allow the saltwater to do the job, nothing more than that.
5. Scoop the rinsed bio-balls out and place them back into the filter bio-chamber. A plastic kitchen colander works great for this, but any type of cup or small container with drain holes in it will do. The bio-balls come out, the yucky water stays behind.
6. Restart the filter.
7. Test for the appearance of ammonia every few days for a week, then every several days over another week after that. If the tests read near zero after this time, it is ok to repeat the process. If ammonia does appear, wait until readings drop back to zero, then wait another couple of weeks after that before repeating the process with the next batch of bio-balls.
and only on a tank at least 6 months old
I personally clean my Bio-Balls this way
1. Place some new saltwater in a five gallon plastic bucket, or any other type of good-sized deep plastic container. This is where you will rinse and clean the bio-balls off. If you are planning for a water change, water removed from the aquarium may be used for this as well.
2. Turn off the filter.
3. Remove about 1/4 of the bio-balls from the filter chamber and place them into the container with the saltwater.
4. Stir and swish the bio-balls around in the saltwater to break all the gunk or organic matter loose that is stuck on them. If they are extremely dirty, you may have to repeat this step. DO NOT scrub the bio-balls! Just allow the saltwater to do the job, nothing more than that.
5. Scoop the rinsed bio-balls out and place them back into the filter bio-chamber. A plastic kitchen colander works great for this, but any type of cup or small container with drain holes in it will do. The bio-balls come out, the yucky water stays behind.
6. Restart the filter.
7. Test for the appearance of ammonia every few days for a week, then every several days over another week after that. If the tests read near zero after this time, it is ok to repeat the process. If ammonia does appear, wait until readings drop back to zero, then wait another couple of weeks after that before repeating the process with the next batch of bio-balls.
and only on a tank at least 6 months old