what do you guys think?
- Thread starter cunningham
- Start date
cunningham
Member
Yes it will be an aggressive tank !
ophiura
Active Member
Bioballs are EXCEEDINGLY effective at what they do, which is growing bacteria that convert ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate. That is the end of their purpose.
In a predator tank which may have a lot of feedings, I would rather deal with a less significant nitrate problem than have any risk of a lingering ammonia problem. Nitrate is not as critical to fish health as it is to coral health, so the magic "0" is not as significant.
In a reef tank, obviously, that is not the case, and we must look at the possible downfall of bioballs. They can accumulate a bunch of waste, which is a problem. However this is due to not properly caring for them, which regardless of bioballs or not, will have an impact on any system. It is just not proper maintenance. It has been postulated that the bacteria that convert nitrate (which are found deep in LR or deep in a sand bed) act preferentially on nitrate formed in the upper layers of rock or sand. So nitrate produced "distantly" in a wet/dry may just accumulate over time.
That being said I would still rather deal with a nitrate problem (as there are several alternatives) than an ammonia issue.
You can always also plumb in a refugium system, and using a good skimmer will also help. But aggressive fish have personality, and they are fun to feed. I would definitely use a wet/dry
In a predator tank which may have a lot of feedings, I would rather deal with a less significant nitrate problem than have any risk of a lingering ammonia problem. Nitrate is not as critical to fish health as it is to coral health, so the magic "0" is not as significant.
In a reef tank, obviously, that is not the case, and we must look at the possible downfall of bioballs. They can accumulate a bunch of waste, which is a problem. However this is due to not properly caring for them, which regardless of bioballs or not, will have an impact on any system. It is just not proper maintenance. It has been postulated that the bacteria that convert nitrate (which are found deep in LR or deep in a sand bed) act preferentially on nitrate formed in the upper layers of rock or sand. So nitrate produced "distantly" in a wet/dry may just accumulate over time.
That being said I would still rather deal with a nitrate problem (as there are several alternatives) than an ammonia issue.
You can always also plumb in a refugium system, and using a good skimmer will also help. But aggressive fish have personality, and they are fun to feed. I would definitely use a wet/dry
cunningham
Member
Id like to thank all of you guys for your posts
they are very informative it is cool that you guys stop and take the time to answer my ?'s i really appreciate it and have learned alot about the bio balls.
cunningham
Member
Originally Posted by sign guy
leave it to ophiura to make everything cristal clear
and make shure you post pic's once everything is setup
you got it
leave it to ophiura to make everything cristal clear
you got it
reefpercul
New Member
Over the 7 years ive been keeping reef tanks i have conducted a couple of experiments leading me and alot of other reef keppers to belive that bio balls do more bad then good, they are subject to holding and releasing nitrites into your water after a long period of time of having them like 2-3 years, anything that gets in them and dissolves in them will stay in their surface area and be hold as nitrites, most reef keepers today will only use a sump/refugium a proteim skimmer (maybe) and live rock no bio balls.
ophiura
Active Member
Originally Posted by reefpercul
Over the 7 years ive been keeping reef tanks i have conducted a couple of experiments leading me and alot of other reef keppers to belive that bio balls do more bad then good, they are subject to holding and releasing nitrites into your water after a long period of time of having them like 2-3 years, anything that gets in them and dissolves in them will stay in their surface area and be hold as nitrites, most reef keepers today will only use a sump/refugium a proteim skimmer (maybe) and live rock no bio balls.
IMO, this is due to improper maintenance and not properly cleaning the excess gunk that accumulates on them. Otherwise, they do not (IMO) release nitrites (nitrates?)...except in that they are supposed to convert ammonia ultimately to nitrates. But if you allow them (or ANY other substrate whether live rock rubble, etc) to accumulate a bunch of gunk, yes, it will be a problem. But whether that lack of maintenance is specifically due only to failures of bioballs, or the hobbyists lack of maintenance in general (and I suspect that latter, personally), is open to debate, IMO.
If I was running a reef tank, I would not per se run bioballs. That would not be my first choice. But this is an aggressive fish only system - possibly heavy feedings - and that should be noted. Nitrate levels are not as much of a concern, IMO. I would definitely run a skimmer on an aggressive tank as well (a good one!
)
However there are many successful ways of running a tank, and exposure to all opinions is definitely needed to allow the hobbyist full exposure to pros and cons
IMO, though, it just doesn't do justice to say that bioballs are bad when the problems and downfalls can be more specifically addressed. Poorly kept systems of any sort, wether bioballs or refugium, may ultimately have the same problems down the road. It is a personal choice for sure, and you can go many ways with it.
Over the 7 years ive been keeping reef tanks i have conducted a couple of experiments leading me and alot of other reef keppers to belive that bio balls do more bad then good, they are subject to holding and releasing nitrites into your water after a long period of time of having them like 2-3 years, anything that gets in them and dissolves in them will stay in their surface area and be hold as nitrites, most reef keepers today will only use a sump/refugium a proteim skimmer (maybe) and live rock no bio balls.
IMO, this is due to improper maintenance and not properly cleaning the excess gunk that accumulates on them. Otherwise, they do not (IMO) release nitrites (nitrates?)...except in that they are supposed to convert ammonia ultimately to nitrates. But if you allow them (or ANY other substrate whether live rock rubble, etc) to accumulate a bunch of gunk, yes, it will be a problem. But whether that lack of maintenance is specifically due only to failures of bioballs, or the hobbyists lack of maintenance in general (and I suspect that latter, personally), is open to debate, IMO.
If I was running a reef tank, I would not per se run bioballs. That would not be my first choice. But this is an aggressive fish only system - possibly heavy feedings - and that should be noted. Nitrate levels are not as much of a concern, IMO. I would definitely run a skimmer on an aggressive tank as well (a good one!
However there are many successful ways of running a tank, and exposure to all opinions is definitely needed to allow the hobbyist full exposure to pros and cons
IMO, though, it just doesn't do justice to say that bioballs are bad when the problems and downfalls can be more specifically addressed. Poorly kept systems of any sort, wether bioballs or refugium, may ultimately have the same problems down the road. It is a personal choice for sure, and you can go many ways with it.
cunningham
Member
at what point do you start cleaning the bio balls after 1 month 2 ? :notsure: