Bio-Balls and Ceramic Rings

[inkblue]

Use it or not? Advantages? Disadvatges? :smokin:

 

[Deanos]

In a reef or fish-only tank?

 

[inkblue]

Reef...

 

[Deanos]

Bio-balls
Advantages

1. Converts ammonia and nitrites to nitrate
2. May filter out larger waste particles from the water column

Disadvantages

1. Leaves nitrates in the water column
2. High nitrates make corals unhappy

 

[Savager]

If it's Nanocube, take it out. It's a nitrate factory. You can find tons of discussion from nano-reef.com

 

[inkblue]

Man... now i gotta dig deep into the nano fiLter... aRgh... this learNing thing is tough :knockedou

...so the next question is, what do you guys use to filter mEchanically :question:

 

[pecan2phat]

On my Nano-Cube, I chucked out all the stuff they gave you and placed LR rubble in compartment #1, then a heater in 2, then some chemi-pure in 3 and replaced their powerhead in compartment #4.
So the answer is there is no real mechanical filtration media used.

 

[Savager]

Pecan, you must have older version of Nanocube. New version has only 3 chambers in the back. I use sponge on first chamber, i clean up every two days. And second chamber I have LR, once I mod my hood to put small refugium light, I am planning to put some refugium plants in there. Third chamber, I have 2 pumps, I have two outlets.

 

[pecan2phat]

Your right Savager,

I bought the original Cube when it came out. I spent over a hundred dollars just to mod out the lights, add on a 60mm fan and change out the return pump. Then comes along the DX version, oh well! Still happy with it though.

 

[inkblue]

I think i'll just put in live rock in the middle chamber... seems like the smart thing to do... anybody have rubble you can share? i'll trade ya for some rock am curing :smoker:

 

[aaron]

All this talk about nitrate factories compells me to add that Live rock is just as much a nitrate factory of the pieces are too small. Live rock hosts exactly the same bacteria the convert amonia to nitrite and Nitrite to nitrate, the only difference is thet because they are so porous they also contain anerobic zones deep within them that allow anerobic bacteria to convert the nitrates but if you break the rocks up too small you remove the anerobic zones and your back to Bioballs or ceramic rings.
Just something to think about.

 

[inkblue]

:question: too many factoRs, sometimes, you just gotta d0 one thing and if it works, then everyone else's opinion doesnt reaLLy matter right

think about this...15 years ago, the empHasis was on wet-dry filters, now its live rock... marKeting makes it better or woRse and not the bacteria :afro:

 

[pecan2phat]

I remember paying $979 for an acrylic wet/dry back in the late eighties for my 150g. It was the miracle piece of equipment which allowed you to stock fish abundantly and keep them alive for more than 3 months. Technology from Germany, this was the latest hype back then. Betcha it's worth less than $50 today!

 

[inkblue]

yuP... that's why sometiMes, i keep my fish 'old-school' with a touch of new tech... whatever worx right