Using bioballs?

[Lutra1]

I know these can be good in fresh water, but what about salt? Some came with my nano cube and I just left them in there. After reading a bit I'm concerned they might spawn growth, should I take them all, or mostly, out?

 

[trido]

Most remove them all and put some LR in the chamber instead.

 

[megamommatron]

does the live rock in the chamber do well with no light? would it be better in the front part of the tank? i suppose both would be best. my understanding is that the bio ball eventually become biologically active and mess up the berlin method. is that true?

 

[jdeets]

That's true--they typically will result in higher nitrates since they harbor aerobic bacteria. You want anaerobic bacteria--i.e., living in things that are submersed in water.

 

[ChrisRD]

Personally I would not put live rock in the chamber - only the tank. IME you want the rock in a place where strong circulation will keep it clean. Detritus can build-up in a filter chamber which will hurt water quality down the road...

 

[Nautilus1]

I would stay away from the Bioballs. They are nitrate factories from the 1980's

 

[cjsrch]

1 the balls are submerged in the nanos.
"That's true--they typically will result in higher nitrates since they harbor aerobic bacteria. You want anaerobic bacteria--i.e., living in things that are submersed in water." just cause its underwater dosnt mean anerobic

people really need to study up on stuff and not just spit up what they saw others read.. some one tell us WHY they are a nitrate factory and not just the aerobic stuff that most spew out ^^

anyways. id leavem in there or replace them with a skimmer
im against putting rock in a nano because then it is leaning against unprotected glass ( unless theres plastic on the back now)

 

[jdeets]

1 the balls are submerged in the nanos.
"That's true--they typically will result in higher nitrates since they harbor aerobic bacteria. You want anaerobic bacteria--i.e., living in things that are submersed in water." just cause its underwater dosnt mean anerobic

people really need to study up on stuff and not just spit up what they saw others read.. some one tell us WHY they are a nitrate factory and not just the aerobic stuff that most spew out ^^

I certainly wouldn't take your advice.

Aerobic/anaerobic is the difference.

The reason bioballs are nitrate factories is because they harbor aerobic bacteria. Google nitrates + bioballs and see for yourself. :roll:

 

[Lutra1]

Wow I spawned a controversy. I had already taken all my bioballs out cause I researched them a bit. All except one pesky one stuck in the bottom of my filter. Someone mentioned putting rocks in the back of the filter, and unless they are diminuative rocks I have no idea how they pulled that off in the first place in a nano. Then that other person mentioned not having rocks in a nano at all because they were leaning against glass and I have no idea what you're talking about either. So oh well.

 

[ChrisRD]

Lutra, I would arrange the rock so that it isn't piled-up against the glass. Not because I'd be worried about the glass, but because you want to make sure you have good circulation in/around your rockwork to prevent detritus build-up.

Cjsrch, please don't make the mistake of thinking you're the only person here who has experience with bioballs or wet/dry setups. Plenty of people here have been around the hobby a lot longer than you and are speaking from experience - not simply "spitting up what they saw others read".

Bioballs offer powerful nitrification with no denitrification - that's their major shortcoming. They are an aerobic filter whether they are submerged or not (although much more effective when not). They are not porous, therefore whether they are being used in their intended wet/dry application or they are used submerged, they still don't offer a place for anaerobic bacteria to grow - thus no denitrification. They have their uses in aquarium filtration, but they're not the best filtration setup for a reef.

The vast majority of reefers today rely on a skimmer + strong circulation + live rock/sand for filtration. The fact that the hobby has headed in this direction is no accident...

FWIW

 

[jdeets]

Not sure about the rocks in the nano statement. Seems to me you want more than just corals sitting on the substrate, but that's my personal taste...

One bioball stuck in there shouldn't be a problem.

It's not really a controversy IMO. I think the "controversy" related more to my oversimplification of the issue--it's not necessarily what's under water or exposed to air, but the O2 content of the water where the bacteria are growing. LR has very deep pores where anaerobic bacteria thrive--because the water there has very low O2 content. Bioballs, OTOH, don't have places where anaerobic bacteria can hide and thrive.

HTH

 

[cjsrch]

"It's not really a controversy IMO. I think the "controversy" related more to my oversimplification of the issue--it's not necessarily what's under water or exposed to air, but the O2 content of the water where the bacteria are growing. LR has very deep pores where anaerobic bacteria thrive--because the water there has very low O2 content. Bioballs, OTOH, don't have places where anaerobic bacteria can hide and thrive. " there thats all i wanted to see. thanks ^^ there are just alot of people out there who dont seem to understands what makes areas arobic . alot simply think that if you place somthing underwater its anerobic

anyways have any of you seent he lil skimmer that apparently fits into the aquapods. not sure if it will fit a nano but its only 20 somthing bucks.. ill get you all a link

 

[cjsrch]

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_pro ... sp?CartId=

 

[trido]

Now thats a cute skimmer cjrsch.
AS for the LR in the chambers. I am simply writing what I have read as suggested in these forum regarding the use of bio balls supplied with the nanos. Yes LR rubble. I am not trying to give bad advice. Just rewriting what I have read. Your point about detritus accumulating in there is a very valid point ChrisRD. I will try to keep my typing to a minimum and let you old pros give the expert advice. Have a good one.

 

[ChrisRD]

The last thing I want is to discourage your involvement here. Everyone's opinion is welcome - post away.:wink:

Just be cautious of things you read on these boards because misinformation can spread just as fast as good information.

Also, my opinion is just that - my opinion and nothing more (although when it comes to some issues - facts are facts and opinion isn't much of a factor). There are many successful ways to run a reef and not everyone has the same preferences.

 

[trido]

Here here ChrisRD. Well put. Thanks for the compassion and advice. No wonder your are the forum Admin. :wink:

 

[cjsrch]

btw are you leaving the sponge that came with the nano int here? that would be more of a 'problom' then bioballs


btw any one see the aquapods they have sponge carbon then "bio rings" then bio balls. is it possiable that they are intending to use bioballs to reduce bubbles