bio balls and reefs

kosys · 12-19-2006, 02:06 AM

Hi guys, I have a question about bio balls and any advise would be great.
I am fairly new in the salt water world been at it for about 6 months now, I have a 90 gal reef tank. I heard in the grape vine that you should not use bio balls with a reef sys. this has me a bit confused I thought bio balls were heart of system creating bio material for the system or is it that I only need them to cycle the tank. My question is, is now that my tank is cycled and cured should I be removing the bio balls.

P.S: Just want to say this is a great forum, an awsome place for people like me who are new in the hobby and would like to try and get it right.
Kudos to the Admins.

kosys

**Ninong** · 12-19-2006, 02:12 AM

If you have live rock and a sand bed (or even just live rock), you really don't need any other source of biological filtration.

kosys · 12-19-2006, 02:19 AM

thanx Ninong thats the impression i was getting thanx for advise

iceaxe · 12-20-2006, 01:44 AM

I used them for about 8 months and they were just a nitrate and phosphate generator...which attracted a few milliion vermetid snails. Definitely not a good idea. It took me ages to clean it up.

kosys · 12-20-2006, 04:14 PM

thanx iceaxe, that may be why I'm havin probs bringin my nitrates below 10 ppm, I am goin to slowly start and remove them.

did things clear up ok for you once you got rid of them?

iceaxe · 12-21-2006, 01:38 AM

Things cleared up very well. Shortly after I added a DSB which helped as well, but I still couldn't get below 10ppm. I added a sulphur denitrator and now nitrate is 0.

***Reefland*** · 12-21-2006, 12:46 PM

Just make sure to remove them slowly, a few here and there over the course of a few weeks.

kosys · 12-21-2006, 07:40 PM

thanx for the advise guys i thought i should remove them slowly thanx for confirming that reeland.

PS:
whats a DSB iceaxe?

**Ninong** · 12-21-2006, 08:23 PM

DSB = deep sand bed (generally a sand bed >3" deep but more typically 4" or more)

kosys · 12-22-2006, 12:04 AM

ah thanx ninong, figured it was something simple like that.

12-19-2006, 02:06 AM	#1
kosys Tenant Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: canada Posts: 66	bio balls and reefs Hi guys, I have a question about bio balls and any advise would be great. I am fairly new in the salt water world been at it for about 6 months now, I have a 90 gal reef tank. I heard in the grape vine that you should not use bio balls with a reef sys. this has me a bit confused I thought bio balls were heart of system creating bio material for the system or is it that I only need them to cycle the tank. My question is, is now that my tank is cycled and cured should I be removing the bio balls. P.S: Just want to say this is a great forum, an awsome place for people like me who are new in the hobby and would like to try and get it right. Kudos to the Admins. kosys

12-19-2006, 02:12 AM	#2
Ninong Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Louisiana Posts: 20,692	If you have live rock and a sand bed (or even just live rock), you really don't need any other source of biological filtration. __________________ Ninong

12-21-2006, 12:46 PM	#7
*Reefland* Owner Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Bardstown, KY Posts: 13,166	Just make sure to remove them slowly, a few here and there over the course of a few weeks. __________________ Scott Z. 75 Gallon Reef Log Powered by Reefland's Personal Online Aquarium Log

12-21-2006, 08:23 PM	#9
Ninong Moderator Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Louisiana Posts: 20,692	DSB = deep sand bed (generally a sand bed >3" deep but more typically 4" or more) __________________ Ninong

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12-19-2006, 02:19 AM	#3
kosys Tenant Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: canada Posts: 66	thanx Ninong thats the impression i was getting thanx for advise

12-20-2006, 01:44 AM	#4
iceaxe New in Town Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 3	I used them for about 8 months and they were just a nitrate and phosphate generator...which attracted a few milliion vermetid snails. Definitely not a good idea. It took me ages to clean it up.

12-20-2006, 04:14 PM	#5
kosys Tenant Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: canada Posts: 66	thanx iceaxe, that may be why I'm havin probs bringin my nitrates below 10 ppm, I am goin to slowly start and remove them. did things clear up ok for you once you got rid of them?

12-21-2006, 01:38 AM	#6
iceaxe New in Town Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 3	Things cleared up very well. Shortly after I added a DSB which helped as well, but I still couldn't get below 10ppm. I added a sulphur denitrator and now nitrate is 0.

12-21-2006, 07:40 PM	#8
kosys Tenant Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: canada Posts: 66	thanx for the advise guys i thought i should remove them slowly thanx for confirming that reeland. PS: whats a DSB iceaxe?

12-22-2006, 12:04 AM	#10
kosys Tenant Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: canada Posts: 66	ah thanx ninong, figured it was something simple like that.

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