[johnf]

I recently added about 75 lbs LR to my 72g. I have a wet-dry with bioballs. I was wondering if I should slowly start removing the bioballs or keep them. I have messy eaters, 2 medium puffers and 1 trigger along with a tang.

Thanks

[VPWoodwork1]

I think in general the jury is still out on good or bad. Advantages to a trickle filter with bioballs are that you get aerobic bacteria and some anaerobic. The live rock adds good bacteria, you may want to stay with both. I have built a new system that includes bioballs and other filtration as well. For now, I guess, it would be your personal choice.
Glenn

[Joaco]

Originally posted by VPWoodwork1
Advantages to a trickle filter with bioballs are that you get aerobic bacteria and some anaerobic. The live rock adds good bacteria, you may want to stay with both.

Glenn,
trickle filters harbor no anaerobic bacteria. They are also known as wet/dry filters, the idea is to give the aerobic bacteria growing on the bioballs more oxygen so they can convert ammonia, to nitrites to nitrates faster (by oxidation), since this way they receive more oxygen than if they were submerged.

Anaerobic bacteria grow in dark, oxygen poor areas (anoxic is oxygen free), like in the inside of live rook or deep sand beds.

John,
what is the rest of your filtration? what kind of skimmer do you have? a good skimmer would help a lot, since it would remove organic waste before it breaks down into ammonia, making it easier for your biofiltration, so that you could get rid of the bioballs in the wet/dry.

Joaco

[johnf]

Joaco,

In addition to the recently added live rock and established bio-balls, I have an Aqua-C EV-90 in-sump skimmer. One reason I was considering removing the bio-balls was to leave more room in the sump. As it is, the skimmer and related pump are crammed into the sump. The tank is a 72 g bow-front, which really limits me getting a larger sump.

[Water World]

Joaco is right on!! Just to fill in some holes. A wet/dry will grow aerobic bacteria which will convert ammonia to nitrite, but there is no anaerobic bacteria to convert nitrite to nitrate, thus you have a build up of nitrate. Fish can stand higher levels of nitrate so it's no big deal as long as they don't get too high....(that's one reason for water changes) but for inverts it's deadly. Live rock on the other hand will do... all the above. Keeping the toxins low, provided you have enough LR to handle your bio load. A DSB will help grow both bacteria creating yet another filtering system. A good protein skimmer will assist in removing the toxins before that can build up as well. Sooo... to answer your basic question. your LR should be able to handle the bio load when you remove the bio balls. HTH's
jc

[organicreefer]

you dont need the bio balls ,got any sand?a couple inches even will really help with water quality.............

[johnf]

One of the primary reasons for adding the live rock was to free up space in the sump by eliminating the bioballs. Those bow shaped cabinets for the bow front tanks really limit the width of the sump. I really have to cram the skimmer and pump in the little space remaining.

I think I will remove the bioballs and add a few inches of sand to the substrate. I'll get some live sand activator and worms and other critters that will burrow in the sand.

Thanks everyone.