Bye bye bio balls!

Discussion in 'Filters, Pumps, etc..' started by ryanwolf, Jun 5, 2009.

to remove this notice and enjoy 3reef content with less ads. 3reef membership is free.

  1. ryanwolf

    ryanwolf Skunk Shrimp

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2008
    Messages:
    292
    Location:
    South Texas
    I am removing my bioballs and replacing them in the sump with live rock from the main tank. My question is do I stack large pieces or little ones?? And is is ok that most of the rock will not be covered with water? Water will pass through the filter pad and then the drop tray first evenly streaming water down to exposed rocks where only the bottom layer will be underwater

    Ps. Coral place said it's ok to remove all bioballs at once by shutting off all pumps cleaning and replacing water in sump with fresh water change... Sound right?! My nitrate is 10-20ppm

    Thanks! Ryan
     
  2. Click Here!

  3. pgoodsell

    pgoodsell Horrid Stonefish

    Joined:
    Apr 6, 2009
    Messages:
    2,059
    Location:
    Sparks, Nv
    Not 100% sure, but removing them all is taking a lot of your bio filter with it, might cause a spike. But then again I have been wrong before. ;)
     
  4. whippy

    whippy Sailfin Tang

    Joined:
    Feb 10, 2009
    Messages:
    1,724
    Location:
    Etown, KY
    I removed all of mine along with the filter pads and didn't get a spike but I've spoken with several people who did experience a spike of some sort.
     
  5. Robman

    Robman Great White Shark

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2009
    Messages:
    2,688
    Location:
    Katy, Tx.
    I removed them in thirds--1/3 every week with no mini-cycle whatsoever! I did not put anything in their place-I had enough rock in the dt. I love it cause it freed up my sump. I changed from that stupid filter tray, to easy to change filter socks.
     
  6. ryanwolf

    ryanwolf Skunk Shrimp

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2008
    Messages:
    292
    Location:
    South Texas
    What about cleaning the sump? Should it be drained and cleaned with new saltwater? If yes how often should this be done anyway? If ever?
     
  7. Robman

    Robman Great White Shark

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2009
    Messages:
    2,688
    Location:
    Katy, Tx.
    I never clean it!
     
  8. Click Here!

  9. jakeh24

    jakeh24 Pajama Cardinal

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2008
    Messages:
    1,428
    Location:
    reno, NV
    umm whats the point of switching bioballs for lr
    are you planning a fuge or what?
     
  10. ryanwolf

    ryanwolf Skunk Shrimp

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2008
    Messages:
    292
    Location:
    South Texas
    no to fuge. Bioballs allegedly collect nitrates. I'm at 10-20ppm. Trying to get them lowered.
     
  11. Robman

    Robman Great White Shark

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2009
    Messages:
    2,688
    Location:
    Katy, Tx.
    What part of Texas are you from???
     
  12. jakeh24

    jakeh24 Pajama Cardinal

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2008
    Messages:
    1,428
    Location:
    reno, NV
    Well the thing is bio balls are meant to serve the same purpose as live rock so basically they do the same thing (creating surface area for beneficial bacteria) unless you add something like cheato or caulpera.
    and even though it might seem like less things would get caught on the Lr you replaced the bio balls with, things still get caught on Lr and will be turned into nitrates, about the same amount if you used lr rubble and less if you used larger pieces.
    10-20ppm nitrates isn't that bad though