How many use bioboll in refugium

onix · 09-13-2006, 09:07 AM

HI every one I have my refugium set up with biobolls in one chamber( the refugium have 3). My questin is if I have to remove it or not. I still having problems with algae and nitrates. I think that may be the bioboll is one of the problems. But, if I remove the biobolls, where the ammonia is converted in nitrate.

55 g
OR/UV/ozone water
refugium 22 g
no skimmer
no filter media

cheeks69 · 09-13-2006, 09:15 AM

How much Live Rock do you have ? Do you have a Deep Sand Bed ? What is the current fish list and how often do you feed ? How often do you do water changes ? Are you using a UV or buying water that's been thru UV ? If you do have a UV how many watts ? How long has this tank been setup ? What do you dose ?

We need much more info to be able to help

Snelly40 · 09-13-2006, 09:23 AM

id remove the bio balls, cheeks asked a lot of good questions but from everything i read they are nitrate factories.

cheeks, u ask about a UV Filter, does that help reduce nitrates?

Woodstock · 09-13-2006, 09:43 AM

The idea is to allow the sand bed (fine grained) and live rock (1-1.5 lbs per gal) to provide all the surface area for the biological functions (ammonia to nitrite to nitrate to harmless nitrogen gas) INSTEAD of using bioballs (which only allow amm to nitrIte to nitrAte).
IF you have enough live rock (1 - 1.5 lbs per gal) you may SLOWLY remove the bioballs; I recommend removing them.
I also see you do not have a skimmer; get one that is rated for a tank twice the size of yours.
Refugiums are a great way to remove nitrAtes. Using macro algae to absorb the nutrients and then trimming it back will help to export excess nutrients.
In addition to the above, make sure your performing regular water changes, keeping the stocking levels low, and careful feeding will help keep nutrients in check.
Keep in mind nitrates should be 10ppm or less for optimum animal health.
Doing large, frequent water changes and setting a good skimmer (Remora or ASM) to skim "wet" is the fastest way to remedy high nitrates.

Algae issues are corrected using the above methods as well. You should also incorporate a phosphate absorbing media to help remove po4. I recommend an iron oxide based media (red/dark color) such as phosban, rhowaphos, etc.

Ohhh... using tap water is usually not a good idea. Do you use ro/di water for top offs and water changes? Tap water is usually loaded with nutrients that alga thrive off of (nitrate, phosphate, silicates).

cheeks69 · 09-13-2006, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snelly40

cheeks, u ask about a UV Filter, does that help reduce nitrates?

No it doesn't but since he may be using one wanted to know if it was effective for the size of his tank.

onix · 09-13-2006, 10:40 AM

ok thanks for fast replay.

I know that I need more live rock. Actually I only have 40 lbs ( $$ problems jejeje). I dont have a deep sand bed. Actually I have a fine bed of aragonite and another of live sand. MY fish list is:
a big French Angel, I have to sell it to lfs because it eat everithing
2 damesel
1 clown
3 turbo snail
1 sand star
and other fish that really I dont now the name, is soppose to eat algae.

I buy the water in an local store that have OR/UV/ozone system. The quality is very good.

I make 1 water change in a month ( 20% )

The tank has been set up by 2 month. I only use Kent CB part A and B

onix · 09-13-2006, 10:43 AM

May be I can remove all the biobools in chamber one and fill it with live sand. that really be a deep sand bed

cheeks69 · 09-13-2006, 11:42 AM

You have a high bio-load for that size tank.
The reason for high nitates:

No skimmer
Not doing enough water changes
Heavy bioload
Not enough LR
Bio balls may also be contributing to nitrate problem. I wouldn't remove them until you increase the amount of LR in your tank.

lcstorc · 09-13-2006, 12:09 PM

Also you system is still pretty new at 2 months. That may be contributing as well.
Personally I would remove the bio-balls slowly as Woodstock advises. I had them in my system and had perpetual problems with nitrates. I removed mine (slowly) and replaced them with rock which has now turned into live rock over time. This gives me more rock in the system without having it in the display. I am not at all sure there is a benefit to a really deep sand bed as opposed to the 4inch depth usually recommended. Depending on how deep the water is in your sump you could perhaps do both. I'm not really sure on that one.

onix · 09-13-2006, 01:06 PM

ok a lot of thanks to everyone I will continue reading your opinion. I am really new in this so I need a lot of help

09-13-2006, 09:07 AM	#1 (permalink)
onix Midas Blenny Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 117 View Gallery Karma Komment	How many use bioboll in refugium HI every one I have my refugium set up with biobolls in one chamber( the refugium have 3). My questin is if I have to remove it or not. I still having problems with algae and nitrates. I think that may be the bioboll is one of the problems. But, if I remove the biobolls, where the ammonia is converted in nitrate. 55 g OR/UV/ozone water refugium 22 g no skimmer no filter media

09-13-2006, 09:15 AM	#2 (permalink)
cheeks69 Wannabe Guru Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northeast Posts: 6,847 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: How many use bioboll in refugium How much Live Rock do you have ? Do you have a Deep Sand Bed ? What is the current fish list and how often do you feed ? How often do you do water changes ? Are you using a UV or buying water that's been thru UV ? If you do have a UV how many watts ? How long has this tank been setup ? What do you dose ? We need much more info to be able to help __________________ Robert My Cube “A spirit is manifest in the laws of the Universe—a spirit vastly superior to that of man, and one in the face of which we with our modest powers must feel humble.” Albert Einstein

09-13-2006, 09:23 AM	#3 (permalink)
Snelly40 Golden Moray Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 2,954 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: How many use bioboll in refugium id remove the bio balls, cheeks asked a lot of good questions but from everything i read they are nitrate factories. cheeks, u ask about a UV Filter, does that help reduce nitrates? __________________ Snelly's 90gal Reef-O-Rama *Member-"Crabs Are Evil" Society*

09-13-2006, 09:43 AM	#4 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 23,650 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: How many use bioboll in refugium The idea is to allow the sand bed (fine grained) and live rock (1-1.5 lbs per gal) to provide all the surface area for the biological functions (ammonia to nitrite to nitrate to harmless nitrogen gas) INSTEAD of using bioballs (which only allow amm to nitrIte to nitrAte). IF you have enough live rock (1 - 1.5 lbs per gal) you may SLOWLY remove the bioballs; I recommend removing them. I also see you do not have a skimmer; get one that is rated for a tank twice the size of yours. Refugiums are a great way to remove nitrAtes. Using macro algae to absorb the nutrients and then trimming it back will help to export excess nutrients. In addition to the above, make sure your performing regular water changes, keeping the stocking levels low, and careful feeding will help keep nutrients in check. Keep in mind nitrates should be 10ppm or less for optimum animal health. Doing large, frequent water changes and setting a good skimmer (Remora or ASM) to skim "wet" is the fastest way to remedy high nitrates. Algae issues are corrected using the above methods as well. You should also incorporate a phosphate absorbing media to help remove po4. I recommend an iron oxide based media (red/dark color) such as phosban, rhowaphos, etc. Ohhh... using tap water is usually not a good idea. Do you use ro/di water for top offs and water changes? Tap water is usually loaded with nutrients that alga thrive off of (nitrate, phosphate, silicates). __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* 120 Reef Chronicle ~ *Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* *Massive 300 gal growout~* *My Anemone & Picasso Tank ~* *Picasso & Snowcasso for sale~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

09-13-2006, 10:40 AM	#6 (permalink)
onix Midas Blenny Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 117 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: How many use bioboll in refugium ok thanks for fast replay. I know that I need more live rock. Actually I only have 40 lbs ( $$ problems jejeje). I dont have a deep sand bed. Actually I have a fine bed of aragonite and another of live sand. MY fish list is: a big French Angel, I have to sell it to lfs because it eat everithing 2 damesel 1 clown 3 turbo snail 1 sand star and other fish that really I dont now the name, is soppose to eat algae. I buy the water in an local store that have OR/UV/ozone system. The quality is very good. I make 1 water change in a month ( 20% ) The tank has been set up by 2 month. I only use Kent CB part A and B

09-13-2006, 10:43 AM	#7 (permalink)
onix Midas Blenny Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 117 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: How many use bioboll in refugium May be I can remove all the biobools in chamber one and fill it with live sand. that really be a deep sand bed

09-13-2006, 11:42 AM	#8 (permalink)
cheeks69 Wannabe Guru Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northeast Posts: 6,847 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: How many use bioboll in refugium You have a high bio-load for that size tank. The reason for high nitates: No skimmer Not doing enough water changes Heavy bioload Not enough LR Bio balls may also be contributing to nitrate problem. I wouldn't remove them until you increase the amount of LR in your tank. __________________ Robert My Cube “A spirit is manifest in the laws of the Universe—a spirit vastly superior to that of man, and one in the face of which we with our modest powers must feel humble.” Albert Einstein

09-13-2006, 12:09 PM	#9 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 20,874 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: How many use bioboll in refugium Also you system is still pretty new at 2 months. That may be contributing as well. Personally I would remove the bio-balls slowly as Woodstock advises. I had them in my system and had perpetual problems with nitrates. I removed mine (slowly) and replaced them with rock which has now turned into live rock over time. This gives me more rock in the system without having it in the display. I am not at all sure there is a benefit to a really deep sand bed as opposed to the 4inch depth usually recommended. Depending on how deep the water is in your sump you could perhaps do both. I'm not really sure on that one. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. In Loving Memory Of Z 01/22/07 - 08/19/08

09-13-2006, 01:06 PM	#10 (permalink)
onix Midas Blenny Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 117 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: How many use bioboll in refugium ok a lot of thanks to everyone I will continue reading your opinion. I am really new in this so I need a lot of help

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