BioBalls / No BioBalls | LR / No LR (Filtration) ?

desiknow · 07-27-2007, 08:30 AM

so whats the deal with Bio Balls and Nano's

I read mixed reviews for BioBalls and LR / Which on is it?

Getting rid of 6g JBJ and replacing with 14 g Bio Cube and also bought one for my wife. Both for our offices. Should arrive today

What do I put back there in the filtration.
Cant afford too much modding right now. After we stock the tanks we will begin saving for a lighting mod's from nanocustoms.com.

What Would You Guys Do?

Theses are going to be reef tanks, with maybe 2 fish in each.

(I have a 55 g corner bow front at home)

BigAl07 · 07-27-2007, 08:52 AM

If they are INDEED going to be Reef tanks then NO Bio-balls. Inverts (corals, shrimp etc etc) are very sensitive to high levels of Nitrates. Bio-balls do a good job of breaking down "matter" but unless they are cleaned VREY often that same matter accumulates and creates a "Nitrate Factory".. When you clean them you actually remove the BENEFICIAL bacteria from your tank that you're trying to foster to grow. If it's a FO (Fish Only) tank then stay with Bio-balls. Otherwise ditch them and replace with LR which will harbor and foster the bacterial growth you desire without the build up of said "matter".

In My Nano Cube 12g I have :

Chamber 1 has a sponge that I replace with clean on 3x a week. This is just to catch LARGE particles before they get into the back chambers.

Chamber 2 is 3/4 full of LR Rubble and an occasional carbon pack for water polishing every 4th week.

chamber 3 is Pump and Heater.

In the tank is approximately 16 lbs of LR and 10lbs of Live Sand. These both have lots of beneficial bacteria as well as lots of other GOOD critters.

Hope this helps.

Allen

BigAl07 · 07-27-2007, 08:56 AM

Sorry about that..

Welcome to RS! Take your time and browse around. You'll find a WEALTH of useful information and ideas here. It's a great place to learn!!

Allen

Raf · 07-27-2007, 10:24 AM

If you are not going to run Bio media(aka bio balls, or whatever) then you need to add enough LR to the tanks, 1.5 lb per gallon would do and preferable cured. Then you can just run mech media that gets thrown out every 1 or 2 weeks. IMO, the LR rubble in the filter can turn into a NO3 factory just like the Bioballs do.

In a small tank, you will have a light stocking most likely, and waterchanges are not a big deal as the volume is small, so if you decide against adding so much LR or adding any at all, the bioballs or wahatever other biomedia won't be such a big deal, you will just have to monitor your N03 more carefully.

Burns11 · 07-27-2007, 03:49 PM

What about a bag of Purigen in the back instead of the rubble?

BigAl07 · 07-31-2007, 06:30 PM

I don't know about INSTEAD! You can run that in addition to anything else but don't let it build up with "stuff" or you have a handy dandy Nitrate factory.

Allen

lcstorc · 07-31-2007, 06:36 PM

Welcome to RS!

I would and have replaced my bio-balls with LR. When I had the bio-balls I had nitrates. Now I don't.

flricordia · 08-06-2007, 07:33 PM

I run only Fostersmith phospur pads (cut to fit in canister filter) and purigen and have been since startup of this 14gl. I do have a chaeto/LR fuge. No PS. It stays algae free and the glass I wipe no more than once a weeks. Sand stays bleach white and clams are growing way too fast for such a small tank. I am probably going to have to get rid of them before too long. Water changes every 2 weeks. I wouldn't use bioballs myself. Use only LR.

JT101 · 08-28-2007, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flricordia

I run only Fostersmith phospur pads (cut to fit in canister filter) and purigen and have been since startup of this 14gl. I do have a chaeto/LR fuge. No PS. It stays algae free and the glass I wipe no more than once a weeks. Sand stays bleach white and clams are growing way too fast for such a small tank. I am probably going to have to get rid of them before too long. Water changes every 2 weeks. I wouldn't use bioballs myself. Use only LR.

Wow! I have got to say that your tank is AMAZINGLY CLEAN!!! How do you keep your sand so white? I have a 10 week old AquaPod 24 and most of the sand has some brown stuff on it, except in one area where I have the water flow pointing straight down near the back. In THAT spot, the sand is still white. Is that the main "secret" - to have MEGA water flow EVERYWHERE???

Please, I am DYING to know how you do this! Your tank is BEAUTIFUL!!!

Thanks!
John

07-27-2007, 08:30 AM	#1 (permalink)
desiknow Tunicate Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 3 View Gallery Karma Komment	BioBalls / No BioBalls \| LR / No LR (Filtration) ? so whats the deal with Bio Balls and Nano's I read mixed reviews for BioBalls and LR / Which on is it? Getting rid of 6g JBJ and replacing with 14 g Bio Cube and also bought one for my wife. Both for our offices. Should arrive today What do I put back there in the filtration. Cant afford too much modding right now. After we stock the tanks we will begin saving for a lighting mod's from nanocustoms.com. What Would You Guys Do? Theses are going to be reef tanks, with maybe 2 fish in each. (I have a 55 g corner bow front at home)

07-27-2007, 08:52 AM	#2 (permalink)
BigAl07 Reef Addict (hopeless) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 10,619 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: BioBalls / No BioBalls \| LR / No LR (Filtration) ? If they are INDEED going to be Reef tanks then NO Bio-balls. Inverts (corals, shrimp etc etc) are very sensitive to high levels of Nitrates. Bio-balls do a good job of breaking down "matter" but unless they are cleaned VREY often that same matter accumulates and creates a "Nitrate Factory".. When you clean them you actually remove the BENEFICIAL bacteria from your tank that you're trying to foster to grow. If it's a FO (Fish Only) tank then stay with Bio-balls. Otherwise ditch them and replace with LR which will harbor and foster the bacterial growth you desire without the build up of said "matter". In My Nano Cube 12g I have : Chamber 1 has a sponge that I replace with clean on 3x a week. This is just to catch LARGE particles before they get into the back chambers. Chamber 2 is 3/4 full of LR Rubble and an occasional carbon pack for water polishing every 4th week. chamber 3 is Pump and Heater. In the tank is approximately 16 lbs of LR and 10lbs of Live Sand. These both have lots of beneficial bacteria as well as lots of other GOOD critters. Hope this helps. Allen __________________ Allen Allen's testimonial . . ."Let Me help you help YOURSELF" (Click Here) with a SW set up there is one basic fundamental rule that we ALL should follow *When in doubt... wait it out. This means take it slow and let the tank "develop" and don't rush it. Time is your friend Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef Reef Balls & Cakes Debt Free & Change your Family Tree!!

07-27-2007, 08:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
BigAl07 Reef Addict (hopeless) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 10,619 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: BioBalls / No BioBalls \| LR / No LR (Filtration) ? Sorry about that.. Welcome to RS! Take your time and browse around. You'll find a WEALTH of useful information and ideas here. It's a great place to learn!! Allen __________________ Allen Allen's testimonial . . ."Let Me help you help YOURSELF" (Click Here) with a SW set up there is one basic fundamental rule that we ALL should follow *When in doubt... wait it out. This means take it slow and let the tank "develop" and don't rush it. Time is your friend Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef Reef Balls & Cakes Debt Free & Change your Family Tree!!

07-27-2007, 10:24 AM	#4 (permalink)
Raf Scopas Tang Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: N. Vancouver, BC Canada Posts: 431 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: BioBalls / No BioBalls \| LR / No LR (Filtration) ? If you are not going to run Bio media(aka bio balls, or whatever) then you need to add enough LR to the tanks, 1.5 lb per gallon would do and preferable cured. Then you can just run mech media that gets thrown out every 1 or 2 weeks. IMO, the LR rubble in the filter can turn into a NO3 factory just like the Bioballs do. In a small tank, you will have a light stocking most likely, and waterchanges are not a big deal as the volume is small, so if you decide against adding so much LR or adding any at all, the bioballs or wahatever other biomedia won't be such a big deal, you will just have to monitor your N03 more carefully. __________________ Our Photos: Nikon D70 w Nikkor 60mm 2.8d micro http://www.aquaticescapes.ca Check out our Malawi site: http://www.malawimayhem.com Cheers Raf & Diana

07-27-2007, 03:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
Burns11 Tunicate Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 20 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: BioBalls / No BioBalls \| LR / No LR (Filtration) ? What about a bag of Purigen in the back instead of the rubble?

07-31-2007, 06:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
BigAl07 Reef Addict (hopeless) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 10,619 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: BioBalls / No BioBalls \| LR / No LR (Filtration) ? I don't know about INSTEAD! You can run that in addition to anything else but don't let it build up with "stuff" or you have a handy dandy Nitrate factory. Allen __________________ Allen Allen's testimonial . . ."Let Me help you help YOURSELF" (Click Here) with a SW set up there is one basic fundamental rule that we ALL should follow *When in doubt... wait it out. This means take it slow and let the tank "develop" and don't rush it. Time is your friend Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef Reef Balls & Cakes Debt Free & Change your Family Tree!!

07-31-2007, 06:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 18,473 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: BioBalls / No BioBalls \| LR / No LR (Filtration) ? Welcome to RS! I would and have replaced my bio-balls with LR. When I had the bio-balls I had nitrates. Now I don't. __________________ 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.

08-06-2007, 07:33 PM	#8 (permalink)
flricordia Just Mike for short Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Pensacola FL Posts: 595 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: BioBalls / No BioBalls \| LR / No LR (Filtration) ? I run only Fostersmith phospur pads (cut to fit in canister filter) and purigen and have been since startup of this 14gl. I do have a chaeto/LR fuge. No PS. It stays algae free and the glass I wipe no more than once a weeks. Sand stays bleach white and clams are growing way too fast for such a small tank. I am probably going to have to get rid of them before too long. Water changes every 2 weeks. I wouldn't use bioballs myself. Use only LR.

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