Replacing Bio-Balls w/ LR Rubble

[havnfun328]

I've read several posts and threads about this, and I have a stupid question. Does the LR need to be completely submerged, or will the trickle water keep the LR alive and provide the needed flow to remove nitrates?

Just replacing the balls would be a lot easier, as opposed to setting up a `fuge (which is the long term plan). But, the level in the filter drops to only a couple of inches sometimes, and I don't want any die-off.

[arpy]

I have read arguments both ways (about LR rubble needing to be fully submerged). Just to confuse matters more, I have read some people suggest running without media over bio balls.

I don't bring this up to confuse you more, but so we can both get the best answer! :)

[SigPiPup]

I don't run media over my bio-balls. I was never told that it was necessary. Is it?

I too am confused about the bio-ball/LR rubble debate. The whole point of replacing the bio-balls with the rubble is to decrease the levels of Nitrates that bio-balls allegedly produce. Bio-balls are designed to create a greater surface area for beneficial bacteria to colonize. Unless the LR rubble is submerged, what makes it different than bio-balls? Is it that there are anaerobic areas on the rubble that are able to reduce nitrates?

[arpy]

I have read some people suggest running without media over bio balls.


I guess what I meant to say was - removing the bio balls and not replacing them with anything...

[SigPiPup]

Oh, ok. Phew....thought I was doing something wrong.

A sump without bio-balls=one step closer to a refugium.

[havnfun328]

As I understand it, Bio-Balls are aerobic, so won't support the anaerobic bacteria that convert NO3 to N2 and finish the nitrogen cycle. Bio-balls will support the bacteria that convert NH3 => NO2 => NO3.

[Slappy*McFish]

This is a subject that always confuses me. It seems that the conversion of ammonia>nitrites>nitrates is going to happen whether you have bioballs or not. It depends on the bio-load of the tank. Aerobic biomedia (bioballs/etc) just speed up the process eliminating prolonged exposure to ammonia and nitrite. It would seem that as long as the tank itself has sufficient LR and a deep sand bed with anaerobic capacities, and/or a refugium, the nitrates produced through the nitrification process would be reduced regardless. I hear many people say that filters and bioballs trap waste...and this is true, but wouldn't the waste still be in the tank even if the filter media wasn't there to trap it?
This is assuming one is using a protein skimmer, with or without bio-media in the filter(s) and assuming one doesn't neglect the filters and cleans them accordingly. Can someone shed some light on this for me?

[havnfun328]

Bump.

Nobody has addressed my original question: If I replace the bio-balls with LR rubble, does it have to be totally submerged? Or is the "trickle" water enough?

[Reefscape]

i would not have live rock rubble out of the water as you are going to be loosing the benefit of surface area and beneficial bacteria is going to die off....