remove bio-balls and ceramic rings?

H

HkySk8r187

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Oct 18, 2004
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I just purchased a 12g Nano Cube. There is a compartment in the back of the tank for filtration which contains several sponges, activated carpon, ceramic rings, and bio-balls. I'm unfamiliar with this type of filtration (I only know a bit about skimmers). The instruction sheet says for reef tanks remove the ceramic rings and bio-balls to prevent the buildup of nitrate.

I'm curious if this recommendation is correct. I've read about people on this forum using bio-balls in their reef tank and I'm not sure why they would give me more nitrate.

Any advice/opinions welcome. Please let me know how to set up my filtration in my new tank.
 
Depends on how they are setup. If they will be in a wey-dry style filter, then the media can trap solid wastes where cleaners can't get to them. These solid wastes break down, creating ammonia and nitrites. The bacteria colonies increase to deal with them, right there on the rings/balls. But, the bacteria that consume nitrates, the end result, can't thrive in the same media and the production of nitrates tends to be more than the bacteria can keep up with normally.

If the media will be submerged, it's not a big concern, since the normal detrivores can get to the trapped wastes and consume them. Of course, this is true for both FO and reef setups.
 
I've been reading alot on bio-balls lately. The thing that I have found out is that people tend to put the balls in and think that they are good to go for ten years. That's not the case. When the nitrates start creeping up it's time to start cleaning the balls, about a 1/4 of them per week. Don't clean them under the tap though, just sort of rinse them in the water you pull out of the tank for a change. A lot of people hate bio balls, but it's mostly the lack of maintenance that does the damage, it's like any other equipment out there.
 
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If I were to remove the bioballs and ceramic rings all that leaves in the filtration area is some sponges and carpon. How is this supposed to filter the water? Doesn't seem like a good filtration method.

I plan on making it a nano reef with one or 2 small fish and some inverts. Which method do you think would be best?
 
Live rock is the best filter, but sponges are also valuable areas for bacteria to colonize. The carbon will be quickly used up, and then it too acts as a point of colonization. Sponges are all that's used in many FW systems--they aren't as good in SW because of the encrusting organisms, like stony tube worms, that make sponges tough to clean in SW. But, enough live rock and sand works just fine as well. I have a 120 gallon reef with no bio balls, sponges, or other 'media'--just lots of live rock and sand. For mechanical filtration, critters like crabs and shrimps and snails and worms and stars are far better--and cooler to look at.
 
Ok so I will remove the bio balls and ceramic rings. How should water flow through the filter system? Water comes in and goes through sponges first, then through carbon, and then back into tank? I plan on having about 20lbs of LR adn 10lbs of LS in the tank for most of it's filtration along with cleaners.

Since I plan on using LR and LS am I better off keeping the sponges and carbon in the filtration area of the tank, or better off removing them competely and not using any other filtration besides LR and LS?
 
I'd go with just the rock and sand, keeping the carbon available for specific uses. The filter will still provide water movement.
 
My LFS insists that you can't have a tank run successfully without use of a protein skimmer. Does your 120g reef tank have any skimmers, uv sterilizers, or anything other than a tank with water, LR, LS, and clean up crew?
 
My tank holds about 1.5 tons of water not shure on the exact figure after displacment with rocks corals and fish i have one external skimmer i hid behind the tank it stands 5 feet 6 inches tall it works really good about two cups of waste every few days cost about 20 dollors to build an you can use your existing airpump and power head to power it ..

I use one nitrate reactor to save on water changes this is not a must have device by any means but in a large tank can save you a few dollors on replacement salt and water bills ..

if your interested in building a nitrate reactor try this link
http://w3page.com/fishline/gif/denit.gif?

if your interested in building a counter-current protein skimmer try this link
http://www.aquariacentral.com/diy/skimmer1.shtml
 
I have a skimmer on the reef, run it about one day out of every 10. It helps remove organics, but is not required--it will help, though. If you don't add a skimmer, plan on doing more water changes.
 
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