Remove Bio-balls or not?

[DarthFred6996]

I have a new 14 gallon Oceanic BioCube. I have 15 lbs live rock and a sand bed about 2" deep. I am mid cycle. I have read that the bio balls are a bad thing to keep if I am planning on having corals. I have also read that they are not a problem. You can understand my confusion.

I just figure more area for biological filtration is better, but some stories mention the Bio balls are nitrate factories.

So , should I remove them or not?

 

[Reefscape]

bad bio-balls...bad...bad.....

Sorry, just wanted to get that off my chest....Seriously though...Yes, bio-balls can become nitrate factories, but, techniaclly, so can anything that has a surface area that is in contact with the water..

But, i believe, some are surface area'a are worst than others..I know it probably contriversal to say it, but i dont believe in filter media or bio-balls..with your ammount of live rock, your getting the right ammount of filtration..

Niko

 

[jojo22]

Niko is right. REMOVE THEM and put LR rubble in their place.

 

[Germanman]

yup take em out and add the rock rubble.

 

[DarthFred6996]

Thanks for the responses. I guess I will have to add the rubble then wait through another cycle? When you say rubble, how big is "rubble"? Do you think I could add the rubble and also add a few snails and a few crabs to clean the dead off my live rock?

 

[Reefscape]

if you are mid cycle, then ammonia should of gone back down to zero and nitrITES about middle, so yes, add some clean up crew mate...

for rubble, about golf ball size in my opinion...

Niko

 

[DarthFred6996]

OK. I am now getting more confused.

The guy at the fish store said that he would not change the balls out. he said if I put rubble in there then it will just be a dirt trap that in itself will lead to nitrate problems. He talked me out of spending money with him, so I felt he had a valid point. This store is a Saltwater/reef only store with 6 nanos running for displays (items inside not for sale) that range from 6 gallon to 24 gallon. All off them still have the original bioballs/rods in them and he said that he cleans the balls every 6 months and he has no problem with nitrate levels above 10-15 ppm. His tanks look beatiful and the water looks pristine.

I did remove the carbon filter as you and he both suggested. He said to put it in for one week a month after a partial water change. I also put my heater in the first compartment to get it out of sight.

So who do I listen to? Should I at least remove the sponge? Should I go to another store (less reputable around here) and get some rubble?

PLEASE HELP ME BE LESS CONFUSED! I want to get this all taken care of before I start adding fish and inverts in a week. Oh yeah, he told me to wait on buying a cleaning crew as well. He told me to add about 4 snails next week and then wait a week to add a sandsifting goby. Then another week to add a detrivore of my liking.

What do you think?


SO

 

[Reefscape]

ok...what you have to appreciate is that everybody has an opinion that is based on experience..I think i can talk for most "most" of the reefers on here that we prefer live rock rubble to bioballs...That is our opinion, based on experience...

Your local fish shop will also be stating his/her point based on their experience..There are no right or wrong way, no golden rules set in stone..

You need to listen to all infomation and absorb it, and if you come to a stumbling block, you have to make a command decision. The decisions that are made by people asking the questions, are ultimatly down to them.

I know this is probably not been any help to you mate..But, i base my theory on my experience and constantly low nitrates >5

Niko

 

[johansonp]

The bio-balls are unnecessary and should come out.

You don't have to listen to him or us; Charles Delbeek and Julian Sprung cover the matter quite thoroughly in "The Reef Aquarium, Volume 1".

The LFS guy isn't a bad guy, he's just misinformed. Trickle filters are no longer considered a best practice in aquarium husbandry.

Paul

 

[Germanman]

The bio-balls are unnecessary and should come out.

You don't have to listen to him or us; Charles Delbeek and Julian Sprung cover the matter quite thoroughly in "The Reef Aquarium, Volume 1".

The LFS guy isn't a bad guy, he's just misinformed. Trickle filters are no longer considered a best practice in aquarium husbandry.

Paul

nicely said