Air stone in biocube 14

[ToeJam]

I wanted to add that switching out bioballs for live rock is no different of a nitrate factory, and if it is Im interested to hear the science behind that maybe I need an update.

The bio balls only contain one bacteria that exist on the outside of rocks...they do not contain the bacteria deep within the rocks that are important to the bio of the tank.

Quote wiki:
For the aquarium trade this rock is highly valued not only for the diversity of life it can bring to the closed marine environment, but its function as a superior biological filter that hosts both aerobic and anaerobic nitrifying bacteria required for the nitrogen cycle that processes waste. Live rock becomes the main biological nitrification base or biological filter of a saltwater aquarium. Additionally, "live rocks" have a stabilizing effect on the water chemistry, in particular on helping to maintain constant pH by release of calcium.

As you see the live rock in place over the bio balls brings many more benefits over the bio balls...nick named nitrate factories. Cause that's all they produce for you =) nothing else.

1 benefit bio ball vs multi benefit live rock =) hmmm? yes use the LR over bio balls =p

also the rubble I mention wasn't chips...more like golf ball sized ...i used tonga rocks in my bio cube ..the cylinder shapes made it most easy to stack.

Its more of a matter of getting the most out of his 2nd chamber. And the LR has been proven to be the best biological filter for marine tanks.

You want science ..we need someone like Amp to break it down even further. Cause im not that kinda poster.

 

[Amphiprion]

It is different to some extent or another in that you do have, as TJ pointed out, anaerobic denitrifiers in the general vicinity. The more meiofaunal life the rock has, the greater the internal circulation, the greater the potential for denitrification. Live rock will also have many more of the natural organisms that process waste, making it more readily reduced and, well, processed than what you'd find settling on bio-balls. That's not counting the fact that live rock has much, much more surface area on average when compared to a bioball, due to its porosity.

 

[Fishfriend1]

If choosing between live rock and bio-balls, go with the live rock. LR has tons of beneficial stuff that will help you greatly with your tank.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[joshsliftedzj]

Yea sorry it has been a while. Been busy out here on the ship. I plan on adding the live rock and putting some cheato in there and adding a little light back there. And wow everyone has a ton of info that we can all learn from. I can't wait to hit up our local coral greenhouse. I have some money to spend!!

 

[FishPish]

You want to minimize the bubbling as much as possible as it can end up causing light blockage if it gets on the lid or fixture. All the gas exchanges in the nano kits happen in the rear filtration theoretically.