Question about bio balls...

[TrashmanTodd]

Hey all,

I bought a wet/dry filter for make fresh water tank and I was wondering how often if at all do you need to clean the bio-balls?

Thanks
Todd

 

[Hans]

never clean them! think of them as a living colony of poop eating bacteria balls! tey eat the poop so you dont have to! dont kill them!

 

[JON]

Hans is right! Do not clean them! You risk re-cycling your tank!

 

[TrashmanTodd]

That's good to know, because where I put the filter makes it really hard to get them out if need be.

Trash

 

[RTR]

Bioballs should not require cleaning, that I agree with.

But the bacteria on bioballs do not eat poop, they consume ammonium or nitrite, both dissolved materiasl. Fish poop is solid waste and must be broken down by other bacteria, fungi, and infusorians.

 

[blitzen25bm]

i do sometimes stir them around to help them lose some bio film and other slime. but with a good prefilter you shouldnt worry

 

[Hans]

hey RTR i was speaking in laymans terms, why does eveyone have to b a damned chemist around here!

 

[rick458]

Nice Collectoin of tanks you have there Hans

 

[RTR]

Even in layman's terms, incorrect information is still incorrect. This is a hobby board, but it does not mean we have to ignore the facts.

 

[Hans]

well the way i saw it, someone that doenst know if he should clean his bio balls is probbaly VERY new to the hobby and must be talked to in a way any joe schmoe can understand. you think everyone knows what the heck nitrities are lol?