Question about bio-balls

[himegs]

Any time there is a mention of bio-balls, someone (or several someones) is going to write that bio-balls should not be used because they soon become nitrate factories. It is one of those things that you see so much that you take it for truth without questioning.

But I often see, and read about, people using live rock rubble in situations initially set up for bio-balls. i.e. in a wet-dry, one of the chambers in a cube, etc. So why would bio-balls turn into nitrate factories, and live rock rubble not, the an identical application? I really can't see any significant difference except for, possibly, the amount of surface area.

I'm not looking for an excuse to use bio-balls. I'm more concerned that live rock rubble, in certain conditions, could be just as big of a problem.

[ACE]

there is a thread on RC about this right now. everyone on that thread has unanimously said Bio balls are no good. if this is true, not good for me since I just got some to start my new 75RR.

[himegs]

I appreciate any and all replies. A link would be helpful, if you have it.

I have seen numerous threads on the subject, but the majority of the posts seem to be from people repeating what they have read elsewhere. They may be correct. But I suspect that most of them don't really know.

[Paul28]

When i first got into the hobby i yoused bioballs, after 4 to 5 months i lived with nitrate problems never could control them and yes i had a hang on fuge with cheato still did not control the nitrats so i did reserch on alot of defrent things it could be thohgt it was my crushed coral substrat, So i changed it out with a deap sand bed did not touch sand bed for 2 months so it can istablish lost few fish from nitrats still i was getting frustrated. Then 1 day i was reading on foroms and read that others with bioballs were having high nitrates so i pulled them out 1 week later NO NITRATES. so my expirence would be throw them in the trash and dont even think about youing them. sorry for miss spelling and run on

Bioballs is just another way to give you more surface area for your biofilter thing is thay collect way to mutch crap on them and i dont know anyone that has a clean up crew for bioballs there are many other ways to produce surface areas on a salt tank live rock and a good deap sand bed goodflow and a good stable ph you will be fine inless you go corals then other pers come into place, but i wont bore you this is about bioballs

[JLiu]

The process:

waste->ammonia->nitrite->nitrate->nitrogen gas

Environment for the processes:

aerobic->aerobic->aerobic->anaerobic

The idea or the creation of bio balls (great at what they were designed for) is to encourage the growth aerobic bacteria which consume waste and in the process give off ammonia, a aerobic bacteria turns ammonia into nitrites and a aerobic bacteria turns nitrites to nitrates. Since the process for nitrates to nitrogen gas requires anaerobic environment (which is not possible with bio balls because they are made from a non-porous plastic). Rock rubble in theory are made of millions of tiny porous holes which in turn do the aerobic part on the outside and very deep within the rock where oxygen can not get to it also has an anaerobic environment. Which allows for the Nitrates to be converted into Nitrogen gas. That is the theory theres another saying that if the rock isn't big enough there isn't an ample environment to convert nitrates to nitrogen gas(so only big rocks count and not rubble). Nothing is set in stone i've known many people to have zero nitrates in a bio-ball system and many that don't use them at all, for each their own it has been an on going experiment since the late 70's and has grown leaps and bounds in the last few years. The only corals we've kept back then were the bleached white skeletal remains of corals used for decorations. Now we can sustain corals under L.E.D. lighting so you can experiment for yourself and see what works best for you.

[apedroza]

I used bioballs in the beginning. The problem with them is that they will eventually become bogged down with ditritus and trapped debris from the main tank. This is what causes the nitrate build up, not the bioball themselves!!! Bioballs need to be cleaned periodically to avoid this. They are not meant to be submerged. They are for the water to flow through and create more oxygen and start up your benificial bacteria. Also live rubble is not meant to be used in place of bioballs. Live rubble is already seeded with the bacteria (hopefully) and thus is used in place of the bioballs, but must be submerged in order to work properly. An unkept tank using live rock as a filter will also create nitrate build up. So maintenace is the key hen using either bioballs or liverock. I hope this helps.

[Paul28]

VERY well said :applause:

[RayAllen]

Do Not use them if you want a successful reef. They are better off in FO, FOWLR and fresh water tanks.

[himegs]

I hate to just accept something without asking "why". I wanted to understand the problem with bio-balls, but I also wanted to be sure that live rock rubble would not eventually cause the same problems.

The replies were clear and to the point. I really appreciate it.

[wesheltonj]

I have heard the same thing don't use bio-balls, use live rock rubble, cheato, etc. I would agree with what causes NO3 is that the cycle is not completed. If live rock was the be all and end all, I should be at zero NO3, but that not the case as I have a ton of live rock (been told I have too Much live rock), deep sand bed, and tried Cheato just cannot get it down to zero. Tried 80% water change, nothing. There is a thread on Reef Central regarding a DIY sulpher NO3 Reactor. Those that are setting them up, and its takes a while to start the cycle, are getting ZERO NO3 output.

[Paul28]

Do you have alot of good flow throgh your live rock to prevent dead spots ?

[wesheltonj]

I've got a ton of flow, I have three vortech 40w powerheads along the back wall of the tank, on about half flow. Which is about 1500 g/hr each. I can make 3000 g/hr with each but the aminals don't like that.

[tony]

the live rock doesnt have to be rubble per say. i think this trend was started with the nano peoples. if your sump is big enough throw 40-50 lbs of rock in there (or more or less).

[ErikH]

I put my money in rock and sand. I have two engineers that are 10"+ and they stir the sand without anhillating my microfauna. I believe that the microfaunas role in this process is also a strong one, as well as what the gobies do. The microfauna helps to devour excess detritus, which helps keep the system in good balance. I have a feeling this is why people attain dead sand beds after a few years because there is nothing left alive as far as microfauna goes. It's speculation, but it's my best guess.