"Nitrate builders"

[Texreefer]

if bio balls are so bad why does every LFS i walk into have them on their setups? and some places i have been do have been running their tanks for 10+ years.

For the reasons we just stated above!

[Agent Jones]

For the reasons we just stated above!

I guess im not asking the correct question cause i read all of that and its made no sense...its like reading greek. sorry i was just asking for a normal answer

[Texreefer]

Bioballs are a nitrate factory.. good biological filtration but nitrates build up over time
in fish only systems this is not a huge problem unless excess waste is going into the tank. generally a skimmer and regular maintenance can alleviate problem.
LFS use these systems because they are easy and effective and they generally don't have livestock in these systems long term
in a home system your animals are there for life and especially if it is a reef or mixed reef these built up nitrates can cause problems.
we must remove nitrates from our systems faster than it is created. bioballs being removed is just a faster means to that end, they can be used but better not to
bottom line is for nitrate production, bioballs work too well
if you have the means to remove nitrates faster or more efficiently than they are being produced then bioballs are fine

[Agent Jones]

Bioballs are a nitrate factory.. good biological filtration but nitrates build up over time
in fish only systems this is not a huge problem unless excess waste is going into the tank. generally a skimmer and regular maintenance can alleviate problem.
LFS use these systems because they are easy and effective and they generally don't have livestock in these systems long term
in a home system your animals are there for life and especially if it is a reef or mixed reef these built up nitrates can cause problems.
we must remove nitrates from our systems faster than it is created. bioballs being removed is just a faster means to that end, they can be used but better not to
bottom line is for nitrate production, bioballs work too well
if you have the means to remove nitrates faster or more efficiently than they are being produced then bioballs are fine

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! thats all i was asking. everyone was trying to ask. Im getting the tank started this weekend and i didnt know if i should have keeped the bio balls or not. LFS were telling me to keep them but your reply makes sense why they use them..

[aggman]

ok i had this question as well, and mike you did an excellent job helping me to understand it.

so my question now is what is an actual method for removing nitrates from a small system. i have an all in one and i can't control the nitrates. i used rubble because i was told the whole 'bioballs are bad!!!' story. so anyway if i was to keep the rubble and my skimmer, what could i do to effectively reduce nitrates? right now i am stuck at ~40.

~alex

[gjuarez]

Live rock rubble is not effective in reducing nitrates, especially if they are small pieces. Nitrates can only be reduced with anaerobic bacteria, or with macro algae. Anaerobic bacteria will not grow on bio balls or live rock rubble, the rubble would have to be very thick in order for the bacteria to grow very deep inside where there are very low oxygen levels.

Lets talk about bio-balls, their function and why it is that you always find them where you find them. Bio-balls are often used in wet dry sumps, more often than not the drain trickles through them but they are not dirrectly submerged in the water. Why? The reason for that is because they need to be located where there are very high oxygen levels, where aerobic (not anaerobic) bacteria can grow. Bio balls are often used because they have plenty of surface area for this bacteria to grow. Alot of detritus and gunk gets trapped in there and with as much water running through them it gets dissolved back into the system. Bioballs need to be maintained regularly, rinsed in freshly made saltwater so that you dont kill the bacteria.

[Bill S]

Remember at a LFS:

Fish can tolerate a much higher nitrate level than most corals.

They can't sell it if they aren't using it.

LR Rubble and bioball serve a similar function. The best use of them is as bubble traps, in my opinion.

[glennr1978]

ok i had this question as well, and mike you did an excellent job helping me to understand it.

so my question now is what is an actual method for removing nitrates from a small system. i have an all in one and i can't control the nitrates. i used rubble because i was told the whole 'bioballs are bad!!!' story. so anyway if i was to keep the rubble and my skimmer, what could i do to effectively reduce nitrates? right now i am stuck at ~40.

~alex

how much are you feeding? also, are you using any macro?

[mikedelgado]

nitrates, my sps corals worst enemy! After a year long battle I finally figured how to keep them in check.

[reddrum]

I keeps being brought up that bioballs are too fast at producing nitrates...Would you rather ammonia and nitrite hang around longer?

Personally I would rather keep them at zero and deal with the nitrates.

I guess my point with this was maybe would should stress more to newcomers to the saltwater/nano tank deal that waste removal and nitrate control (protein skimmers/macro algae) are more important than what biological filtration you have.

Bottom line is if you have live rock rubble, sponge, bioballs, or whatever else you choose it will slow water flow. Thus, accumulating waste. Additionally, nitrates will be produced. It is your job to remove them since it is very difficult to utilize anaerobic denitrification.