Nitrates.......TO BIO BALL OR NOT TO BIO BALL......what shall i do?

[secretreefer]

Hey guys,
running wet/dry with pre filter, driptray, and pura filtration pads (3x) under drip tray. about 5g of bioballs under that. tank and params are good but i just want to try to get it even better (little red slime algae at a couple spots) .....just wondering what everyones take is on using bio balls. should i rinse 1/4 of it in saltwater to clean? 1/2 of it? all of it at once? (all rinsing in saltwater of course). how often should i be rinsing the bioballs? (pads rinsed every other week, bioballs rinsed once every 2 months) take em all out and put more live rock in there? i bought a 2 chamber brs reactor and a 2x dosing aquamedic pump so i thought i would change it up(filtration) while adding those items.

 

[beaslbob]

I would add macro algaes (chaeto) someplace in the system.

I would also kill the lights until the cyano dies off.



my .02

 

[secretreefer]

ah can't kill the lights. too much sticks in the tank.

 

[ReeferRob]

Your sticks can go up to 72 hours without light and be fine.

Bioballs are old school, work fine if rinsed regularly. You should slowly start to phase them out for live rock of various sizes. If you have the room do some macro.

 

[secretreefer]

yeah i was thinking i might do the gradual phase out bioballs- phase in LR. and add chaeto. can chaeto grow under one of those GE under cabinet lights? i have a 24 inch one under the stand to light under there while working.

 

[BIG FISH]

I use a florescent bulb (curly type) in a clip on garage light cheap and it really makes that stuff grow.

 

[reefer54]

from a guy who has been running a wetdry for 10 years, leave the bio balls alone, with the pura pads in the drip tray, you shouldn't be getting much junk in the bioballs. i have found that using bluebonded pads cut to size in the driptray and changed weekly, my bioballs have no buildup on them, no nitrate what so ever. the bioballs need time to build up the correct bacterical balance on them.

 

[Fragtastic Reef]

Your sticks can go up to 72 hours without light and be fine.

Bioballs are old school, work fine if rinsed regularly. You should slowly start to phase them out for live rock of various sizes. If you have the room do some macro.

Bioballs are not to be rinsed.....Rinsing the bioballs defeats the entire purpose of having them in the wet/dry.. Using bioballs will consume ammonia, but will not benefit your nitrates at all. Usually bioballs are used in FOWLR or FO tanks. Since nitrates are not a factor to worry much about. Phasing out the bioballs might be a good idea if your wanting to do SPS or other demanding corals. Switching them slowly out and putting LR in would be an option. Macro algae would be a good addition as already stated and would also recommend that. HTH.

 

[secretreefer]

thanks guys. i have ALOT of LR already in the display so should i just sock the pipe and put some chaeto? oh and remove the bio balls? i do have sticks and LPS already that are doing great. ...................or should i not change anything?

 

[beaslbob]

If everything is doing great then I would not change anything.

 

[starfire550]

Leave it alone! Like beaslbob said good luck

 

[starfire550]

OhH yea skim heavy!

 

[fastrd400]

If it was me, I'd phase out the Bio-Balls for rock and rock rubble. Also adjust your flow a bit to hit those dead spots where you have the cyno growing. A 23watt CFL bulb on a simple clip on light would work perfectly for your Macro as well. Good Luck.

 

[secretreefer]

thanks guys. i'll keep doing what i'm doing and i upgraded my skimmer 5 days ago. hope it makes a difference!~