Bin Weed Posted September 26, 2005 Share Posted September 26, 2005 24 dx Well i started the tank with the bioballs in the back and will probably end up keeping 2 or 3 in there and take the rest out. can anyone give me a good rate to remove the bio-balls? like 2 a week?? thanks much Bin Link to comment
Bobalouy Posted September 26, 2005 Share Posted September 26, 2005 Do you have anything in your tank yet? How long has it been set up? Link to comment
Bin Weed Posted September 26, 2005 Author Share Posted September 26, 2005 sorry, yeah the tank is just about full and the nitrate lvl is about between 0-10ppm. For now i have a Yellow Watchman Goby and a longnose hawkfish, and i plan to add a False Percula Clown (if that matters). I have about 7 different species of coral and an almost abondant amount of LR. Oh yeah the tank has been set-up for about 6 weeks. thanks, Bin still learning Link to comment
HkySk8r187 Posted September 27, 2005 Share Posted September 27, 2005 Take one out a week...why rush it? Better safe than sorry. Why keep a few in there? Either leave them all (not recommended), or take all of them out. Link to comment
Cable Posted September 27, 2005 Share Posted September 27, 2005 If you have that much live rock then I seriously doubt that the bio balls are doing much at all. Besides how many are in there like 4? If there were 40 then maybe you would have a problem removing them at once. Link to comment
Bin Weed Posted September 27, 2005 Author Share Posted September 27, 2005 hmm two differing opinions, now the decision im takin 2 out a week Thanks Fellas Bin Link to comment
nickbedecs Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 I guess I don't yet understand why the balls should be taken out. Can someone get me up to par? Link to comment
gbhil Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 Originally posted by nickbedecs I guess I don't yet understand why the balls should be taken out. Can someone get me up to par? The balls are very efficient at converting ammonia to nitrite, and nitrite to nitrate, but do very little nitrate removal. Live rock is marginally efficient at all 3 steps of the process. If the live rock and bio ball media are in competition, the bio balls will create nitrate faster than live rock can convert it to gas and release it, so your nitrate readings continually climb. In the old days, we would use nitrate spirals or algae scrubber trays along with diligent water changes to try to reduce the nitrates. Unless you want to build one of these, you're better off not using the balls. Hope this was clear GB Link to comment
EclipseAgent Posted September 28, 2005 Share Posted September 28, 2005 I would just take them all out. Getting rid of Nitrates will NOT shock the fish. Link to comment
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