JimBarr
Aquarium Advice Newbie
I have had FW aquariums for many years and recently started a saltwater tank. I see that my current tank is not large enough for some fish species that I wish to keep i.e. Yellow Tang. I am looking at a 75gal tank. I am wanting to do this right the first time. I plan on it being a mini-reef.
Reading these forums many people say that bio-balls, bio-wheels are bad and are the reefers enemy. They produce too many nitrates. The way I understand it is that fish waste and decomposition produce ammonia. Nature has provided us a bacteria that processes this and changes it into nitrite. Yet another bacteria turns the nitrite into nitrate. Nitrate, though harmless to fish unless it is in excessive quantities is deadly to inverts. The macroalgaes in refugiums will take care of nitrates.
My question is how is the presence of bio balls, wheels affect nitrates? They have no impact on the amount of ammonia that is being produced. The ammonia will eventually be changed to nitrate regardless if bio-balls are there or not.
Reading these forums many people say that bio-balls, bio-wheels are bad and are the reefers enemy. They produce too many nitrates. The way I understand it is that fish waste and decomposition produce ammonia. Nature has provided us a bacteria that processes this and changes it into nitrite. Yet another bacteria turns the nitrite into nitrate. Nitrate, though harmless to fish unless it is in excessive quantities is deadly to inverts. The macroalgaes in refugiums will take care of nitrates.
My question is how is the presence of bio balls, wheels affect nitrates? They have no impact on the amount of ammonia that is being produced. The ammonia will eventually be changed to nitrate regardless if bio-balls are there or not.