bio balls.

[Agnate80700]

Bioballs in the sump.

Yay or nay?

opinions optional and appreciated

[ezy33]

I'll sell you 100 for shipping cost.

[chase33]

I guess that says it all!

[lando]

NAY!!!
Actually, bioballs do work okay and have for seveal years. However, there are much better options out there that have a greater benefit on the tank and do not require near the maintanance as bioballs. I recommend using LR rubble. It is a far superior filter media.

I have a couple pics in my gallery of my sump with LR rubble if you are interested.

[seaham358]

more info is needed about your tank.. Do you have LR in it and how much, tank size..

[melosu58]

I have bio balls in one of the compartments of my fuge but I am getting ready to replace them with LR rubble. According to his info it says 30 gallon tank and 45 lbs of LR

[seaham358]

Why do you want them? Should not need them with LR>

[ezy33]

IMO replace them with Chaetomorpha Algae or calurpa and a light.

[Agnate80700]

I have bioballs, they came with the sump/fuge I got (for free) for my 150 tank Im setting up.

I had heard bioballs can be nitrate factories so I was just lookin for opinions.

So as I understand it, they serve the same purpose as LR?

[lando]

So as I understand it, they serve the same purpose as LR?

Yes and no. LR is just much more efficent and requires much less maintanance.

[melosu58]

IMO the LR rubble serve a more useful purpose as they can harbour anerobic bacteria that will help to get rid nitrates as they also have some life on them that are great filter feeders. Maybe someone else out there has some other benefits.

[Agnate80700]

I have no problem removing the bioballs, i figured since theyre there i'd use em, but LR rubble is fine and dandy too.

[melosu58]

I`m getting ready to make the move myself. Good luck.

[ccCapt]

I have them and have had them for 17+ years. Dunno what "extra" maintainence is supposedly required, but I never touched mine...well except when I upsized my sump from a 10gal to a 20 long. All I did then was dump them from 1 sump to the other.
I do my normal bi-weekly water changes and that's it. If they are a nitrate factory like so many ppl say, my guys must be on strike

[animalparamedic]

How does on go about switching to LR rubble - i want to do this, but didnt know if i could just get rid of the Bio-balls and put the LR rubble in the same day... My tank has about 200lbs of LR in it already... the rubble was going to go in the sump (Pro-Clear 75)

[lando]

With plenty of LR in the main it should be pretty easy. I would replace half of the bioballs with LR rubble and wait a couple of weeks before removing the other half.

[Ziggy953]

I agree with what has been said but I thought I would just add this. Mother nature knows best. Switch out to the LR rubble and add some Macro you and your tank will be much happier!

[animalparamedic]

What do you mean by macro - sorry this part is new to me... where can i get it, and how much do i get?

[cmor1701d]

macro = "macroalgae reduce the available levels of phosphates and nitrites/nitrates, an excellent form of natural filtration."

It's also a great food source for Tangs, Rabbitfish, angels, etc.