Bioballs and Refugium

[nightowl2k]

Hi everyone,i just set up a h.o.b. refugium with chaeto ,a couple pcs of live rock from dt with three shaving brush bushs.my question is do i keep the bioballs in my sump for nitrites? ,or is it just a waste of space? Thanks

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[epaz]

Personal opinion here but I ditched my bio balls for Live rock rubble. So I've been told bio balls are just nitrate factories

 

[Gregcoyote]

+1 I agree. But don't dump all the bio balls at once. Slowly replace them with live rock rubble. They essentially do the same thing, provide a surface for bacteria to grow on, but the rock is far more porous and has more surface area.

 

[lstimpy]

I took all my bioballs out all at once and I use socks now. Didn't have any spikes, lots of live rock so no big deal, but better to be safe than sorry...

 

[Gregcoyote]

I automatically default to moving slower rather than fast. Any big change to the filtration system can be major, so I just suggest changing it out over a few weeks so bacteria levels can adjust.

 

[nightowl2k]

Ty,should i get rid of the trickle piece thats above the bioballs?if i do how to i change it so it works with just the live rock?

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[nightowl2k]

Also when u say rubble rock,is that the same as just broken pieces of the live rock thats in my tank?

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[Gregcoyote]

Yes, just small broken pieces.

 

[nightowl2k]

Thanks gregcoyote...anysize? Couple inches or just however they breakoff?

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[nightowl2k]

Any suggestions as to how i should go about the trickle down plate?

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[epaz]

I removed my plate and installed a piece of clear tube down below water level to aleviate the splash of the water

 

[Gregcoyote]

Yeah, anything from marble size to golf ball size is what I shot for. I would leave the trickle down plate in place.

 

[ezy33]

IMO losing the drip plate was the way to go. To reduce noise and bubbles.

 

[Gregcoyote]

You want to try to distribute the water flow as randomly as possible. But I haven't had one of these filters in a long time. They can be a bit loud as I remember.

 

[nightowl2k]

Great advise,ty...last ?..how deep should the pile of rubble rock b?same as bioballs or just enough under the water level?

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[ezy33]

Keep your rock under water at all times.

 

[nightowl2k]

Thanks

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