Bioballs Vs Live Rock

[edshas2]

Ok im currently cycling my tank and im having a big algea bloom which seems to be normal. Got a 14G biocube. Well this cube has a wet/dry filter system i have 2 questions, Would it be better to take the bioballs out of my middle chamber and just put in live rock rubble or bioballs ok. Also the powerhead is rated at 136gph i was thinking of using an eheim 600 which is rated at 160gph theres about 10g of water in tank would this be beneficial or not much of a difference to warrant the change, thanks for info

 

[Musho3210]

yes rubble will be better.

 

[Lynden]

Agreed. Bioballs are "too efficient" for most reef aquaria, and will convert nitrites to nitrates faster than the rock and sand can process the nitrates. Which is why bioballs have gained the nickname "nitrate factory".

 

[1entra]

I agree with both the above posts, live rock rubble is defo better than ceramic media or bio-balls!

 

[andywg]

Agreed. Bioballs are "too efficient" for most reef aquaria, and will convert nitrites to nitrates faster than the rock and sand can process the nitrates. Which is why bioballs have gained the nickname "nitrate factory".

I am sorry, but this just can't be true.

If the bioballs are converting amonia through nitrite to nitrate quicker than the Live Rock from the same sources (animals in the tank) then the Live Rock will be leaving ammonia or nitrite in the tank that the bioballs are converting. If this is the case then I would far rather have bio balls and nitrates than live rock and ammonia/nitrite.

What actually happens is that most SW keepers are lazy at cleaning out their tanks and equipment and don't clean out media like bioballs and sponges. This can lead to detritus building up and decaying thus causing the increased nitrates which the LR and other nitrate exportation devices cannot keep up with.

However, without some funky designs, bioballs will work aerobically and never convert nitrates to nitrogen like Live Rock can in its anoxic areas within the rock.

 

[Lynden]

Bio-Balls have surface areas far greater than that of live rock, and they also lack anaerobic bacteria that process nitrates. If one has biofiltration consisting of mostly bio-balls with only a little rock, obviously nitrates will build up quickly, even if one cleans the bio-balls (debris in bio-balls will usually be reduced to the point at which they no longer give out nitrates anyways; which is why an aquarium with lots of debris doesn't have to be full of nitrates).

If one only has live rock and deep sand, the nitrogenous wastes will all be processed at the same time, I have read (in an old PFK issue). However, I haven't tested this myself and cannot verify it's accuracy; I probably should have stated that.

 

[andywg]

Bio-Balls have surface areas far greater than that of live rock, and they also lack anaerobic bacteria that process nitrates. If one has biofiltration consisting of mostly bio-balls with only a little rock, obviously nitrates will build up quickly, even if one cleans the bio-balls (debris in bio-balls will usually be reduced to the point at which they no longer give out nitrates anyways; which is why an aquarium with lots of debris doesn't have to be full of nitrates).

If one only has live rock and deep sand, the nitrogenous wastes will all be processed at the same time, I have read (in an old PFK issue). However, I haven't tested this myself and cannot verify it's accuracy; I probably should have stated that.

But the nitrates are not building up because the bioballs are processing the ammonia too fast, but because there is nothing processing the nitrates. Put in a DSB and some algage and you may well find you can do away with LR in favour of bioballs.

They most certainly are not "nitrate factories" somehow increasing the production of nitrates as many seem to think.

 

[Lynden]

Good point.

 

[Dorkhedeos]

I actually think the live rock has more surface area than bioballs, just that it doesnt have that surface area exposed to oxygenated water. I just had a quick question, where does all the crap go with lr? I always thought it was processed by stuff in the live rock, but ive never been sure.

 

[Lynden]

It is converted into algal matter, as well as small eukaryotes and bacteria. By which I mean they "eat" it.