Bioblocks and bottomed out nutrients

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

“An entire reactor of Matrix”. Are you aware that running a boi media like this in a media reactor will specifically encourage aerobic bacteria AND discourage anaerobic (because of the forced flow)? This would likely explain the ineffectiveness you are seeing.

Thanks, I was going to post the same thing

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Thought you might like to see an active consumer of dinoflagellates

Thanks for the tag... smh

 

[nuxx Verified Sponsor]

Doubt it... I ran many multiples of system volume of big Marine Pure blocks, never had an issue.

 

[Subsea]

I am not following...

Then quite projecting and listen.

“In Reef Aquarium Volume 3, Julian Sprung discusses how aerobic & anaerobic chemistry happen in close proximity of each other (coupled).”

“Let’s park here and talk about anaerobic & aerobic bacteria. Aerobic bacteria double in density every 20 minutes. Anarobic bacteria take 6 hours to double in density, because of the energy required to break the bond of NO4 molecule to consume oxygen and then allow a free N2 molecule to escape as nutrient export.“

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Then quite projecting and listen.

“In Reef Aquarium Volume 3, Julian Sprung discusses how arobic & anarobic chemistry happen in close proximity of each other (coupled).”

“Let’s park here and talk about anaerobic & aerobic bacteria. Aerobic bacteria double in density every 20 minutes. Anarobic bacteria take 6 hours to double in density, because of the energy required to break the bond of NO4 molecule to consume oxygen and then allow a free N2 molecule to escape as nutrient export.“

No need to be rude.

 

[Subsea]

If that is rude, then you are right:

I don’t need to be on this thread.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I see no reason for bio blocks in any reef system with low nitrate and I’d remove them.

Converting ammonia in them is not needed, and may be detrimental.

 

[Pickle_soup]

Then quite projecting and listen.

“In Reef Aquarium Volume 3, Julian Sprung discusses how aerobic & anaerobic chemistry happen in close proximity of each other (coupled).”

“Let’s park here and talk about anaerobic & aerobic bacteria. Aerobic bacteria double in density every 20 minutes. Anarobic bacteria take 6 hours to double in density, because of the energy required to break the bond of NO4 molecule to consume oxygen and then allow a free N2 molecule to escape as nutrient export.“

What in a the world am I projecting. And quotes like this is completely useless and unhelpful: “In Reef Aquarium Volume 3, Julian Sprung discusses how aerobic & anaerobic chemistry happen in close proximity of each other (coupled).” This is similar to someone throwing a random quote from the Bible and everyone following like it's be-all-end-all. You yourself can't explain these things, so you just throw out random quotes that are pretty meaningless.

 

[Sploot]

Removing the bricks might effect your nitrate lv or might not. IMO bio bricks do nothing for phosphate.
Were the bricks “seasoned “ in your display? IMO it will not hurt anything to remove them.
Everything in the tank has a bio film on it by now. So ammonia lv should be ok and good for coral anyway!!

Do you have coral in the tank yet? Either way, IMO just let nature take its course and let the Dino burn themselves out. 2 months is very new.

Bricks were cycled in the frag tank and rock/livestock were transferred in after. Yeah, ammonia levels hopefully won't be an issue since the rock sustained the fish in the other tank already!

Tank has had coral in it for the greater half of the 2 months. Mostly a collection of torches, which have all been showing decent growth and health. Although, have heard torches can potentially suffer from a lack of nutrients, so just trying to take a little preventative action

 

[Sploot]

Thought you might like to see an active consumer of dinoflagellates

Was a cool watch! Wouldn't mind some of this happening in my tank

 

[blazn]

...Even with carbon dosing, you won't completely eliminate nitrates because there are just not enough anaerobic bacteria in the system. It is possible to replicate those conditions, but you would have to have a massive filtration system designed to completely suffocate part of the water from oxygen.

FYI: you do not need a "massive filtration system" to create sufficient anaerobic conditions to significantly reduce & even completely strip nitrate from your system using carbon dosing: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/poor-mans-nutrients-control-donovans-nitrate-destroyer.302685/

 

[pygoplites77]

I see no reason for bio blocks in any reef system with low nitrate and I’d remove them.

Converting ammonia in them is not needed, and may be detrimental.

I agree if we are talking about a tank already started with live rock: increasing the surface area that can be colonized would not make sense, because there are no problems with nitrites and ammonia.But if we are talking about an aquarium to be started, it could be really convenient to insert bio blocks instead of live rock... both economically and to have a more streamlined layout in the tank.Do not you think?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I agree if we are talking about a tank already started with live rock: increasing the surface area that can be colonized would not make sense, because there are no problems with nitrites and ammonia.But if we are talking about an aquarium to be started, it could be really convenient to insert bio blocks instead of live rock... both economically and to have a more streamlined layout in the tank.Do not you think?

I’m not sure if it is desirable to have more media and less rock, but if live rock cost is an issue, it may be ok.

 

[Subsea]

I agree if we are talking about a tank already started with live rock: increasing the surface area that can be colonized would not make sense, because there are no problems with nitrites and ammonia.But if we are talking about an aquarium to be started, it could be really convenient to insert bio blocks instead of live rock... both economically and to have a more streamlined layout in the tank.Do not you think?

I prefer the look of diver collected live rock over bio blocks. I use Gulf Live Rock for biodiversity, not for filtration.

Gulf Live Rock.com

gulfliverock.com

Gulf Live Rock.com

gulfliverock.com

 

[pygoplites77]

I also prefer living rock..
However, if these very small biomedia can each replace 1 kg of living rock, it would benefit not only in economic terms, but above all in terms of space.
The real gain, I believe, is the possibility of having a very slim rock climb and putting the bio balls in a small section of the sump, being able to use the remaining space for technique

 

[gbroadbridge]

It's pretty straightforward. The amount of anaerobic bacteria in our filtration systems is minimal. That's why we have a continuous build up of nitrates in our tanks.

Speak for yourself

I don't have any accumulation of nitrate in my tank.
I dose Nitrate as it is unmeasurable otherwise.

 

[Dburr1014]

Speak for yourself

I don't have any accumulation of nitrate in my tank.
I dose Nitrate as it is unmeasurable otherwise.

Ditto

 

[GiannisDim]

Hello R2R,

Wanted to get a second opinion. I am currently dealing with a pretty bad case of dinos and bottomed-out nutrients in my 50g, my suspicions are that I might have too much biological filtration.

Currently have these maxspect bioblocks that treat up to 750 gallons, in addition to a little bit of live rock. I don't feed lightly by any means either.

Nano-Tech Biosphere/Bioblock - Maxspect

maxspect

www.maxspect.com

I'm considering removing the bioblocks to let my nitrates and phosphates rise, but wanted to make sure it's the right call.

Thanks in advance!

Hello friend, any news about that. I am dealing with the same situation

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hello friend, any news about that. I am dealing with the same situation

If you have dinos and no nutrients, I’d work to raise them.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

If your tank is 2 months old, its expected youll have dinos. The anaerobic bacteria are primarily in the sandbed, if im not mistaken, which is very young in your case.

If you used dry rock and sand, the odds of having dinos seems to be far more likely. I definitely dont think bioblocks are the solution...im sure many people wish they had have thought of creating little square blocks and marketing them as a habitat for bacteria...I'm skeptical the claims are very accurate representations...