Biocube help!!!

Salty-Noob · Aug 18, 2013

I have a 29g biocube and as part of it the tank came with a compartment full of balls that filter all the junk from the tank. Am I supposed to clean that every now and than? The reason I ask is because my tank is kinda turning green and my skimmer for some reason doesn't seem to be doing the job.

caldone · Aug 18, 2013

I always cleaned half of what ever media I have once a week. Never all at once
Def need to clean the skimmer out every no and again. I clean my collection cup once a week and sometimes it never has skimmate in it at all
I skim very dry and have little to no bioload in my tank

Tank is green? Algae maybe? Post ur params and a pic or two if you can

mrs.nanoreef · Aug 18, 2013

Personally I believe the bioballs are more of a freshwater filter choice. I would trash those and put an intank media basket and a tunze protein skimmer in that compartment or sump the system.

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justgotwet · Aug 18, 2013

Is your tank where daylight can shine in it?

WE LOVE PIC'S

glb · Aug 18, 2013

The bioballs are to help set up nitrifying bacteria to convert ammonia eventually into nitrates. They're not designed to be mechanical filter, which would remove all the junk from your water. Sponges are often in biocubes for that reason. I removed the bioballs from my nano because they can become 'nitrate factories' when they start to get dirty. I have live rock in my tank which serves the same purpose and also removes the nitrates from the tank by converting it to nitrogen gas. Bioballs can't do that. I now have Seachem purigen, chemipure carbon and Seachem denitrate instead of bioballs. If you plan on keeping them, rinse them off once a week when you change the water in the dirty tank water you've just removed. That will keep them clean. Lots of people don't use bioballs anymore because live rock is so much more effective.

Salty-Noob · Aug 18, 2013

glb said:
The bioballs are to help set up nitrifying bacteria to convert ammonia eventually into nitrates. They're not designed to be mechanical filter, which would remove all the junk from your water. Sponges are often in biocubes for that reason. I removed the bioballs from my nano because they can become 'nitrate factories' when they start to get dirty. I have live rock in my tank which serves the same purpose and also removes the nitrates from the tank by converting it to nitrogen gas. Bioballs can't do that. I now have Seachem purigen, chemipure carbon and Seachem denitrate instead of bioballs. If you plan on keeping them, rinse them off once a week when you change the water in the dirty tank water you've just removed. That will keep them clean. Lots of people don't use bioballs anymore because live rock is so much more effective.

I did not know that I have both and I recently did a major water change and all my parameters are perfect. Was wondering if my protein skimmer is the problem. Doesn't bubble and the cup is dry

Duffam3434 · Aug 18, 2013

Is the skimmer new?

Salty-Noob · Aug 18, 2013

Duffam3434 said:
Is the skimmer new?

Had it for about 7 months now

Salty-Noob · Aug 23, 2013

glb said:
The bioballs are to help set up nitrifying bacteria to convert ammonia eventually into nitrates. They're not designed to be mechanical filter, which would remove all the junk from your water. Sponges are often in biocubes for that reason. I removed the bioballs from my nano because they can become 'nitrate factories' when they start to get dirty. I have live rock in my tank which serves the same purpose and also removes the nitrates from the tank by converting it to nitrogen gas. Bioballs can't do that. I now have Seachem purigen, chemipure carbon and Seachem denitrate instead of bioballs. If you plan on keeping them, rinse them off once a week when you change the water in the dirty tank water you've just removed. That will keep them clean. Lots of people don't use bioballs anymore because live rock is so much more effective.

I will take the bio balls out but what can I put back there in that empty chamber