My first Biocube - bioballs?

[lickyricky]

I am getting my first tank next week, a Biocube 29. I have heard lots of people talking about the bioballs and how they can cause ill effects in tanks. Does anyone have any experience with them? Should I remove them from my Biocube? do they do more harm than good?

 

[Mr. D]

I have never had issued from them in my nano tanks, but if you have the correct "pound-age" of rock (i.e. 1 lb per gallon) then you don't even need the bio balls.

I would say take them out if you're worried about them. Otherwise, it is best to not disturb them once they have begun to grow beneficial algae. I believe that's when something can go bad...when they're disturbed too much.

Personal preference, but your rock is the best filtration, and the pumps that come on the new biocubes have plenty of circulation to provide aeration of the water.

Hope that helps!

 

[wysiwyg]

never used them but have heard alot of complaints about them best bet is a good sandbed some liverock and a decent skimmer

 

[Cullyisgully]

IMO dont use them.

 

[Mufasa31]

Bio balls are considered nitrate factories.

If you are going fish only, then bio balls are not that bad.

If you are going reef, then live rock is your best option.

I removed the false floors and ordered the intank media basket for my setup.

 

[EricksonHQI]

When we set up our biocube hqi we didn't even start out with our bioballs. We run our tank without them

 

[Chameleon]

Bio balls are considered nitrate factories.

If you are going fish only, then bio balls are not that bad.

If you are going reef, then live rock is your best option.

I removed the false floors and ordered the intank media basket for my setup.

this about sums it up. nitrates need to be kept low for coral but in FO or FOWLR nitrates dont matter so much. LR does a good job at filtration so i wouldn't even use bio balls in a FOWLR

 

[lickyricky]

this about sums it up. nitrates need to be kept low for coral but in FO or FOWLR nitrates dont matter so much. LR does a good job at filtration so i wouldn't even use bio balls in a FOWLR

What about a mainly coral/invert tank?

 

[rufus2008]

Don't use them they just collect dirt (poop and uneaten food) then convert it to nitrates.

 

[Steelerfan747]

Bio balls create a lot of nitrates. Take then out and just use love rock and a good skimmer

 

[Loki]

Hmmmm.... Love rock? Steeler do you have love rock? Where can I get this love rock

 

[lickyricky]

Bio balls create a lot of nitrates. Take then out and just use love rock and a good skimmer

Well I am going to have live rock in the tank as well....will they balance out the bioballs?

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

Even if you add live rock detritus can build up in it and cause that area to be a nitrate factory. I would still go with live rock since it will provide more surface area for the nitrifying bacteria.