QT Bio Ball Reactor

[Manny’s Reef]

What problems do you all see with running a dedicated reactor full time, filled with plastic bio balls, in a QT? I like the idea put out by Elliot and BRS that involves doing water changes every 3 days but as a managing attorney for my office, I realize I don't have time to do water changes every 3 days. I'd like to maintain a full time QT if possible. I have a dedicated 20 gallon long for quarantine. I am playing with the idea of filling a reactor with some plastic bio balls, after seeding them in my sump for a week, and running that in my QT with copper to help with ammonia.

 

[vetteguy53081]

What problems do you all see with running a dedicated reactor full time, filled with plastic bio balls, in a QT? I like the idea put out by Elliot and BRS that involves doing water changes every 3 days but as a managing attorney for my office, I realize I don't have time to do water changes every 3 days. I'd like to maintain a full time QT if possible. I have a dedicated 20 gallon long for quarantine. I am playing with the idea of filling a reactor with some plastic bio balls, after seeding them in my sump for a week, and running that in my QT with copper to help with ammonia.

Only issue ive had was clogging but minor issue

 

[MnFish1]

What problems do you all see with running a dedicated reactor full time, filled with plastic bio balls, in a QT? I like the idea put out by Elliot and BRS that involves doing water changes every 3 days but as a managing attorney for my office, I realize I don't have time to do water changes every 3 days. I'd like to maintain a full time QT if possible. I have a dedicated 20 gallon long for quarantine. I am playing with the idea of filling a reactor with some plastic bio balls, after seeding them in my sump for a week, and running that in my QT with copper to help with ammonia.

I think it's a fine idea.

 

[Miami Reef]

What problems do you all see with running a dedicated reactor full time, filled with plastic bio balls, in a QT? I like the idea put out by Elliot and BRS that involves doing water changes every 3 days but as a managing attorney for my office, I realize I don't have time to do water changes every 3 days. I'd like to maintain a full time QT if possible. I have a dedicated 20 gallon long for quarantine. I am playing with the idea of filling a reactor with some plastic bio balls, after seeding them in my sump for a week, and running that in my QT with copper to help with ammonia.

That may work, but so can doing it the tried and true way: Using a sponge filter or a hang-on back filter.


Floating some sponges in the sump can seed them with nitrifying bacteria; they can be rinsed with tap water every few days when you have the QT setup, effectively removing uneaten food and poop.

 

[MnFish1]

That may work, but so can doing it the tried and true way: Using a sponge filter or a hang on back filter.

Floating some sponges in the sump can seed it with nitrifying bacteria; you can rinse the sponges in tap every few days when you have the QT setup, effectively removing uneaten food and poop.

When I moved my 6 x 7 inch Koi into the tank for the winter
I had left sponges in the tank. (drained down nearly to the bottom) - but still wet. Put the Koi in - and all good in a 72 gallon tank- with feeding

 

[MoshJosh]

I've never seen the plastic bioballs in a reactor, are they supposed to be tumbled? or is it just to increase water flow through them? I've never used this media until recently so I am curious

 

[Spare time]

I know an aquarium that does this for their QT. Its in a big wet/dry filter style tower.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

What problems do you all see with running a dedicated reactor full time, filled with plastic bio balls, in a QT? I like the idea put out by Elliot and BRS that involves doing water changes every 3 days but as a managing attorney for my office, I realize I don't have time to do water changes every 3 days. I'd like to maintain a full time QT if possible. I have a dedicated 20 gallon long for quarantine. I am playing with the idea of filling a reactor with some plastic bio balls, after seeding them in my sump for a week, and running that in my QT with copper to help with ammonia.

I would rather use a media with more surface area - bioballs are actually designed for degassing towers and they don’t have much surface area for bacteria. Sponge filters are better, but can clog. My big quarantine tanks use sand filters.
Jay

 

[Manny’s Reef]

I would rather use a media with more surface area - bioballs are actually designed for degassing towers and they don’t have much surface area for bacteria. Sponge filters are better, but can clog. My big quarantine tanks use sand filters.
Jay

Might be before my time but I don't know what sand filters are.

 

[MnFish1]

I've never seen the plastic bioballs in a reactor, are they supposed to be tumbled? or is it just to increase water flow through them? I've never used this media until recently so I am curious

its just water flow against a surface area.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Might be before my time but I don't know what sand filters are.

Just big filters filled with silica sand - not for home aquariums, but they have loads of surfaces for beneficial bacteria to grow on. In your application, sponge filters would work best.

Jay