Bio Balls in Sump

[rmoyer001]

I have seen various references on this site to Bio Balls in Sumps creating/increasing nitrates. Coudl someone help me out with why this occurs and why they sell sumps this way if they are supposed to clean the water

[howser]

I have seen various references on this site to Bio Balls in Sumps creating/increasing nitrates. Coudl someone help me out with why this occurs and why they sell sumps this way if they are supposed to clean the water

 

Here's my understanding of BioBalls and Nitrates:

 

BioBalls themselves typically don't harbor nitrates (I guess they could in some situations), but typically it's the other components of the wet/dry that are more apt to have a larger contributing factor to nitrates. Such as the foam block that the water passes through after going through the bioballs (normally) or perhaps the prefilter (some kind of foam sponge, spun fabric, etc). These are the areas that typically have higher nitrates.

 

You may also see discussions on the web regarding taking the BioBalls out of wet/dry filters, this is typically posted by someone who has a good biological filtration (read live rock/sand) already in place. For a fish only system a wet/dry is a great way to provide necessary filtration. If you have live rock/sand in your tank, then the bio balls are redundant and can be removed if you so desire.

 

From the Conscientious Marine Aqaurist (Page 70-71)

The wet/dry filters effectively speed up the usual biological reactions and promote aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. For fish-only systems, wet-dry-filters continue to offer exceptionally good gas exchange and oxygenation, along with rapid biological filtration that can cope with heavy bioloads.

 

My experience is that wet/dry filters are a good way to boost your filtration and that after your tank is cycled and if you have live rock/sand can still be a great tool, perhaps just without the bioballs that are redundant to the live rock/sand.

[fab]

This is a very well documented phenomenon. It's written up very well in a number of articles and books. Ref: Calfo, Sprung among others.

 

... addendum

 

A popular variation (at least out west) is to use live rock rubble in place of the bio-balls; rather than just removing them. It is a simple way to get a bit more live rock in play for biological filtration, following the theme that 'more is better.' That said, I've never seen any published articles by any widely recognized, authortative aquarists on the pros and cons of doing this.

 

fab

Edited January 16, 2007 by fab

[rmoyer001]

Thanks to you both - My after sponge is always nasty and i clean every few days. I really like the live rock instead bio ball technique - i may try it unfortunatly may be quite a task based on my setup

[Guest vatbrew]

I'm dealing with this issue too. In the new setup I purchased. 125 gallon. The previous owner has a 20 long as a Sump. Far Left - Refugium, Middle - Cotton media dripping to Bio Balls, Right - Skimmer/Return Pump. My specs for now are: Ammonia-0, Nitrites-0, Nitrate- 10 ppm. I want to get those nitrates to 0.

[kngfisher]

What about removing the foam block on the powerheads and/or return pump.....never thought of it before but the ehiem 1262 comes with a foam block inside the pump.....my ehiem is in my sump (90gal display w/ 30gal sump) rather than having it run externally......wonder what would happen if I removed the foam block....right now, it is preventing alot of detritus and chato pieces from entering the pump....yes, I have chaeto in my un-baffled sump....

 

 

I have lots of flow in the display tank and maybe over feed so I get alot of detritus going down the overflow into the sump....for water changes I pump 10 - 20 gal out of the sump every few weeks and try to get as much of the detritus out in the process....do you have the same issue? When I remember to rinse the foam block, it is just packed with waste......could you have the same issues?....maybe it is just me :-)....but this is why my Nitrates are high .... ~5ppm .... or you could just use nitrate remover.....but that would not be solving the underlying issue just putting a band aide on it....

Edited February 1, 2007 by kngfisher