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I have a 90-gallon aquarium that's home to a 4-inch Picasso trigger and a yellow tang. It has 75 pounds of live rock, plus a wet-dry filter that includes bioballs.

I've been told by reputable sources that I don't need the bioballs if I have the live rock, and that it would almost certainly lead to a nitrate problem later. (I'm not sure I understand why it would be -- I mean, wouldn't there be enough bacteria to handle the amount of waste being produced, and no more? So how could it cause any more of a nitrate problem with the bioballs than without them?)

Anyway, what I'm asking is, should I gradually remove the bioballs?

I know of this rumor too, but why would it cause excess nitrates?

Nick
"Impossumable- unable to play dead"

Bio balls tend to trap detris. With a good amount of live rock bio balls are simply more area for bacteria. If you keep them clean, they should not be a problem.

Dan


Dan

As stated, if kept clean, they will do a great job. The problem is, as stated, they can collect detritus and thus cause an increase spike in the ammonia levels. Just inspect them about once a month to be sure their is no build up of detritus anywhere on them. It is a rare thing that this happens, and probably about 99.99% of all people stating this, have never had or seen it happen, just passing on what they have heard. Bio-balls are still in use in most all public aquariums, as well as most every large system I know of. I use them, and have for over 25 years, and never had a problem with using them. Every LFS I know of, use the same multisystem on their tanks, and have a huge bio-ball chamber within this system. And never heard of any of them having this problem. And, personally, I have only heard through the grape vine about this. Never known of this actually happening to any person. I think it is more of a theory than a factual account.

One thing you can do to help prevent it, is to have a foam or pad type filter placed above the bio-ball chamber. And clean it regularly so as not to impead the water flow. This will collect much of the detritus that might flow over the bio-balls.

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There is always a bigger fish...

Thanks. I do have a fiber-mat filter above the bioballs, and I've noticed that it does collect a lot of detritus, so I wring it out pretty much every week. For now, I'll leave the bioballs,and just keep an eye on them.

thanks --

L