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-   -   How to clean Bio Balls (http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=72293)

Midway 01-30-2011 08:15 AM

How to clean Bio Balls
 
Hey, i'm looking for some advice on how yo clean these bio balls. I have bunch of them in my sump, i never had them before so this is my first time cleaning them. Some vinegar ok?

fishytime 01-30-2011 03:27 PM

Ok.....first step is to remove them from the sump.....second step is to put them in the garbage:lol:......kidding aside, a toothbrush (without the vinegar) would probably do the trick

Aquattro 01-30-2011 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishytime (Post 586537)
Ok.....first step is to remove them from the sump.....second step is to put them in the garbage:lol:......kidding aside

Who's kidding?? Pretty sound advice to me :)

The Codfather 01-30-2011 04:21 PM

How to clean your bio balls
 
Im waiting for a post from Brett. He must be slacking, I would expect an answer from him by now.

Midway 01-30-2011 04:29 PM

Are you serious guys?? They don't do anything for my system?? I started to use them because a friend told me they would help to take some **** out my system.

Manny

fishoholic 01-30-2011 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Codfather (Post 586546)
Im waiting for a post from Brett. He must be slacking, I would expect an answer from him by now.

:lol: this could get interesting

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midway (Post 586547)
Are you serious guys?? They don't do anything for my system?? I started to use them because a friend told me they would help to take some **** out my system.

Manny

Kidding aside all they do is add a build up of nitrates to your system, which isn't a good thing at all. So yes in a saltwater system they are much better in your garbage then in your sump.

golf nut 01-30-2011 08:45 PM

I use bio balls, it really helps my golf game, I try to chip them into baskets placed strategically around the living room.

Snappy 01-30-2011 10:13 PM

in a nutshell - non-technical quick readers digest version.
 
Bio balls are old technology that are now known to cause issues down the road. They started using them to create extra surface area for bacteria to grow that will help as a filter. It is now known that you are better off with just good quality live rock which does the same thing without the issues.

Palmer 01-30-2011 10:21 PM

I am a newb still so take what I say with a grain of salt... I know in fish farming applications where there are lots of fish in a small area (even saltwater) the wet dry (bio balls/screens etc) principles are still considered a useful and practical form of biological filtration.

As a new reefer my take on it is that a small reef tank has significantly different requirements and often is "smaller" so less tolerance for waste buildup if your filter media gets gooey.

I still use bio balls for my fresh water cichlid setup and if I ever do a fowler I will probably still use them in addition to live rock. Even in my Cichlid tank I rinse the media on occasion to take out detridice that the floss doesnt catch.

FWIW

Palmer

Aquattro 01-30-2011 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snappy (Post 586612)
Bio balls are old technology that are now known to cause issues down the road. They started using them to create extra surface area for bacteria to grow that will help as a filter. It is now known that you are better off with just good quality live rock which does the same thing without the issues.


Greg, thanks for a real answer :)


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