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There was a blurb about it in the last Fostersmith Catalog I recieved. It sounds like a good Idea, but then again, being new to salt water anything written up well would probalby sound like a good idea. and I know the goal of any company is to turn a profit.
I would be using it to replace the standard Bio Balls in a 14 g Bio Cube which has been in the cycle process for aproximately 1 week. so figuring 2-3 week point before i could change them out after being ordered and waiting for shipping.
If they're in an established filter, they need to be removed over time to allow the bacterial colonies in the rock and sand to build up to take over. The problem with bio-balls is, they're TOO good at what they do. They're very efficient at converting ammonia and nitrite, but the bacteria that removes nitrate is anaerobic, and will not live on bio-balls. That, coupled with their propensity for trapping and holding detritus make them pretty much a very efficient nitrate factory.
If they're in an established filter, they need to be removed over time to allow the bacterial colonies in the rock and sand to build up to take over. The problem with bio-balls is, they're TOO good at what they do. They're very efficient at converting ammonia and nitrite, but the bacteria that removes nitrate is anaerobic, and will not live on bio-balls. That, coupled with their propensity for trapping and holding detritus make them pretty much a very efficient nitrate factory.
^^^ what he said ^^^
__________________ Bobby
"I glue animals to rocks" 125 gallon SPS reef, 3 x 40 breeder frag system.
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What if you have a FO w/inverts and NO live rock? Would you recommend to take the bio balls out and hose them down every so often?
I have a 60 gallon sump full of them. They are off the sump floor. The sump has a acrylic insert with holes. Its about 3 inches above the floor of the sump. All the balls are actually out of the water. They are bathed by a large drip plate. The balls are very clean but under them on the bottom of the sump I can see some algae film. I could probably suck that out, maybe thats where the NItrates are.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Phurst
If they're in an established filter, they need to be removed over time to allow the bacterial colonies in the rock and sand to build up to take over. The problem with bio-balls is, they're TOO good at what they do. They're very efficient at converting ammonia and nitrite, but the bacteria that removes nitrate is anaerobic, and will not live on bio-balls. That, coupled with their propensity for trapping and holding detritus make them pretty much a very efficient nitrate factory.
I wouldn't hose them down, but it may be a good idea to swich themn around in some tank water every once inn a while to remove any trapped detritus. I wouldn't remove them from a FO tank, as removinf ammonia and nitrite are what's important. FO or full blown reef, everyone should clean their sump from time to time.
First of all if you read the ingredients you will see that are all mostly SiO2, silicon dioxide, sand! It does not say how the product is used up, does it dissolve over time (unlikely since it is sand) or is it just that you consider it spent at the end of a year? Since it probably does not dissolve how do you know that the water is getting to the things that are supposed to be going into your tank? Even more important, how do you know that you need these things in your tank? If you read the list you will see there are several ions like titanium and lithium that I don't think a hobbyist test kit exists for. I recommend that you never dose what you don't or can't test for. Finally if the silver, which is touted as minimizing microbial pathogen growth, (it is true silver is an anti-microbial agent) actually releases enough silver ions to minimize pathogens it would also minimize beneficial microbes and kill your biological filtration. They aren't anything I would use in my tank.
These are not plastic bio-balls. They are rocks of some nature that are good for a year in the water. I've not used them but have contemplated it.
Dragline have you used them? You posted this question first...
Anybody have experience with them?
Michael
Woah there Michael - calm down - this isn't Reef Central!
Now about those Active Filter Media Balls - do you really want to use something called "Far Infrared-Rays"? Or how about "Anion" - that claims to help "neutralize free-radicals"? I guess if they meant it would safley kill a flatworm infestation, we'd have something here! Sounds a little fishy to me ... and not in a good way.
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