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Salt water sump: Bio balls in, or bio balls out? Why?

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  • Salt water sump: Bio balls in, or bio balls out? Why?

    Every time I decide what I'm going to do, I hear 10 people say the opposite....lol. "Bio balls are great". Bio balls are bad because they trap nitrates". What is the best way, and why?? Thanks in advance!
    90 gallon reef: Softies, LPS, Shrooms, Gobies, Mandarin Goby, Sailfin, Hippo, damsels, Clowns
    55 Gallon: Yellow Lab, Electric Blue, Albino Zebra, Yellow tail Acei, Cobalt Blue
    40 Gallon: Demasoni Breeding Colony
    30 Gallon: Grow out fry tank
    10 Gallon: Fry Tank

  • #2
    I say try without first, what benefit are you expecting out of bio balls?

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    • #3
      The setup I bought came with the bioballs in it. I keep hearing they're good in fresh water, but not good in salt water. So, I've been planning to replace with live rock/rubble and maybe some cheato in the sump.
      90 gallon reef: Softies, LPS, Shrooms, Gobies, Mandarin Goby, Sailfin, Hippo, damsels, Clowns
      55 Gallon: Yellow Lab, Electric Blue, Albino Zebra, Yellow tail Acei, Cobalt Blue
      40 Gallon: Demasoni Breeding Colony
      30 Gallon: Grow out fry tank
      10 Gallon: Fry Tank

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      • #4
        Are you doing fish only? Or reef?
        Custom Aquarium Cabinets Justin Henry 281-739-8723

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        • #5
          The guy I got it from had done it FOWLR, but I've already started converting to a reef tank.
          90 gallon reef: Softies, LPS, Shrooms, Gobies, Mandarin Goby, Sailfin, Hippo, damsels, Clowns
          55 Gallon: Yellow Lab, Electric Blue, Albino Zebra, Yellow tail Acei, Cobalt Blue
          40 Gallon: Demasoni Breeding Colony
          30 Gallon: Grow out fry tank
          10 Gallon: Fry Tank

          Comment


          • #6
            No bio balls then empty sump with skimmer and reactors
            Custom Aquarium Cabinets Justin Henry 281-739-8723

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            • #7
              So, just let water enter sump, go through floss, skimmer, reactor and back to tank? No live rock or cheato in sump?
              90 gallon reef: Softies, LPS, Shrooms, Gobies, Mandarin Goby, Sailfin, Hippo, damsels, Clowns
              55 Gallon: Yellow Lab, Electric Blue, Albino Zebra, Yellow tail Acei, Cobalt Blue
              40 Gallon: Demasoni Breeding Colony
              30 Gallon: Grow out fry tank
              10 Gallon: Fry Tank

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by wildosworld View Post
                So, just let water enter sump, go through floss, skimmer, reactor and back to tank? No live rock or cheato in sump?
                Yes but no floss maybe a sock for a day after a wc but thats is easy as that. If tou have some room do a refugium
                Custom Aquarium Cabinets Justin Henry 281-739-8723

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                • #9
                  So, if there's no floss, what takes all the crap outta the water? Just the skimmer and reactor?
                  90 gallon reef: Softies, LPS, Shrooms, Gobies, Mandarin Goby, Sailfin, Hippo, damsels, Clowns
                  55 Gallon: Yellow Lab, Electric Blue, Albino Zebra, Yellow tail Acei, Cobalt Blue
                  40 Gallon: Demasoni Breeding Colony
                  30 Gallon: Grow out fry tank
                  10 Gallon: Fry Tank

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    What crap in the tank? You can put a sponge right before the pump
                    Custom Aquarium Cabinets Justin Henry 281-739-8723

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      I was referring to debris and randomness..... I know lots of my fish food gets sucked right into the overdlow at feeding time. I'm getting sinking food next time, btw....lol
                      90 gallon reef: Softies, LPS, Shrooms, Gobies, Mandarin Goby, Sailfin, Hippo, damsels, Clowns
                      55 Gallon: Yellow Lab, Electric Blue, Albino Zebra, Yellow tail Acei, Cobalt Blue
                      40 Gallon: Demasoni Breeding Colony
                      30 Gallon: Grow out fry tank
                      10 Gallon: Fry Tank

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by wildosworld View Post
                        I was referring to debris and randomness..... I know lots of my fish food gets sucked right into the overdlow at feeding time. I'm getting sinking food next time, btw....lol
                        Don't feed so much especially with sw fish
                        Custom Aquarium Cabinets Justin Henry 281-739-8723

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Salt water sump: Bio balls in, or bio balls out? Why?

                          Originally posted by wildosworld View Post
                          So, if there's no floss, what takes all the crap outta the water? Just the skimmer and reactor?
                          Micron sock. Normally ran on refugiums, but necessary. If you have a refugium, live rock and macro algae will do just fine.

                          Sent from my spaceship using Tapatalk 2.

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                          • #14
                            Skimmer > Refugium

                            Skimmer + Refugium = Best

                            Buy 7 micron sock and use one for each day.
                            I ate my fish that died.

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by myjohnson View Post
                              Skimmer > Refugium

                              Skimmer + Refugium = Best

                              Buy 7 micron sock and use one for each day.
                              +1 and you can wash them and reuse. Just make sure you don't wash with detergent or soap.

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