Why do people say to replace Bioballs with Rubble Rock?

[tprize]

I have never quit understood why people say to replace bioballs with rubble rock. I understand that bioballs are nitrate factory's, so what is different about rubble rock.

[waldomas]

Live rock also harbors anaerobic bacteria that will consume the nitrates. Bio-balls cannot support this type of bacteria.

[jer77]

Well if your talking about replacing bioballs with LR rubble in a wet/dry filter, I can see why you don't understand. LR rubble will act the same as bioballs if kept above water. Otherwise replacing bioballs with LR underwater is a good thing.

[returnofsid]

You're not really replacing bioballs with live rock...not in the true sense. You're removing bioballs in your wet/dry. Live rock in your display is constantly submerged and grows anearobic bacteria. This is used to break down ammonia and nitrites while also helping to deal with nitrates. Bio balls which aren't truly submerged are unable to deal with nitrates and in fact grow more nitrates because of the oxygen levels on them.

[tprize]

Ok so if there are bio balls in a filter, lets say to help with bubble reduction, that are completely submerged, then rubble rock, is a great replacement because it will help with de-nitrification.

[jer77]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9554864#post9554864 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tprize
Ok so if there are bio balls in a filter, lets say to help with bubble reduction, that are completely submerged, then rubble rock, is a great replacement because it will help with de-nitrification.

Yes, but even when bioballs are submerged they still don't harbor anaerobic bacteria, thus cannot facilitate denitrification.

[returnofsid]

If you keep the rubble rock totally submerged it will do a MUCH better job than Bioballs. Keep in mind that using rubble rock to keep down on bubbles can also cause a problem with detritus getting caught in them...which can build up nitrates...lol. How about putting a filter sock on the end of your drain line to cut down on bubbles?

[tprize]

Well I guess a sponge that can be replaced, or cleaned out would be better then.

[Nick A]

Hmm....what about cell-pore media? I'm thinking its easily prone to getting detritus stuck in all the pores.

[returnofsid]

That's where the sock filters come in. They can be easily removed for cleaning once a week or so.

[tprize]

Yes but if the skimmer chamber is after the sock media, that won't cut down on much of the bubbles. Or do skimmers not produce that much compared to the ride down.

[returnofsid]

The filter sock will cut down on bubbles as well as cut down on larger solids before the water enters the skimmer. Then, in your sump, you should have a bubble trap between your skimmer and fuge area and then another bubble trap between your fuge and return pump area. The bubble traps are baffles built into the sump that forces water to go over a glass wall, under another and finally over a last glass wall. These walls should be about 1" apart and the center piece should be about 1" off the bottom.

[davy182]

You know what is funny about this. Bio balls do the same thing as live rock ammonia=>nitirite=>Nitrate. It doesn't create any more nitrates than that of live rock. To actually lower your nitrates with live rock, first of all the amount of live rock it takes for a large tank is ridiculous, then you have to have a good flow around your live rock so they don't get impounded with detritous because it will then cause a hair algae break out eventually.

[Jocool]

Ok, ok but what if you happen to have area of the tank thats in pretty much 24 hour darkness, putting live rock in that said area will cause it to die right????