bio-balls for live rock?

[WRASSER]

Will this work, If i switch the bio-balls for live rock?

 

[Anonymous]

Think about what bioballs are supposed to "do" for a filter system, and think about what live rock does...

I'd take out the bioballs and rely on what's in the tank to support the system. Bioballs (or liverock in the sump for that matter) trap a lot of detrius.

 

[WRASSER]

I have been finding a lot of pods in the sump and filter-madia, was wondering if the rock would be better?

 

[Anonymous]

Is that what you are trying to do, grow pods? I've put a few pieces of LR in my sump to breed 'pods, didn't notice an increase in the main tank and found the LR just collected gunk :lol: .

 

[WRASSER]

Thanks :!: 8)

 

[Anonymous]

In Calfo's book on coral propagation, he suggested using a shallow container with sand in it in a dark area of the sump to use for copapods, or coarser material for ampipods. Don't know if it would work.

 

[WRASSER]

I will try it and see if it will work. I have enough room under the bio-balls to place the plastic dish with sand in it. The thing i dont get is, how they get back into the tank with out getting cutted up?

 

[Anonymous]

The best way for that to work of course would be a gravity fed refugium above the main tank, but some larvae should make it make into the main display through the pumps. I had a gravity fed 'fuge for years and loved it for that reason.

Another idea if pods are what you are trying to cultivate would be to make an "in tank" refugium or simply an area of rubble rock, say behind another bigger rock that the fish or clean up crew can't get at to let the 'pods grow in peace, until they leave that area and get eaten .

 

[WRASSER]

cool thanks :wink: