To bio ball or not to bio ball...

D

DKreefkeepers

[this is the question........

I just bought a 24g nano to do a small reef in. I have kept salt fish before but never any coral. I read somewhere that I should take out the bio balls because they may become harmful when they start to grow bac. It said somthing like that it will cause excessive nitrates or somting like that........ any info?]
 
[I'm thinking you are referring to a nano cube..... If that's the case just remove everything from the back (balls, sponges, etc.) except the pump... Anything left in the back for too long will become a detrius trap and a pain to clean out. You will have enough filtration with just Liverock in the display. You just need to keep on top of water changes and topping off the tank. and may need to add some additional water flow in the display.

You may occasionally want to run carbon and some of the other medias in the back for their added benefits but they will also trap detrius the same as the Bio-Balls and sponges so you need to keep an eye on them.]
 
[yeah check out nano-reef.com

I would suggest doing what grim-bob and blide have posted. One thing about the nano-cubes is the build up of surface scum. You should check out the surface skimmer mod on nano-reef.com for the nanocubes.

you could take out everything in the back, put in the stock pump in the 1st chamber and stick in another pump, such as minijet 606 or a maxijet 600/900/1200 for the 24G models to get more flow in the tank.]



Edited By disbjohn on 1117812568
 
[so what will filter the debris? Yes it is the nano cube 24g. If I keep up with the sponges will it be ok to use them for mechanical filtration? And I do plan on adding another small oscillating power head inside the tank for improved flow in the display. Is this surface skimmer mod a protien skimmer? I do plan on adding a few small fish will the rock be able to keep up with them also? I want to rum carbon and Purigen semi regurarly, will this be ok?]



Edited By DKreefkeepers on 1117816938
 
@DKreefkeepers wrote:
[so what will filter the debris? Yes it is the nano cube 24g. If I keep up with the sponges will it be ok to use them for mechanical filtration? And I do plan on adding another small oscillating power head inside the tank for improved flow in the display. Is this surface skimmer mod a protien skimmer? I do plan on adding a few small fish will the rock be able to keep up with them also? I want to rum carbon and Purigen semi regurarly said:
[yes you can keep sponges. just clean them on a regular basis. if you have enough LR in the tank then that should be all you need for filtering.

the skimmer mod is a surface skimmer. later on you will notice that you will have an oily looking film on the water surface. the purpose of the surface skimmer to to skim the top of the water and get rid of this oily scum.

running carbon and purigen semi-reg is fine.]
Click to expand...
 
[one more question, is the 2 x 36 pc lighting in the nano enough to support corals like, frogspawn, pulsating xenia, hammer corals, and maybe a leather, and some of that coral that looks like really green grass (forgot the name)?]
 
[i think it would be ok. just try keep the LPS's higher up in the tank. My sister has a 12g nano cube and she has frogspawn in there and it seems to be doing fine.

If you don't mind modding your NC, you should check out the 70w MH retro. Then you can keep anything you want for sure.]
 
[I am thinking of adding another 36w of pc that woudl make it 3 x 36w would that be enough for all types of coral and clams? Also if I had 3 woudl you put all 50/50 in them 0r a 10k and a actinic blue and a 50/50?]
 
[I would try sticking T5's in there if you can.

hey, what do you think about mechanical filtration in a smaller reef if you are trying to make it into a combination nano reef and mangrove pot? :)

Stick a mangrove or two in the top... that would be cool... it would take care fo the nitrates, right? :)]
 
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