Bioballs for a 180?

dirtyblacksocks

dirtyblacksocks

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jan 25, 2008
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Recently setup a 60 gallon sump for a 180 gallon - output is only going to be about 750 GPH total after counting in the head for the pump.

I've got 4 gallons of bioballs dumped in there, including 1/2 a gallon of the ceramic filled ones and half a gallon of carbon filled ones.

I've never really used bioballs to be honest - I've always stayed away from sumps because they're noisy as hell.

Is this turnover rate, along with the amount of bioballs going to be enough to sustain this tank biologically in a fairly highly stocked 180 gallon with CA's?
 
Fish Eat Fish

Fish Eat Fish

Piranha
MFK Member
Sep 24, 2007
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no

I have a higher turnover on a 55 gallon

I would say atleast 1000gph but I personally would go well over that
 
I

IITUFFTOBEATII

Gambusia
MFK Member
Nov 6, 2006
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put in as much bio media as will fit, at least 15-20 gallons should fit in a 60 gallon wet/dry.

use plastic scrubbers if you dont want to spend the $$$ on bioballs
 
Mr Pleco

Mr Pleco

Piranha
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Mar 18, 2006
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West
Fish Eat Fish;2057917; said:
no

I have a higher turnover on a 55 gallon

I would say atleast 1000gph but I personally would go well over that
Click to expand...
Opinion or fact?:nilly:Why 1000gph versus 750 gph..please explain your response
 
B

Bawb2u

Gambusia
MFK Member
Nov 21, 2005
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Mr Pleco;2058040; said:
Opinion or fact?:nilly:Why 1000gph versus 750 gph..please explain your response
Click to expand...
750 is fine. With wet/dry's 4-5 times an hour is fine, you want to maximize contact time with the bio-media, so a little slower is better than too fast.

That said, I'm assuming you have more filteration or powerheads for more water movement? I run a 180 with about wet/dry having about 10 gallons of bioballs turning over at 4x an hour, a Fluval 404 and a Fluval 403.
 
I

IITUFFTOBEATII

Gambusia
MFK Member
Nov 6, 2006
990
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At my desk
i agree with the 1000 gph, 180 gallons with a 60 gallon sump is 240 gallons. if the sump is only half full its still 210 gallons. So the 750 gph is only 3 - 3.5 turnover per hour. the 1000 gph takes you to 4.

thats is of course just my opinion that 4x turnover is better than 3x ;)

and like i said in my previous post, get more biomedia.
 
I

IITUFFTOBEATII

Gambusia
MFK Member
Nov 6, 2006
990
9
18
At my desk
IITUFFTOBEATII;2058157; said:
i agree with the 1000 gph, 180 gallons with a 60 gallon sump is 240 gallons. if the sump is only half full its still 210 gallons. So the 750 gph is only 3 - 3.5 turnover per hour. the 1000 gph takes you to 4.

thats is of course just my opinion that 4x turnover is better than 3x ;)

and like i said in my previous post, get more biomedia.
Click to expand...
if it were me, i wouldnt upgrade the pump though. i would add another filter, a HOB or canister to acheive the added filtration.
 
dirtyblacksocks

dirtyblacksocks

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jan 25, 2008
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Right now it's got an FX5 running as well, but soon the FX5 will be moved to sustain a 120 gallon - there's also a powerhead pushing 2300 GPH in the tank, and I'll be adding an additional ViaAqua canister, but it's an unknown GPH and size (same size as an XP3).
 
dirtyblacksocks

dirtyblacksocks

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jan 25, 2008
1,542
4
68
Moreno Valley
This is also a bare bottom tank getting weekly 80% water changes, forgot to mention that I think.

I just want to be sure I have enough media to not leave any trace amounts of ammonia or nitrite.
 
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