Floating BioBalls?????

[Oughtsix]

The best price I can find on bioballs is $46 delivered for 2100 x 1" floating bioballs. About 7 gallons worth which seems perfect for my Petco 29 gallon glass sump build. The only part that worries me is the FLOATING part. Don't they usually sink? Is this going to be a headache? Should I just pay more for sinking BioBalls.

http://cgi.ebay.com/2100-Clearwater-Floating-1-inch-Bio-Balls-Spheres-/390322690835?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5ae10b9b13#ht_500wt_1180

 

[Bderick67]

If you are planning one using bio balls they should not be submerged, so whether they float or not is irrelevant. Bio balls are designed to have water trickle down over them.

 

[Oughtsix]

Hmmm.... Well I pulled a BioBall out of my current sump and put it in a glass of water.... it floats!!!!

I just had visions of the sump filling up in a power outage and bioballs pushing out all over the floor. It hasn't been a problem with my current sump so it shouldn't be a problem in a new sump. I guess I was thinking Styrofoam peanut buoyancy.

And yes!... BioBalls are not submerged media. I like bioballs because of there ability to break the water into droplets for a great amount of water surface and better oxygenation.

 

[Ancient_Fish_Master]

bio balls will float no matter what.

 

[jwalkerafc7]

If you are planning one using bio balls they should not be submerged, so whether they float or not is irrelevant. Bio balls are designed to have water trickle down over them.

+1

 

[Spiritofthesoul]

Make sure that when the power goes, the water backsiphon into the sump is not enough to overflow the tank

 

[Oughtsix]

Make sure that when the power goes, the water backsiphon into the sump is not enough to overflow the tank

Yes, definitely!!!! Been there, done that, didn't like it, lesson learned!!!!!!

For others, Spiritofthesoul is referring to water back siphoning through the pump. By drilling a small hole just below the water surface in the return line to the tank you will be adding a siphon break which will keep the back siphon through the pump from forming.

 

[Oughtsix]

bio balls will float no matter what.

What made me ask this question is I found both floating and sinking bioballs... and figured sinking was the norm.

 

[Jc1119]

That small hole is called a siphon break and it needs to cleaned regularly to make sure it does become clogged over time. I know it's overkill, but i put swing checks on my pump outputs in addition to my siphon breaks. I buy them threaded for maintenance and replacement.

 

[Chromobotia]

Yes, definitely!!!! Been there, done that, didn't like it, lesson learned!!!!!!

For others, Spiritofthesoul is referring to water back siphoning through the pump. By drilling a small hole just below the water surface in the return line to the tank you will be adding a siphon break which will keep the back siphon through the pump from forming.

Am I missing something? Isn't this what a check value is for?