How bad is it if BioBalls are submerged?

[davdev]

FYI, I have a DIY sump using the bucket and rubbermaid method.

What I have been noticing is my levels go all over the place. There are literally days when I test my water and I will have zero ammonia and then I will test again a few days later and I have an ammonia level of 2. Surprisingly I have had zero fish loss, and no other signs of ammonia poisoning, so I really have no idea what is going on. The only obvious problem with my water, is it always looks murky, and when looking the long way, I cannot see from one end to the other (it is a 4' long 75 gallon).

The 5 gallon bucket in my sump has filter wool over a drip plate (a cut and drilled bottom of another 5 gallon bucket) and inside the bucket is three gallons worth of bioballs. The water then trickles out again via small holes drilled in the bottom of the bucket to match the drip plate. I didn't realize that bioballs are not supposed to be submerged, and the vast majority of these are, so I am wondering if that is the problem. Depending on evaporation between 3/4 and 1/2 of the bio balls are always underwater.

Could this be the cause of my problems? Should I replace the bioballs with something else? I know a lot of people use scrubbies, but beyond a cost difference are they really better than bioballs?


As for stock:
First, these are all juveniles and I was planning on moving them once they grew and I decided on what I wanted to keep in the tank. All are about 3" right now
1 Oscar
2 JD
2 Salvini
1 Firemouth
1 Rainbow shark
1 Featherfin cat
2 mystery snails

I know the tank couldn't handle these full grown, but I don't think at their current size they should be causing a huge problem.

Also, I have read that water conditioners can cause a positive reading on Ammonia tests if your water has chloromine, which mine does, could that be the problem, and not the bioballs?

 

[prober]

You either need to rework your filter to raise the balls out of the water or go with media that is intended to be submerged. Bio-balls do not have enough surface area to perform well underwater, they are designed to spread the water evenly so the balls underneath them get some water also.

 

[4Hummer]

Pot Scrubbies.....

 

[davdev]

Pot Scrubbies.....

Considering I already have the bioballs, and they have been in the tank for a few months building up at least some bacteria, I would like to try to salvage what I currently have before tracking down piles of pot scrubbies. Plus, don't pot scrubbies have the same problems when submerged?

 

[fishghost]

How long has the tank been running?

 

[davdev]

How long has the tank been running?

Started cycle process in december, added fish the middle of January

From everything I can tell, the fish themselves are doing fine, there have been no loses, every one eats, no signs of disease or difficult breathing, no sign of disease. I just have ammonia readings that make no sense and water that won't clear.

 

[KaiserSousay]

Your tank isn`t fully cycled.
It has nothing to do with the media being submerged or choice of media.
If you are showing ammonia and getting a milky tank, it just hasn`t cycled yet.
WC your way to as close to 0 ammonia as possible.
Keep an eye out for nitrite level going nuts.
Again, your media is fine, it`s your cycle that is causing your problem.

 

[epond83]

Have you been properly de-clhroinating the water when you change it? if not you could be kiiling of bacteria with every water change.

Basically your tank is not fully cycled, bioballs want air to perform at the there maximum but shoud be doing a lot of work underwater also.

 

[kdog]

Just a thought I'm not sure of your sump design but it may be possible to lift a few of the bio balls out of the water by adding a layer of other bio media below them. You'd be utilizing the bio balls you all ready own and adding some more bio mass to your sump

 

[davdev]

I was able to rearrange the sump so that the majority of the balls are no longer submerged, though doing so meant I had to drastically lower the water level in the sump. Anyway, I'll see how it goes.

Oh, and yes, I use decholronator everytime I change my water based on the instructions on the bottle.