Should the bioballs be 100% submerged in my sump?

[VRWC]

Sorry if this is a stupid question.

I have been reading threads about filtration, sumps, bio-balls, sponges etc...and in some of the pictures posted, I notice that people have their bioballs/ scrubbies fully submerged.

Ive had a sump on my 265g for 2 yrs now and have simply left it the way I initially set it up (I just set it up as the guy that had the tank prior to me did.)

The picture below has a yellow line marking the water level that I keep the sump at. Its done like this so that there is enough space in the sump for the overflow when/if the power goes out.

are the bioballs not submerged/ being used completely useless? should they be submerged?

The water goes through the filter pads up top, drizzles over the bioballs into the sump (bioballs are sitting on eggcrate keeping them off the bottom of the sump.

I guess I just feel like there could be a more economical/ useful setup in the sump to gain more BB usage...and dont know how to implement it.

Any suggestions/ comments would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[TStephens]

Nope, bioballs work the best when there not submerged, BB love the extra oxygen.

 

[ken 429]

the trick is to make sure all of them are getting wet any dry ones are useless

 

[GhostShrimpMan]

 

[cichlidude]

Why don't you have a simply siphon break to stop any overflow when you lose power?????

 

[VRWC]

Nope, bioballs work the best when there not submerged, BB love the extra oxygen.

the trick is to make sure all of them are getting wet any dry ones are useless

Thanks guys! Good to know.

Why don't you have a simply siphon break to stop any overflow when you lose power?????

The sump worked as designed since the day I set it up so I felt no need to do anything more. The tank has 2 overflows, the sump has a low enough volume that when the power is cut, the overflowing water only fills up about 2/3 of the sump.

Is there any reason that I would need a simple siphon break in addition?

 

[jakepittbull]

Nope, bioballs work the best when there not submerged, BB love the extra oxygen.

are bioballs in canister external filters not submerged in water all the time?

 

[bbortko]

are bioballs in canister external filters not submerged in water all the time?

They are, that is why wet/dry systems offer superior bio-filtration. The bioballs will still work completely submerged but not as well.

 

[jakepittbull]

They are, that is why wet/dry systems offer superior bio-filtration. The bioballs will still work completely submerged but not as well.

thanks, you learn something new everyday!!!!!

 

[Starship]

So then, bio balls in a 5 gal bucket, bottom 2 or 3 inches submerged, the rest on top trickle fed. Still effective filter?