Bio balls or ceramic rings

Phistick · 02/09/2018, 09:58 AM

I haven’t had a reef tank for about 20 years. Seems things have changed a bit. I built my first filtration system. This time I’m buying a canister filter. My question is whether to use bio balls or the ceramic rings that they sell these days? Do these serve the same purpose?
Any help is appreciated

mitch91175 · 02/09/2018, 10:23 AM

Welcome back to the never ending journey. I personally do not use a canister filter on my system, so you can definitely take this with a grain of salt, lol. If my only option was to use a canister filter and the selection was either bio balls or ceramic rings, I would likely choose the rings simply because I personally feel that they will allow more beneficial bacteria to grow on them.

With that said, I honestly wouldn't use a canister filter on a reef tank simply because it will end up being a nitrate factory if you ask me. Most people now-a-days setup a sump/refugium. The benefits of that setup is that you can add macro algae (which will help reduce nitrates), live rock (obvious benefit here), any reactors that you may use will be around and/or in the sump, plus the biggest benefit to me is more water volume. More water less parameter swings (with proper husbandry). Good luck.

Phistick · 02/09/2018, 10:43 AM

Thank you for that information. I’ll definitely take all that into consideration.

Pet Detective · 02/09/2018, 11:16 AM

Either media would do the trick in providing surface area for the bacteria, I do think rings would fit better in the canister. I do use mechanical hang on filtration in my reef tank, mainly to keep the water crystal clear and debris free, a canister would also accomplish this task, they are better at mechanical filtration than biological, however in my opinion they are a good supplement to live rock, sump/refugium or wet dry filtration, people in the last 10 years or so have begun to call mechanical filters "nitrate factories" but I am not going to get into a wizzing contest again about this....if you use a canister or any mechanical style filtration, keep it clean weekly and nitrates will not be an issue.

Phistick · 02/09/2018, 11:35 AM

Cleaning the canister was a big reason I chose it. It’s very user friendly.

nereefpat · 02/09/2018, 11:39 AM

I wouldn't use a canister filter.

Tanks under 40 breeder: I would just use rock and powerheads in the display.

Tanks over 40 breeder: I would drill for a sump.

Reefiez · 02/09/2018, 01:03 PM

no to canister filter!

used one for my frag tank since i had one lying around from freshwater days, badddd idea.

if your main purpose of bioballs/ceramic rings is surface area for biological filter, there are a lot of different types of medias now. i use pukani (porous dry rock) and also some marine pure blocks in the sump.

Sk8r · 02/09/2018, 02:01 PM

No filter on my tank. Filters can (and usually will) raise nitrates above optimum level for corals. WAY above in some instances. Your amount of live rock and sand should be able to handle waste, coupled with a skimmer adequate for the job.

pkstylez · 02/09/2018, 05:32 PM

I have a refugium that im building as a seperate tank that has a tube and shut off valve as a back up sump. will be a continuous flow between both tanks except during water change and salt mixing.

02/09/2018, 09:58 AM	#1
Phistick Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 35	Bio balls or ceramic rings I haven’t had a reef tank for about 20 years. Seems things have changed a bit. I built my first filtration system. This time I’m buying a canister filter. My question is whether to use bio balls or the ceramic rings that they sell these days? Do these serve the same purpose? Any help is appreciated

02/09/2018, 11:39 AM	#6
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	I wouldn't use a canister filter. Tanks under 40 breeder: I would just use rock and powerheads in the display. Tanks over 40 breeder: I would drill for a sump. __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers

02/09/2018, 01:03 PM	#7
Reefiez Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 157	no to canister filter! used one for my frag tank since i had one lying around from freshwater days, badddd idea. if your main purpose of bioballs/ceramic rings is surface area for biological filter, there are a lot of different types of medias now. i use pukani (porous dry rock) and also some marine pure blocks in the sump. __________________ my reef tank is the best skimmer... of my wallet

02/09/2018, 02:01 PM	#8
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	No filter on my tank. Filters can (and usually will) raise nitrates above optimum level for corals. WAY above in some instances. Your amount of live rock and sand should be able to handle waste, coupled with a skimmer adequate for the job. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

02/09/2018, 10:23 AM	#2
mitch91175 Premium Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 303	Welcome back to the never ending journey. I personally do not use a canister filter on my system, so you can definitely take this with a grain of salt, lol. If my only option was to use a canister filter and the selection was either bio balls or ceramic rings, I would likely choose the rings simply because I personally feel that they will allow more beneficial bacteria to grow on them. With that said, I honestly wouldn't use a canister filter on a reef tank simply because it will end up being a nitrate factory if you ask me. Most people now-a-days setup a sump/refugium. The benefits of that setup is that you can add macro algae (which will help reduce nitrates), live rock (obvious benefit here), any reactors that you may use will be around and/or in the sump, plus the biggest benefit to me is more water volume. More water less parameter swings (with proper husbandry). Good luck.

02/09/2018, 10:43 AM	#3
Phistick Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 35	Thank you for that information. I’ll definitely take all that into consideration.

02/09/2018, 11:16 AM	#4
Pet Detective Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 328	Either media would do the trick in providing surface area for the bacteria, I do think rings would fit better in the canister. I do use mechanical hang on filtration in my reef tank, mainly to keep the water crystal clear and debris free, a canister would also accomplish this task, they are better at mechanical filtration than biological, however in my opinion they are a good supplement to live rock, sump/refugium or wet dry filtration, people in the last 10 years or so have begun to call mechanical filters "nitrate factories" but I am not going to get into a wizzing contest again about this....if you use a canister or any mechanical style filtration, keep it clean weekly and nitrates will not be an issue.

02/09/2018, 11:35 AM	#5
Phistick Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 35	Cleaning the canister was a big reason I chose it. It’s very user friendly.

02/09/2018, 05:32 PM	#9
pkstylez Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Posts: 142	I have a refugium that im building as a seperate tank that has a tube and shut off valve as a back up sump. will be a continuous flow between both tanks except during water change and salt mixing.