Let's talk about bio load.

[straightrazorguy]

I don't think you will see a sudden anything. I think of it as more gradual thing. It is a biological system, and, depending on your rock, sand, reactors, etc you may or may not be able to process a certain amount of fish waste. The bacteria will adapt and multiply to the point where they encounter a limitation of some sort (usually carbon). If you supply that, they will continue to grow to match the bio-load.

I also think of corals as consumers of nutrients, rather than adding to the bio-load. Am I wrong?

[reefwars]

While they use nutrients they do not really remove them from a system just process them and get rid of what's not used, this may be food for other life including other coral . Certain things can not get processed out and eventually need some sort of export out of the system.

As for the size thing , its not always the biggest animals with largest bioload , snails , urchins and sea hares tend to do a lot of pooping lol

I would bet a sea hares waste is ten times as much as fish three times it's size.

[Aquattro]

So then, how do I estimate my bioload? Good question, huh??

[reefwars]

I always just get a skimmer twice rated my volume size , seems to work well lol

[tom55228]

i have always gauged my bio load on type of fish and how many I have and size and feeding .I have a 90 gal tank and I think I am pushing the heavy side of bioload I don't think theres away to measure other then maybe skimate from your skimmer .I like the idea of a skimmer twice the size or close to more then half of water volume . just my two cents worth

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by reefwars

I always just get a skimmer twice rated my volume size , seems to work well lol

Ya, works well. Guess there's no real answer to this

[Proteus]

Way more complicated than I would have ever thought. After doing some reading the bioload also is affected buy amount of available oxygen, surface area (which is probably for oxygen) free swimming area and fish behaviour (sand sifters , schooling)

[reefwars]

Not to mention bacteria of all sorts , these are a bio load often overlooked

[mrhasan]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Ya, works well. Guess there's no real answer to this

I thought you dont care about these sorts of things in the hobby. You are my idol for the LTFA method (and I am not kidding).

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by mrhasan

I thought you dont care about these sorts of things in the hobby. You are my idol for the LTFA method (and I am not kidding).

lol! You're right, I don't really care, just thought it would be an interesting discussion. I'm looking at all kinds of skimmers that give different ratings based on bioload, and it occurred to me that there really is no measurable way to gauge this. Based on the thousands of responses, it's a tough question, or not many people are as curious as I

For me, get big skimmer, make big foam, remove big poop. Done job.