Removing BioBalls and putting LR

[syndrome]

I have a Wet dry filter now on my tank and was wondering how much it would help to replace the bio balls with some live rock. Ive heard that they are nitrate factories and mine have been above where i would want them.

 

[Abysswater]

Well IMO, The bio balls trap somwhat of bioload and breaks down, which then turns into nitrate bin. I have LR in my sump/fuge system, the flow allows faster current, and filter feeders to be there to catch food. Just seems like using the natural vs synthetic balls is better in a way.

 

[Abysswater]

Side shot!

 

[agfahy]

In my experience, the best thing to do to nutralize nitrates, is to simply load your sump with macro algae. Better yet, do some research on the different forms of algae. I currentl have 5 different species of macro and my tank 0's out on almost everything.

 

[syndrome]

I bought a 24" ruge to put on the back of my tank. But I was just wondering if removing the balls would help even more.

 

[reelfreak]

If you have enough live rock in the display to handle the biological load, you may remove the bioballs SLOWLY (weeks time) and allow the rock to catch up.

When I switched my tank from FOWLR w/ wetdry w/ bioballs, I slowly removed some each time I cleaned filters and did a water change.

I now have only one single layer of bios in the wetdry just to quiet the falling water, they are always getting washed off so they are not doing any bio filtration anymore.

Just do it slowly as to not throw off your balance....and the fuge is a good idea!!