bioballs a nitrate factory?

[laurabolyard]

shhhhhh I still have balls...

Ive had them since the initial setup over 2 yrs ago. When all of my research (at that time) couldnt give me a definitive answer, I removed half of them about a year ago. I have a 10 gl 'box' (Im stil not sure if I should call it a sump, wet dry. trickle) I have a stack of filter media (blue /white pads) that the water runs over before getting to the chamber where the balls are. I have SOME rubble, basically extra stuff that I throw in, then my cheap skimmer. I clean the pile of pads every week, and change when necessary. I dont have nitrates, but maybe thats because the pads collect all of the junk first. I have wanted to get rid of them mainly to free up the space for something else, more rubble, macro, fuge...

[Phurst]

Originally Posted by laurabolyard

[size="5"] I dont have nitrates, but maybe thats because the pads collect all of the junk first

Bingo! And you clean them.

[CarmieJo]

Hey Laura,

#1) What Pearson said!^^^
#2) Presuming you have enough LR (55+ lbs) if you want to remove the bio-balls you can. I'd suggest that you take out about 25% of them a week.
#3) I have a converted wet/dry but I call it a sump.

[Mclendonmdw]

Thanks for the updates!