BIO BALLS! cant find confirmed answer

[Gomer4378]

I have a 120 gal main with a 15 gal sump/refuge and 200 lbs LS and 200 lbs LR,
Do I need Bio Balls in the sump or not?

Some say to get rid of them and some keep them. What does everyone on here think?

 

[Innovator]

Probably not unless you have a reasonably stocked predator tank and in need of quick NH3 conversion.

 

[Lmg108]

I have a 125 gal with a 40 gal sump, I use bioballs, with LR and LS of course but so far I have had no problem with my system. I too have heard some say they do not like them (whether it be cuz of a nitrate problems or whatever else) IMO if you do your PWC frequently and do regular water tests I see no problem in using this set up

 

[Gomer4378]

well I took the option of removing them.
I figured since I have 200 lbs LR that I might as well, plus when I did remove them they were pretty nasty already and they have only been in there for a couple of weeks.
they were in the same chamber as my skimmer and I had about 2 gal of balls so I dont think I was allowing the skimmer full potential since they were catching everything.
I'll clean them for now and save them so if I need them I'll throw'em back in later.