stronger pump for PS

[tony1021]

should i get a stronger pump for my ps?

just did a 10 gallon wc yesterday and nirtrates were under control...checked them today out of hand again

 

[divedeep1689]

i wold toss the bio balls and put rockrubble there bio balls are bad aboput raising nitrates after a period of time

 

[bavass]

I too would get rid of the bio balls and replace with rock rubble

 

[tony1021]

if i get rid of the bio balls wouldn't i lose the purpose of the cycle?

 

[bavass]

The live rock rubble will give you more surface area for benefical bacteria than the bioballs.

 

[jrp1588]

If you've got sand and liverock in your tank, you should have plenty of bacteria in that tank to keep you going. Get some live rock rubble, or even some baserock rubble. (it eventually becomes live) This will become home to ANAEROBIC bacteria, which will actually help to eat up your nitrates. bioballs just house AEROBIC bacteria that convert ammonia into nitrate, in effect, creating more nitrate.

I've also heard good things about some of the higher-end ceramic biomedia. I bought 1lr of seachem matrix months ago and placed it in my sump along with some rubble. I haven't seen nitrates in my system in ages, and I actually have lower than the recommended amount of liverock in my tank. (though that'll soon by fixed.)