Carbon in my sump?

[tacyarts]

Above my bio balls I put some carbon and a few sponges and filters to catch debree, is this an ok idea or is it going to be problematic in the long run. I do this because I dont think that just a sump with a protien skimmer is sufficient filteration.

 

[marcah]

I have run carbon for years without issues but I would remove the bioballs and throw some rubble rock in its place... And clean those sponges every few days or else they will cause problems...

 

[tacyarts]

what exactly is rubble rock? pieces of live rock, or crushed coral and where to get it my local lfs?

 

[marcah]

small pieces of broken up liverock.. alot of LFS will sell rubble rock at a cheaper price then the larger chunks...

 

[tacyarts]

ive seen alot of people that are against the bio balls , maybe i will look into that. thanks

 

[bigford]

is your tank reef or fish only? if fish only the bio balls are fine
i never had a problem with my balls building up nitrates.
This time i went with rubble rock to try something new

 

[Waddi]

Bio balls will always build up nitrates unless cleaned weekly, even more so I would say in a FOWLR due to feeding. Pred tank can get messy. Just my opinion.
So if I were you I would just chuck the bio balls and replace with rubble as marcah said.

 

[tacyarts]

ive had bio balls for years now but have always had trouble with any corals that were not beginner level corals. I think that i will go to the lfs and see what they have to offer as rubble. thanks

 

[Bluesaltwater87]

I have been using the bio balls for fresh and salt and i have never had a problem. but i also like to mix it. I have Bio balls with LR rubble. the bio balls is on the top and the rubble on the bottom. and in my sump/refug I have a deep sandbed and algea and plants to get what the bio balls and rubble didnt get and i have never had a problem.