[bguile]

Quick question. I read a couple posts that seemed to hint in this area but nothing definitive. Since I have about 6lbs of LR in my 12g tank does that mean I should remove the bio balls from my filter compartment? Could that be the reason for my past algal bloom? I thought I read something at one time that said if you do "this" remove "this" but could never remember where I read it to cross reference. The tank came with bio balls and ceramic rings which are currently both in the filtration system. Should I remove all? None?

[Meric]

Bio Balls and Live Rock tend to perform the same function. That is house the bacteria that performs the Nitrogen Cycle (ie: Convert Ammonia to Nitrite, and convert Nitrite to Nitrate). Since everything is about competition removing the BioBalls will allow more bacteria to live in the live rock.

I do not believe that leaving the BioBalls in will cause any harm, nor do I believe it was responsible for your algae bloom. Since Algae lives primarily on Nitrates the final stage of the Nitrogen Cycle, an algae bloom should normally only be caused if something is added that increases the nitrogen load or there is nothing else to remove the nitrates (ie: Culpera Algae or regular water changes).

If you have a sudden spike in Nitrates with high light you may get a sudden algae bloom that your snails cannot keep up with until the nutrients are used up.