Sump filtration

[MorrisMini1022]

I am upgrading my tank. I have bought a 75 gallon tank with overflow camber. I have a 2 foot tank that i am turning into a sump. My filter in my current tank is a fluval 205 which i am going to use also in my 75 gallon. My question is that i have heard so much about bio balls being nitrate factories. The owner of my LPS said that i should use bio balls and that they are not a nitrate factory if water changes are done properly, after all this i am confused. i am going to make a big structure of live rock in my tank and have heard that live rock and a protein skimmer is a way of filtering.What do you recomend i do

Thanks for all replys

[tholleyh46]

I'd say it all depends on what you want to keep. The guy at the LFS may be a freshwater guy? I don't know for sure. Bio balls can become a nitrate factory in a saltwate setup, much like a canister filter can as well. Water changes won't do much to combat this issue, while they certainly will help - if you don't regularly clean them it will be counter productive. Nitrates are harmful to coral, not as harmful to fish, and freshwater fish can tolerate higher levels than saltwater fish. If you have sufficient live rock in your tank for denitrifying bacteria to grow, the bio-balls are counterproductive IMO with taking on the addtional maintenance steps required to keep them safe for a reef system. Your sump would be much better off without them and possibly adding a refugium, but if you're only keeping fish and no corals or sensitive inverts it isn't nearly as important.

[The Clownkeeper]

I agree and in my opinion, regardless of what you are keeping or what tpye of tank it is..a sump with a good protein skimmer and LR is all you need. The filter can serve a good purpose as well. I would only run carbon it personally. There is no need for the bio balls. you need to stay on top of them and clean which in counterproductive. I guess for a FO system bio balls still are a very good path to take.