balls vs rock in wet dry....

[fbm]

Can someone explain how the waste does not accumulate on rock but does on bio balls in a wet dry to produce nitrates? Seems to me waste would accumlate on both?

 

[reefkprz]

it does accumulate on both if used in the wet dry section. balls are most effective in the wet dry part of your sump(out of the water in the drip zone), (I have been doing a ton of research into this area) as soon as they are submerged they are just like live rock only with less surface area and no anaerobic activity. the biggest benefit I have found to using LR rubble in the drip zone is the amount you can fit in there is far more than the amount of bio balls, in the drip zone you would need to rinse LR rubble on a semi regular basis to keep gunk from accumulating just like you would if you used bio balls. for the most effective set up I would use Bio balls in the drip zone and pack my wet dry with rubble under the water level. this way you get the best of both worlds. keep in mind the high water to air contact of bio balls allow large amounts of ammonia off gassing due to its volatile nature in liquid form. leaving less ammonia to be broken down in the system.
I hope this helps. I would keep going but I am not ready to publish all my research into this subject yet. I need to find some more definitive sources.

 

[fbm]

I am looking forward to hearing, err reading your results.

 

[ophiura]

Originally Posted by fbm
Can someone explain how the waste does not accumulate on rock but does on bio balls in a wet dry to produce nitrates? Seems to me waste would accumlate on both?

YES SIR!! You are correct!!

And it is this gunk that will cause trouble, either way.