Live Rock and Bio Balls in a 29 g biocube - good idea or bad?

[mntcfish]

I have received info that I should take out my bio balls in my biocube with my live rock and some have said to leave them in - anyone have thoughts one way or the other. Thanks

 

[speg]

Remove them.
With enough liverock/live sand you won't need bioballs. Bioballs are known to be nitrate holders anyways. If it's an older established system then it may be wise to slowly remove the bioballs (not all at once).

 

[srfisher17]

I do agree with Speg; if you have enough mature LR, bio-balls may be taken out. But here's the other side. Bio-balls are excellent at culturing aerobic bacteria that converts ammonia/nitrite to nitrate. They do not hold nitrate and they aren't "nitrate factories". Nitrate is in the water column and is produced, at the same level, by an all LR tank. If they aren't kept well rinsed, BBs can accumulate crud that would otherwise be eliminated by a mechanical filter, vacuuming, etc. and this crud can decompose and add to the nitrate numbers. Keep them rinsed and they work well. They will do nothing for nitrate, that is a function of LR or other nitrate-reduction methods. Also, never scrub them--that slime coat is your friendly bacteria.