LR in the filter

[tcwoodrn]

I was told by my LFS that bio-balls are a major home to nitrates and at that store they have live rock instead. Does anyone have experience with this? I have already taken out the bio-balls and they were filthy. I put some extra cured LR that I had in there but could easily reverse it. I am just trying anything to knock nitrates down to fight my green hair algae.

 

[kogle]

This is an ongoing debate. I can tell you I used to use LR rubble in my wet dry but have switched to bio balls now that I've set my tank back up. There is nothing to prove that bio balls are going to get dirtier than rubble would. Both are going to require cleaning at some point to remove the gunk that builds up on them. I can tell you my filter runs much quieter with the bio balls.
That being said, are you sure your green hair algae is being caused by excess nitrates? What are your phosphates at? How old are your bulbs and what lighting do you use? There could be something else fueling the algae growth...