Bio balls with refugium.

[gibbo]

I have a 400 litre reef tank and struggling with high nitrates. I have maxspect bio balls in the sump i also have a large fuge full of cheato lit with a kessil h80. Water changes ain’t bringing down nitrates could it be the balls? Would you do away with the balls and let the fuge do the work? Any advice be great thanks.

 

[BroccoliFarmer]

The point of bio balls is to increase surface area for nitrifying bacteria. If you have nitrates, congrats the bios are working. I think you have four general choices to control nitrates. Protein skimmer, filter floss/sock, water changes or macro algae.

protein skimmer and sock take out material before it can become nitrate
Water changes exports some
Macros will process the nitrate

usually a combo of all four is a good answer

 

[alton]

The only thing I would add is LPS and softies, both help controlling nutrients/nitrates.