Replacing sump rock with bio balls

[Bent17]

Hi all. I am thinking of replacing my rock in my sump with Bio Balls. What are your opinions on bio balls? Should I go for them or stick with rock? Reasbon being is that rock leave a lot of dirt in the sump which I am not keen on and I dont have much space to move things around as its full with stones.. would love to know about your experience and opinions

 

[Kershaw]

Do you need either?
Have you considered marine pure blocks?

 

[Bent17]

Do you need either?
Have you considered marine pure blocks?

Only just thought about it now so this is all a period of info gathering

 

[Kershaw]

Only just thought about it now so this is all a period of info gathering

Do you have a negative space display? Or is the rock in sump for pods? Just curious if you need anything in there at all.

 

[Bent17]

Was thinking of removing the rock filtration to make it more manoverable and also I get rid of the rock sediment and have a cleaner sump

 

[exnisstech]

Do you need either?
Have you considered marine pure blocks?

I would recommend against the blocks. I have used them and while they work they start to crumble after a while and leave a bunch of sand like stuff as the crumble.
If you want something neater (my sumps are a mess but I'm fine with that) I would break all that rock up and have a container of rubble. I wouldn't want to loose all that bio filter. Use something like this and you can lift it out to clean and even rinse the rubble in old tank water.

One of my sumps. If I want to cycle a new tank I toss one of these containers in the sump and it really speeds things up.

 

[brandon429]

let's see a pic of the display setting (to assess surface area degree in it)

 

[fish farmer]

I would recommend against the blocks. I have used them and while they work they start to crumble after a while and leave a bunch of sand like stuff as the crumble.
If you want something neater (my sumps are a mess but I'm fine with that) I would break all that rock up and have a container of rubble. I wouldn't want to loose all that bio filter. Use something like this and you can lift it out to clean and even rinse the rubble in old tank water.

One of my sumps. If I want to cycle a new tank I toss one of these containers in the sump and it really speeds things up.

...and handy bins of frag plugs.

 

[MrGisonni]

Brightwell products don't crumble away. I have had these in my sump for nearly 3 years now. I added them bc I started the reef with liferock and went bare bottom

 

[Bent17]

Brightwell products don't crumble away. I have had these in my sump for nearly 3 years now. I added them bc I started the reef with liferock and went bare bottom

I am removing slowly my sand to go bare bottom..