New Sump!! change advice from Bioball to refuge

[ckusnierek]

I have a Proclear w/ balls and am going to a 35g (long) baffeled sump. The new sump will have 4 chambers:
1st chamber intake w/ filter sock
2nd chamber for skimmer (returned to 1st chamber)
3rd chamber refuge /w sand and veggies (good algae)( 96w PC over it)
bubble baffel between 3 and 4
4th chamber return pump.

Is it ok to just swap these out? I've read that when removing balls do it slowly so you dont shock the system. They have only been on there for 3-4 months. My nitrates are running up to 15-20 and after WC they drop to 10-15. Is it ok to just swap since they have not been in there too ling and my nitrates are not out of control (yet)???? Thanks!

[luvmylo]

I think you would be ok with that. I yanked my biowheel off of my tank with no recourse. You could always do waterchanges untill things pick up if need be.

[Geoff]

if the tank is established i do not see any reason to remove the bio-balls slowly. if the tank us super crowded then maybe, but in general i feel it is better to just yank them.

G~

[luvmylo]

beat ya to it geoff

[Geoff]

G~