Do Sponges And Bio Balls Help?

[bollands]

i heard that they increase nitrates for the worse but ive heard they are good to skip out ammonia and nitrite? so was i wrong in removing my 3 sponges i found a few days ago? and if i bought an external filter shall i take the bioballs out of that? what about a trickle filter?

 

[ben1987]

As you say they can create nitrate factories when crap gets built up and clogged in them.

They are also filled with holes, very pourus. So lots of space for the bacteria to live in.
Swings and roundabouts. Best sticking with just LR imo.

I like using spnges and clean them every couple of days though, that keeps the water clear, Extenal filter is a good place to run rowa too