Bio Balls

Hey guys brand new to this forum!
I have had my reef tank set up and running for about 3 years now
I have had my ups and downs along the way, but overall, it has been a great experience
My tank setup currently is a 72 bow front, 80lbs of Live rock, a black clownfish, large damsel, flam angel and a royal gamma
I have a sump that was store bought with bio balls for the water to trickle over as the water come out of the tank

My main question is, i have heard that after a while they can actually become detrimental to your tank? I have not had any problems with water parameters in the last 6 months, but was wondering if i should look into removing the bio balls? Or maybe cleaning them? I have not cleaned them since the tank was set up about 3 years
Just asking for any advice
Thanks guys;D

 

when you do a water change, you can use the old water and rinse a portion of the balls out at a time during each water change. Or you can remove them out slowly and replace with live rock rubble or ceramic rings.

 

so how exactly do i wash them?
Just take them out and put them in the water i took out of the tank during a water change?

 

A yesssssiiiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!

 

Throw them in the old water and shake them off to get the detritus off!!

 

Thanks alot guys, deffinatly going to try this next water change!

 

I would also check your sponges as they work off the same principal as your bio balls where they become nitrate factories.