you really don't need to clean bio-balls until you notice alot of build-up have a filter pad before bio-ball's to limit the need to clean them as long as possible
Hijack time. What about in a canister filter? Plastic Use live rock rubble or plastic/ceramic media? Live rock rubble can have detritus from the zooplankton that will clog up your impeller faster and quickly dirty your canister, Ceramic is okay but harder to clean once they get a build-up on them