I think it is very worthwhile to read up as much as you can on bio pellets. The consumption of nitrates and phosphates has a specific ratio that favors nitrate consumption over phosphate. Also if there are not enough nitrates available then phosphates remain in water. Given those two statements, that is why gfo is typically required. Fuge's aren't usually utilized in combination, because the nutrients are so controlled and consumed, that not enough is left for algae in refugium to consume so they eventually starve. And if you carry that out farther, without attention to detail, you can effect available nutrition for your coral. It is another balancing act, that you need to maintain and control. All-in-one bio pellets are a new approach, hoping to lower nitrates and phosphates without a separate gfo reactor. I am just starting to read about that but I don't know much, yet (I actually don't know much, generally).
I commend you for trying to find the information before you jump into it. Gaining solid, reliable information is challenging because of so much bravado, false claims, lack of scientific research and ultimately lots of bull. I continuously wonder if I am reading fact or fiction.
