Ceramic rings???

[ctniners]

Hi guys....I've had my tank (jbj 28gl hqi nano tank) set up for about 45 days now....I didnt use "live" rock....I used rock that was used as "live" at one point but my friend took his aquarium apart about 2 months before I set up my tank...so he had the rock sitting on the side and I decided to take it and use it....I used about 40 lbs of it..I did use live sand though......so... I did go through the cycle and everything is running perfect..(other than the 5 ppm of nitrate)......my questions is.....Can I take the ceramic rings out?....I rather use that compartment for something else..like phosban...I just want to make user I dont create a mini cylce by taking them out.....any advice??

Thank you guys.

[BradsOcean]

yeah, i would have taken them out before i started the cycle. I would slowly take them out (like over a period of 2 weeks) and then you should be fine.