[siliconfiber]

I am slowly putting together my new tank and am wondering if I should go DSB or trickle. I have a 30 sump and am wanting to put the DSB there and no sand in the tank at all. Am wondering what the opinions and depth suggestions for the DSB may be. I already have the DIY trickle (2 gallons of sliced plastic straws) and am not sure which way to go now. I like the idea of doing a DSB so please give me an idea of yours????

Thanks.

[Rod Buehler]

A trickle filter is designed to produce nitrates, and a DSB is designed to get rid of nitrates, so, in a way they are comopeting against eachother. Trickles have oxygen rich water passing over the media so that aerobic baacteria can colonize. aerobic bacteria is great at converting ammonia to nitrite, then to nitrate, but that is where it stops. DSB, and live rock have anaerobic bacterias colonizing because of low oxygen. anaerobic bacteria will convert the ammonia to nitrite, then to nitrate, and then one step further by converting the nitrates to a harmless gas.
If you're after a fish only system, your plans will be OK, but if you're after a reef, the corals will not like your trickle filter because of the nitrates they produce. If you're planning on live rock, Id skip the DIY trickle filter and use live rock and a DSB in both the main tank, and in the sump. I would use a minimum of 3" of oolitic arragonite sand.. Skip any bagged live sand, because the particle size is too large and besides the bagged dead sand will become just as alive as the live sand within a few weeks time. I do recommend seeding the sand bed with as many critters as possible from a few scoops of real live sand sold at better LFs, and see if you can get a scoop from as many hobbyists as possible.
Good Luck

[siliconfiber]

First thanks for the help!

Next - Now from what I understand it seems to be a better idea if we have any kind of corals, anemone, or otherwise to use a DSB.

Further questions on that note then. If setting up a dsb should the flow in the sump be slow or fast? Also I am thinking of calerpa or some other macro - should this then be in the sump and where above the sand on in another compartment?

Originally Posted by Rod Buehler

A trickle filter is designed to produce nitrates, and a DSB is designed to get rid of nitrates, so, in a way they are comopeting against eachother. Trickles have oxygen rich water passing over the media so that aerobic baacteria can colonize. aerobic bacteria is great at converting ammonia to nitrite, then to nitrate, but that is where it stops. DSB, and live rock have anaerobic bacterias colonizing because of low oxygen. anaerobic bacteria will convert the ammonia to nitrite, then to nitrate, and then one step further by converting the nitrates to a harmless gas.
If you're after a fish only system, your plans will be OK, but if you're after a reef, the corals will not like your trickle filter because of the nitrates they produce. If you're planning on live rock, Id skip the DIY trickle filter and use live rock and a DSB in both the main tank, and in the sump. I would use a minimum of 3" of oolitic arragonite sand.. Skip any bagged live sand, because the particle size is too large and besides the bagged dead sand will become just as alive as the live sand within a few weeks time. I do recommend seeding the sand bed with as many critters as possible from a few scoops of real live sand sold at better LFs, and see if you can get a scoop from as many hobbyists as possible.
Good Luck