Rubble in sump / No3 relation.

[simon garratt]

We are often advised not to use rubble as a media in sumps unless very small and used as a scattering over the top of sand beds, as it 'may' cause imbalances between nitrification and de-nitrification..(AKA the trickle filter syndrome)

so my questions are quite simple.

1. If you use Rubble in your sump, IE as a separate filter media in its own right, say a compartment filled with it. what are your No3 readings?

2. If you Don't use Rubble, but have a DSB/Fuge what are your No3 readings.


comments welcome below.

regards

Si

[matty29]

I never planned on adding rubble to my sump, but over time I've thrown any bits of rubble and small pieces of live rock between the baffles in my sump.

My No3 reads about 5ppm. The baffles have been full of rubble (15mm-40mm)for roughly a year now. I never clean it out but sometimes use the odd bit for fragging.

I also have a sump full of Caulerpa.

Cheers

Matt

[The Wizard.]

Si iv just taken all my rubble out of the first two baffles in the sump, not because of nitrates, was getting to much detritus and muck build up in between the rubble pieces, too many particles ended up in the top tank, whick looks carp when you have a black background :laugh:

[vikz]

i am planning on redoing my sump on the advice of my lfs...

currently dsb with calurpa....cant get my nitrates down though..lfs advised to bin the dsb and put live rock in its place with flow around it....

i will have to watch this thread with a bit of interest....

anybody done what my lfs has advised me to or have any opinions about it?

vik

[Tony B]

None of the above, I have a sump filled with various macro algaes and live rock, not live-rock-rubble. There is good flow in the sump. NO3 under 5pmm, I am over stocked and heavily feed the fish. No DSB in sump, and a very shallow amount of sand in the tank, more a thin spatering.

[marshalls2007]

i have my first compartment filled with l/r dimentions are 18"x8"with 14" of water....
i have a power head in this compartment too giving it extra ciculation as the inlet pipe isnt enough on its own.

it then goes on to a 18"x18"x14"(water) with 6" dsb, halimeda, and temp l/r in this comparment, and finally it goes to the return which houses the skimmer feed/outlet too...

last time i checked the n03 was under 10ppm and i havent changed the water in 3 months, but its due in the next week:D



my only draw back is, is that i have very fine particles floating in my display but i think this is due to me not having any filter wool.....




what one should i select from above??

[simon garratt]

keep them votes commin folks....hopefully this will be of use to people.


regards

Si.

[marshalls2007]

"which one should i select from above?"

[SPS Hoover]

None, none and none but couldn't find that on your poll

[simon garratt]

then it doesnt apply to you does it for gods sake..:rolleyes:

why does everything have to involve you...:mad: :mad:

go stick ya ULNSOPRTYU or whatever it is...up ya bum...


:p :p :ner:

[wayne g]

old system shut down now si but on the previous two sump based tanks i had medium amount of rubble in both of them.
both tanks had to be fed heavily to get a trace nitrate reading for clams....new nano has rubble in rear chambers and 6 weeks in less than 5ppm