Canister media: eheim ehfisubstrate and seachem matrix

[mikersx02]

I am in the process of trying to design my sump to eventually replace the eheim 2234- but I had some questions about how I have it running now...

inside the canister is 3 different chambers. in 2 of them I have the eheim substrate (which looks like round sandy dog food) and in the 3rd layer I have the seachem matrix.

The eheim stuff doesnt claim to work on removing nitrates, but the seachem stuff does.

Ive been running it this way for the past 3 years and the reef is doing great....really really really stable. Occasional algae/cyano outbreak- but I am happy.

HOWEVER, since introducing the seachem stuff, i have noticed plumes of micro bubbles every 14 minutes or so.... it quickly disapates. Is this the media doing the breaking down of nitrates into nitrogen?

If the seachem stuff does do nitrates- what advantage would I get to building a sump besides having a fuge? Why not just get a much bigger eheim canister that does wet dry and fill it with the same media? :)

[fishtk75]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14177927#post14177927 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mikersx02
I am in the process of trying to design my sump to eventually replace the eheim 2234- but I had some questions about how I have it running now...

inside the canister is 3 different chambers. in 2 of them I have the eheim substrate (which looks like round sandy dog food) and in the 3rd layer I have the seachem matrix.

The eheim stuff doesnt claim to work on removing nitrates, but the seachem stuff does.

Ive been running it this way for the past 3 years and the reef is doing great....really really really stable. Occasional algae/cyano outbreak- but I am happy.

HOWEVER, since introducing the seachem stuff, i have noticed plumes of micro bubbles every 14 minutes or so.... it quickly disapates. Is this the media doing the breaking down of nitrates into nitrogen?

If the seachem stuff does do nitrates- what advantage would I get to building a sump besides having a fuge? Why not just get a much bigger eheim canister that does wet dry and fill it with the same media? :)

First the bubbles reads it may have bad seal leaking sucking in air or air stuck in the canister. The canister is good for a time but it is closed to air and may help make nitrates also in the canister I had the saltwater eaten away at the plastic over time.
The sump is open to air and skimmer sit in it out of the way.
refugium has micoalgae that feed on the nitrates and clean the water.


Here is links fora sump.
http://www.melevsreef.com/acrylics/sumps/glass/

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/refugium.htm


Here is video I saw to make one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxnugJGiT3o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgNe...feature=related