I'm setting up what is essentially a giant refugium. I'm keeping abalone alive, and aesthetics of the tank are irrelevant. I have a 90 gal. I'll likely be adding a 20 gal sump to house a protein skimmer, possibly Seachem Matrix and chaeto. I'd like to have a DSB, but have heard that the area should be 20% of the tank's volume, whatever this means.
I have 3L of Seachem Matrix that I'm planning to use in concert with chaeto and a DSB to control waste. As of now, I have no plans to use rock. As for a DSB, I know that depth should be at least 4". What sort of volume should I have, though? If I fill a 5" x 12" x 14" plastic basin with sand, and put it in the bottom of the DT, would this be sufficient? As for the Matrix, I don't know what to do with it. I'm thinking of putting it all in a mesh bag, and suspending it in current from the central brace of the tank. I could also put it in the sump, or just scatter it along the bottom of the DT. Suspended in a bag seems like the best answer.
Also, regarding the sump: In a standard three chamber sump, there is often a bubble trap and weir between chambers 2 and 3. I've seen that some sumps use large-cell open-cell foam here as well. Is this advisable to have? If so, I'm guessing its purpose is to prevent broken chaeto from being swept into the return pump. Is this the case?
Thanks
I have 3L of Seachem Matrix that I'm planning to use in concert with chaeto and a DSB to control waste. As of now, I have no plans to use rock. As for a DSB, I know that depth should be at least 4". What sort of volume should I have, though? If I fill a 5" x 12" x 14" plastic basin with sand, and put it in the bottom of the DT, would this be sufficient? As for the Matrix, I don't know what to do with it. I'm thinking of putting it all in a mesh bag, and suspending it in current from the central brace of the tank. I could also put it in the sump, or just scatter it along the bottom of the DT. Suspended in a bag seems like the best answer.
Also, regarding the sump: In a standard three chamber sump, there is often a bubble trap and weir between chambers 2 and 3. I've seen that some sumps use large-cell open-cell foam here as well. Is this advisable to have? If so, I'm guessing its purpose is to prevent broken chaeto from being swept into the return pump. Is this the case?
Thanks