Newbie Question : RDSB vs chaeto

[WuHT]

Now if i had some area in my sump ... what would be more effective in removing nitrates (and other nutrients) away given the same area to work with...and relative to the amount of work the aquarist has to put in + maintenance cost ?

With Chaeto, how are the lighting concerns vs running a DSB + start organisms ?


Thanks in advance.

 

[cardiffgiant]

They both try to do a simiar thing in different ways. I run both, and have been pleased with the results. With the RDSB, you want to prefilter, no light, and high flow over a minimum 8" bed. If space is an issue, you may not get enough bang for the buck. The refugium with chaeto would be lighted, and would benefit from lower flow of water that isn't prefitered.

A lot of people do the RDSB in a bucket, and the fuge as a portion of their sump tank.