building trinkle filter need help

[supermarvin76]

What is the difference betwwen a trickle filter and a wet/dry? I have a 50gal tank. I would like to keep fish, live rock, and maybe if I get daring get a coral. I It has been set up for about a week nd a half with a Cascade 1000 canister filter. I was going to build a wet dry but bought the Cascade instead....now I want to build the trickle. I have plans in mind. 10 or 15 gal tank as the sump. 1: what should I use for bio media. I heard bio balls are now BAD!! 2: pump?? I have seen good prices for RIO 2100 and 2500. These have 315gph @ 5 feet and 439 gph @ 5feet respecivly. Is this a good choice? advice???

[jaiden]

bioballs aren't "bad" really, but they do generate nitrates. better to use LR rubble and keep it under water (not trickle)

[fishfreek]

There is no real differece between the two. A trickle filter will do just that. trickle water over some filter media. A wet/dry does this also with the use of a trickle plate to drip water over the wet/dry media.

The canister filter will be just as 'bad' as bioballs if not worse as they will both produce nitrates. If the canister is cleaned on a very regular basis the amount of nitrates added to the system can be kept to a minimum. If you have a deep sand bed you can often counter act the nitrates from a wet/dry. In addtion as suggested you can not use bioball media and instead submerge liverock in the sump to increase the bactera surface area.

Honestly I would run away from RIOs. Look instead at Magdrive pumps. For a 50 gal tank I would suggest a Mag7 or Mag9.5 Of course match the pump with the flow rate your overflow will process.