Sump DSB or sulfur denitrifier?

[villious]

Hello all. I just got back home from a trip to southern Maryland where the wife and I attended a lecture by Anthony at the Calvert Marine Museum. It was hosted by a local reef club. That was the second time I've had the privilege of hearing Antohny speak, first time was at my club (Hampton Roads Reef Club in Virginia), and if you ever get the chance to hear him lecture, take it! Believe me, an hour and a half lecture feels like 10 minutes. So much great info and a very good speaker!

I have a 120 gallon mostly SPS tank with a rather heavy bio-load. I do my water changes religiously and I want to implement a nitrate reduction plan. I'm looking at either a DSB in my sump, or buying a midwest aquatic sulfur denitrifier. I've read a ton on both, all good.

My question is, the rough dimensions for my DSB would be 19" x 13" x 4.5" deep. There would be a good 2" flow water across the top as it flows through my sump. Is this enough sand to really be effective? Would the midwest aquatic sulfur denitrifier better serve my purpose and give me much more denitrifing power?

I've read all the threads on a RDSB in a bucket, but just do not have the room under or around my tank, so the sump is my only option for a DSB. Any opinions are welcome. Thanks so much!

v/r
Woody

 

[wgchristman]

I just read an article in this months issue of CORAL magazine that has an article on DSB's written by Mr. Calfo. It says that a 55lb DSB compensates for the amount of nitrates generated by a 100 gallon tank with an average population.

Sounds like your dimensions are good enough.

 

[DonW]

The newer sulfur denitrators that you dont have to keep fed work great. The old style are a pain and more hastle than they are worth. I'd go with a denitrator over a dsb any day.

Don