New to saltwater

By noodles do you mean these?
They are good at converting ammonia into nitrates, but they have too much oxygen to fully convert the cycle.    They will become a nitrate trap and you'll have rinse them monthly or so.

 

Hmph, never heard of anyone into SW using "noodles" /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/smile.gif The usual set-up is live rock, skimmer and a sump with or without some type of macro algae possibly live sand.

Welcome to the site, btw. Lots of nice people here with good advice. Good idea to ask here first before you buy anything SW related /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/smile.gif

 

his sump is a wet dry trickle filter, not actually a sump, does have a small compartment for some macro algae he, we were wondering if the ceramic noodles, or maybe possibly macaroni (i have heard) in compartment e in the link i will post at the end, or should we invest in a live deep sand bed in compartment e, we are both new to trickle filter, i have a 75 gal reef tank few sps anemone 40 gal sump and i will be jump starting his bacteria next month, so we are not completely in the dark but any ideas would be helpful, also does anybody know how many pounds of live/base rock we will need? 180 gal tank

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://newaquariuminformation.com/pictures/all-glass-trickle-filter.jpg&imgrefurl=http://newaquariuminformation.com/aquarium-information/aquarium-filters/wet-dry-filter.htm&h=230&w=315&sz=15&tbnid=gSoO1ms5l2dyoM:&tbnh=85&tbnw=117&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dtrickle%2Bfilters&usg=__v2Q6zI6eRF20ViHdtBOhmWgQW4k=&ei=fsF4S-CbAdT6nAeI0ZjQCQ&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=9&ct=image&ved=0CDEQ9QEwCA

thanks

 

or maybe live rock rubble in compartment e?

 

Welcome to the site!!

The noodles are not necessary. I have an AllGlass MegaFlow Sump Model 3 on my quarantine tank setup and I don't use any noodles in that. I might use a filter pad in top tray for some mechanical filtration, but I have a skimmer in the main chamber area. If you have a skimmer in your sump and live rock in your tank, you don't need noodles. If you don't have a skimmer, save up your money and get one as soon as you can afford one..and the best that you can afford. Next to live rock, your skimmer is your best form of filtration.

--AJ

 

AJ is right.   The first and most reliable form of filtration is live rock.   Then second should be a skimmer.  A decent skimmer will let us err to the side of over feeding without having to pay the consequences of nusiance algae every where.   Those are the two minimum sources of filtration.    If you want to use other media like nitrate/ammonia reducers, GFO (P04) removers that's fine.   Even activated carbon will help keep the water looking clear, just remember to change them on a regular basis.

 

thanks for the help