EnderG60;1114550 wrote: As a person who has tried / made / DIYed pretty much everything in this hobby I can tell you a tub of live rock(or any porous material like matrix) with a filter sock will out preform a trickle tower in every way.
Filter floss will as mentioned will only actually work in one spot in the middle, and if you dont change it out at least every week it becomes a nitrate factory. Filter socks will too, but its easier to get 10 of them, rotate them out every 3-7 days and clean them in groups. Also ends up cheaper than tossing filter floss(thats only 1/5 used) every time.
If you want filter floss to work well, you need to have it supported by egg crate, and make a manifold to evenly distribute the water over the whole area. This usually means a cross of pipe with holes drilled in it so it acts like a shower head...which clog up before the floss will.
Bio balls(or any plastic media used to grow bacteria) can work but get a bad rep because they are fantastic at ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate, but pretty much do zero for nitrate to nitrogen and can gather gunk if not rinsed every few months which is why people say they are nitrate factories.
So if you really want to make one, go for it. But a rubbermaid tub with live rock and a filter sock will work better.
And if you are in need of bio balls or matrix, I have lots in my basement from when I tried this many years ago.
