Wet / Dry Trickler Filter (Emersed) vs Submerged Sump Filter

I am going to add a two DIY sump based filters to my new 165 gallon tank. The plan is to use Sterlite drawers along with tubs for the filters. I was thinking of how I am going to setup the filters. First off I guess I need to decide if the filters will be trickle towers or submerged media sumps....correct? My first question is how do I setup one vs. another? Is it as simple as how much water you add to the sump to start with? If I add no water to the sump to start except to submerge the pump, will that make it a Trickle tower filter, vs. if I add 20 gallons of water to a 30 gallon tank, does that make it a submerged media filter?

Opinions on which is better? It seems like a trickle tower would be better simply for the fact the water would become more oxygenated as it flowed from one compartment of media to the next and then finally into the main sump. On the other hand, I am thinking it will be a bit louder with two of these going at the same time. That being said, with a submerged media filter I could just add an airstone to the sump and oxygenate the water there, or in the tank itself if I decided. Again thoughts?

If I did the trickle tower filter I was going to use plastic pot scrubbies for one layer and then maybe bio balls in the other.( after the filter floss on top for mechanical filtration of course). For a submerged tank I was thinking of using something like a marine pure bio block, bio max, or basically any other media you would otherwise put into a canister. I would think that perhaps the scrubbies wouldn't be a good option in this setup, or perhaps they would be just as good??

Any thoughts you guys have would be very much appreciated, especially the DIY folks here. Thanks.

Hi again. On the tank I noted above I purchased an Aquadecor 3D background. They sent me some picture today of my order before they ship it next week.

Thought I would share some pictures they sent me. Think Discus will like this as their new home? :D

https://i.imgur.com/hfCcqPp.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/qauUbDe.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Nn4CXxn.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Lqn9cEQ.jpg

I have a 3 stage trickle tower...my wife and I both like the sound of running water so it is all good with us.

On the the 3D backgound; nope, I don't think your discus will like it at all...but mine sure would...you should probably just have them ship it to me :p

Wow. Love the background and trees. Looks great.