Advantages of BB with SPS

[Cody Ray]

I personally stir my sandbed every week. Tons of detritus comes out, however it clears up within an hour. I view the sand a bit like a mechanical filter, if you don't keep it clean than it will lead to problems. Stirring it only allows some of the detritus to be filtered out some of it resettles. That is why I am thinking about just siphoning the sand. I do water changes every week so it would be nothing for me to simply siphon the sand. The shallower the sand the easier it would be to clean. Some people don't like cleaning the sand.

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7311024#post7311024 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by binaryterror
Wow... thanks alot for that post. That basically just answered all of my questions. Now, will a really small sandbed be as bad as a DSB? Like 1" or so? Because I really like the look of sand, but if it only going to do bad, then I will go BB (I think BB is ugly). Thanks

Chinchek has it.

Theres nothing 'bad' about a DSB, the 'rules' about them have just changed a little. Previously, people were kind of just letting everything settle on them, and rather than having the stuff skimmed out, it was rotting on the sand, and then the sand was processing it, and filling it up. As of late, I'm seeing a lot more DSB tanks with good amounts of flow, and big big skimmers. THe basic idea there is that rather than use your DSB as your primary means of nutrient processing, you use your skimmer, and then the DSB takes care of the rest.

In a lot of ways BB and DSB are alike. Husbandry is what matters. If you're lettign detritus settle all over the place, your tank is going to do poorly, whether its a DSB or BB. The DSB you just have to be a lot more careful about powerhead placement.

the shallow sand bed works too, but it'll fill up quicker than a deeper bed.

 

[trueblackpercula]

read this only becuase live sand need to be recharged for it to work right.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=736531

 

[JMBoehling]

How can you siphon detritus from a sand bed when it has 200 lbs of live rock stacked on it?

 

[trueblackpercula]

With out detritivore kits live sand will be almost impossible to mantian, a minimum 4" sand bed is requiered for it to be affective. If you have more questions read a book called deep sand bed secrets.
I FOR ONE LOVE THE LOOK OF TANKS WITH DSB BUT I ALSO KNOW HOW EXPENSIVE THERE ARE TO MAINTAINE AND MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT WILLING TO GO THE EXTRA MILE, READ READ,READ A DSB IS NOT HARD TO KEEP YOU JUST NEED TO KNOW HOW TO KEEP IT.
I WILL GIVE YOU A HINT "DETRITVORE KITS"

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7314603#post7314603 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by trueblackpercula
With out detritivore kits live sand will be almost impossible to mantian, a minimum 4" sand bed is requiered for it to be affective.

100% disagree. Nassarius and cerith snails is all you need. All the micro critters will come in on rock etc.

Detrivore kits are just a way for shops to make some more $$ off of you.

 

[trueblackpercula]

ok what ever here we go another thread on bb vers dsb

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7315822#post7315822 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by trueblackpercula
ok what ever here we go another thread on bb vers dsb

No, thats not whats going on, although you're trying to turn it that way.


I'm just saying all these "sandbed recharge kits" are generally bunk. (anyone who pays money for spaghetti worms, bristle worms, etc, deserves to lose their money)


You have to replace some cleanup crew in either BB or DSB every once in a while.

 

[jackson6745]

FME, having had both a DSB and BB SPS reef, the BB reef is much easier to keep as a low nutrient reef. You can add more fish and feed more without having a spike in your nutrient level. Actually, on my 120 with a big beckett skimmer, it seems I can feed my fish all day long and sill not "dirty" my water

In a BB you can have more flow as well but thats common sense

Actually, I'm convinced that you don't need as big of a skimmer in a BB tank as you would a sandbed tank. (I know this goes against BB beliefs)

 

[binaryterror]

So is a small sand bed (1") not even worth it? I like the look of it better. So I will most likey go with a sand bed, and buy alot of snails, some crabs, ect. to keep it maintained.

 

[trueblackpercula]

crabs are a bad idea only becuase they eat what feads on the sand bed.

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7317168#post7317168 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by trueblackpercula
crabs are a bad idea only becuase they eat what feads on the sand bed.

Crabs dont eat bacteria.

 

[trueblackpercula]

Crabs dont eat bacteria.
you must be kidding right?
What I am referring to was the live critters that feed on any waste or detritus that may settle on the sand bed. If you introduce crabs they will eat valuable assets that aid in the removal of particular matter.:rollface: :eek2: :bum: :eek1: :lol: :rolleye1:

Check out this link they are a good supplier and I have purchased from them in the past.
http://www.ipsf.com

 

[binaryterror]

Thanks, that helped a ton!

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7319355#post7319355 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by trueblackpercula
Crabs dont eat bacteria.
What I am referring to was the live critters that feed on any waste or detritus that may settle on the sand bed. If you introduce crabs they will eat valuable assets that aid in the removal of particular com[/url]

Okay, first, my cerith snails multiply faster than the crabs can eat them. Not that I think the crabs ARE eating them. I still have all my nassarius snails.

Bacteria do the majority of the work in a sandbed. Crabs dont touch them.


That site is the BIGGEST scam ever. Selling bristleworms? Amphipods? Mini Brittle stars? Asterinas? EVERYONE has those in their tanks, and they come in on pretty much every piece of rock. Theyre just trying to swindle noobs.

 

[MiddletonMark]

They do sell a small snail that seems effective, reproduces amazingly in the right tank. Reduced my need to shop for snails unlike any other snail I've had. Still needed a few cerith + astrea - but until I swapped tanks and managed to crash their population ... were awesome.
Just my experience. The corals I got were nice, too.

As for BB - that depends on a lot of things, I'm really happy with mine - whether you are yours, can't predict.