advice on deep sand bed in sump
- Thread starter frenchie
- Start date
The only issue with a dsb is that it not be disturbed, whether it is remote in the fuge, remote in a bucket or in the main tank. The bucket method is good for being able to take it offline easily. If your fuge doesn't get distrubed, (sand disturbed) then it will work. If the sand gets disturbed too much it will release nutrients into the water column.
breutus
Don't ask me, I'm wrong.
I have a 6 or 7 inch DSB in my 30 gallon sump... my thoughts go both ways kinda... It is damn near impossible to clean but at least the sand doesn't get disturbed. I can't say as though I notice much lower nitrates in the tank since its addition 5 months ago. I kind of wish I had not put it in there and it will probably go when I redesign the sump.
scbadiver
New member
Hmmm, ok. By disturbed you mean manually right? Not critters and stuff crawling around, hermits, cucumbers etc.? I'm wanting to hook this up this weekend so this is a timely thread for me. If there is a better way I'm open to it. I'd only be in there to trim excess macro growth. So, I'm better off with or without it? Thanks guys.
It can go either way Robbie...some love them some hate them. Their are certain mechanics to having one function properly such as sand grain size, microfauna population and surface area. It isn't as simple as piling sand up. There is an article on dsb's that is a good read. I have it saved but not on this pc. I believe it is in the faq's on the main page of RC.
capncapo
New member
You bet your bippie!
If you believe in what Ron Shimek says ( and I do when it comes to DSBs ) remote DSBs don't get fed like is necessary for a DSB to thrive. You could fee the remote DSB but the purpose of a DSB is to eat the extras that fall to the bottom of the tank. Kind of a moot point at that point.
scbadiver
New member
I believe you are right Nook! The old man is the one that talked me into DSB's in the first place, then the forgetfull ol' guy says "don't do it." I guess I just have to wait for him to have one of his lucid moments to clarify all this for us. Maybe when he gets up from his afternoon nap...Zzzzz.
frenchie
New member
i have deep sandbed in my 125 gallon and it works good for that tank but because there are so many bristle worms and spaghetti worms that overfeeding isn't a problem cause whatever hits sand bed will be gone shortly. So i see how it works better for display tank cause mine is full of life.
capncapo
New member
See! That's the problem with you youngsters......you just don't listen!
I won't set up a larger tank without a DSB but I won't ever do a remote DSB.
Anthony Calfo talks about his DSB in a bucket and it may work just fine but is not a DSB in the same sense as the ones that Shimek promotes. It becomes a nutrient sink that will need to be replaced every so often. The type of DSB that Shimek promotes shouldn't need to be replaced because of the critters and bacteria that live in it and help with keeping it clean.
capncapo
New member
It depends on how you look at it Jack.
If you have to feed a remote DSB ( and by remote DSB I mean one in the sump ) then it will not help with the display because the detritus in the display doesn't make it to the sump....or at least a fair amount of it. The remote DSB is essentially just another bioload at that point. It may help the sump but not the display.
Using a DSB in a bucket may help by being a nutrient sink but isn't what I would consider to be a DSB...or at least not a DSB in the way that they are normally referred to.
scbadiver
New member
Ok, I think this is slowed down enough for me to keep up for another minute or two. I did listen to you old man, just didn't let it all soak in. I heard "DSB good, blah blah blah... " .
Now that I addressed that, will my set up help to reduce nitrates in the overall system? And, will it sustain itself from the "stuff" that does make it in from the main display?
I really do appreciate the help here though the more I read the more confused my feeble mind becomes!
. Now that I addressed that, will my set up help to reduce nitrates in the overall system? And, will it sustain itself from the "stuff" that does make it in from the main display?
I really do appreciate the help here though the more I read the more confused my feeble mind becomes!
