again rdsb question , sorry

[vincent1972]

Hello,
I'm thinking to instal an rdsb.
I hav a display tank of app 210 G and a sump of app 106 G.
Back here in belgium they told me to install a bucket rdsb.
but i think it's to small for my system, is this correct?
i'm thinking in install a large plastic box (23 x 16 , height = 10)
and put a sand bed of oolite in it of 5 inch.
i want to feed it with water from the section where my skimmer output is comming into the sump and would return it back to the sump at the section where the refugium is .
the feedpump will be an eheim 1262 (898G/H) , maybe it's to strong for this purpose? should i install a smaller one?
i want to have a good flow over the sandbed.
have i to put critters in it by myself? what about snails?
here in belgium they also say the deeper the bed is the better, but i have my toughts of this , i think that isn't what we are looking for due the bad zone that will create toxic in the bed, or is this not right?
i'm also thinking to put on each side of the box 3 holes , so 3 for water in and 3 for water out , to get the best possible water flow .

can anyone help me with this please,
o yeah , another question : can we run a rdsb and a sulfur denitrator at the same time? and can i keep dose vodka and vinegar? and what about the phospatereactor and activ carbon filter?

thx

 

[vincent1972]

nobody?

 

[vincent1972]

really nobody who can help me with this ?

 

[mahogue]

I think after 4" deep there is not much benefit. The key is growing and keeping the infauna alive. To do that the mud/sand grain size is important. 0.125 mm average and generally under 0.5mm. That is smaller than sugar size sand which is 0.2 to 1.2mm. The mud size is so the infauna can move the grains and keep the DSB "alive". The other important part is properly feeding the DSB. I have a RDSB area half the display tank area, and it seemed to do well, but I think the bigger the better if it can be fed enough by the display overflows to keep it alive. Ron Shimek has may good articles on the subject.

 

[eddiesylas]

I am being brief, I do not know what you already know and am NOT an expert (so spot check my data before you start) but I think I can get you asking the right questions:

#1) What do you want the sand bed for?

If it is for active sand bed and life that will poop food back into your system than the bed should be ~ 4-5 GPM turnover rate (gentile and slow) and be ~3/4 surface area of your display surface area. The idea behind this is to allow heavies food to settle but light worm poop to get carried into the water column.

If it is only Nitrate export (via bacteria action) then flow and size are per your specific need. But I would still keep the (dry sand) weight low enough to not exceed the 2.5 - 3 lbs./gal total system ratio with the rest of your rock and sand.

Oolite Sand or mixed with slightly larger is fine (smaller is risky).

Seed with critters from another active (or even better, a couple sand beds)

Ciriths and Nassarius are great.

No Brittle stars/ hermits/ crabs/ sifting gobbies ect. (they eat the good critters)

Dose bacteria feeding "stuff" as you normally would but take into account the major new element in your tank and shift accordingly.

Read up on depth but 5" is great and well practiced though MANY successful deeper beds out there.

Is that what you were looking for?

 

[vincent1972]

Hello,
this is already great information.
it's stuff to think about it.
i would run a rdsb for reduce nitrate levels , nothing else.
already thx for the help with this information

grtz