age old questions DSB or no DSB

[spooda420]

Ok I bought a 250 gallon tank this weekend, planning on doing a softie tank this time around. I know with my SPS tank, the DSB was a pain to get going and to maintain.

This time, I plan on doing a little more research on it. whats everyone say about the DSB or no DSB.

I have everything in my sig, except the 120. I plan on keeping shrooms, rics, leathers, etc.

I'll give you the last word a 4" DSB or not?

 

[lbaldrey]

I prefer 5-6" offline if possible...in a refugium kind of setup...

Gives you options to plan your main display as a BB, starboard or 1/2" larger grain sand for just aesthetic purposes.

My DSB over time made the front glass of my tank look dirty...besides fish like clowns keep stirring up the fine sand and it ends up settling on the corals...a nuisance IMHE

 

[Rick55555]

As I am sure you know this is definitely a point of controversy. I'm of the opinion that a shallow sand bed is superior to a dsb in that it is easier to maintain. DSBs have the potential to become nitrate factories if not properly maintained. With a shallow sand bed I have found that there isn't really much to maintain. Incidentally, a shallow sand bed is also cheaper since you won't need as much sand.

A DSB obviously has its advantages. Years ago I did enjoy employing a DSB in my soft coral tank.


Rick

 

[Shakes]

I recommend a shallow sand or crushed coral bed in the main display and a DSB in a Refugium. This minimizes the issues of the Nitrate trap in the main display. My system employs a filter sock prior to the DSB which is replaced every few days. I stir my sand in the main display wait for the tank to clear (a few hours) then replace the filter sock. Adding 'Bio Digest' and some sand from someones existing tank to seed really helps to get the DSB going. If you don't use a DSB then how doe you plan to export your Nitrates?
You may also look to do a remote DSB that takes yours sumps post filtered water and runs it through a 5 gallon bucket via a powerhead. It also gives you the opportunity to remove the DSB should you decide on a different method.

 

[jasonrp104]

I'd think that crushed coral could be a nitrate trap. I shiphoned mine all the time and it was still nasty when I got rid of it.

I have a dsb and honestly on a larger tank, I'd skip it and go remote. On my little tank it can't really get very toxic but on something with a large footprint you're bound to get a nasty area somewhere so why not make it easy to remove?

 

[DeathWish302]

If your planning on a small bio-load and a DSB, your softies will struggle. The hole point of the DSB is to remove nitrates and I have had considerable problems maintaining enough NO3 for even sps. Mt bed ranges from bare glass to 3" in 4.5ft^2. I would suggest a SSB with the DSB left to the refugium.

If you enjoy clowns, the DSB will be a problem. I don't need nassrius snails or worms, as my clowns stir all my SBs' diligently.

 

[spooda420]

I plan on having a fairly heavy bioload. Im talking 30 -40 small fish 2-3" or so wrasses, blennies, hawkfish, etc. i have skimmers that will help with the pollution.

I like the look of sand so what about this idea.

some starboard with aquarium silicon, with pressed sand on it so it looks like a sandy bottom but with none of the issues with a SSB or DSB would that work?

 

[DeathWish302]

I plan on having a fairly heavy bioload. Im talking 30 -40 small fish 2-3" or so wrasses, blennies, hawkfish, etc. i have skimmers that will help with the pollution.

I like the look of sand so what about this idea.

some starboard with aquarium silicon, with pressed sand on it so it looks like a sandy bottom but with none of the issues with a SSB or DSB would that work?

With that kind of bioload, a SSB at least would be my suggestion. You'll have the bioload required to have sufficient nitrogen removal but not completely strip the whole tank. IMO your softie tank should bloom in several months with that much food in the system.