Anyone use a RDSB?

[john37]

I was thinking of adding a remote deep sand bed to my tank because i think my high bioload is causing high nitrates and keeping my corals from coloring up.

I wanted your opinion on the RDSB....also, if you're currently using one, can you give me your set up of it and how you like it.

i was thinking about 12" of sand in a 24"x10" section of my sump.
let me know...thank you.

 

[laverda]

John I am thinkinf of doing the same thing. There is a large thread about it somewhere on RC. Very favorable results is seams like.

 

[WarDaddy]

Here is how I did mine...

I went a different route than most and put the DSB behind the main, and it also doubles as a refuge.

The sand is 6" deep. I put about 200 gph through the tank and have a modded Maxijet 900 in for extra flow, it has about 20X flow in it.

It works great.

 

[GTR]

I just have a couple 5 gallon buckets full of sand sitting in the sump. The output from one tank (1,000 gph) flows over the top of them.

I've run a remote bed in the past and the problem I see with it is pre-filtering the water that feeds it. So much muck collects in it otherwise that it just becomes a sink for nutrients and does little to reduce them in a very short time.

SteveU

 

[cthetoy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7987589#post7987589 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gtrestoration
I just have a couple 5 gallon buckets full of sand sitting in the sump. The output from one tank (1,000 gph) flows over the top of them.

I've run a remote bed in the past and the problem I see with it is pre-filtering the water that feeds it. So much muck collects in it otherwise that it just becomes a sink for nutrients and does little to reduce them in a very short time.

SteveU

Does the 5 gallon buckets setup work well for you? Did you notice any changes? I was thinking a remote bed as well or buckets but someone else told me just get a larger skimmer and forget about the DSB

 

[GTR]

I can't tell any difference but then I'm not sure I had a problem to begin with.

SteveU

 

[carman9941]

I added one about 3 weeks ago and have a big out outbreak of alge now can give you the specks if you want more info

 

[slavearm]

Read up in Calfo's forum. The trick is making sure you have a high enough flow rate over the sand so detritus cannot settle there. (I read about 4 hours worth last week)

 

[ReefMeister2]

Wellllll, what'dya know...
so that's why I have nearly zero nitrates despite a high bio-load.
I have had a RDSB (so-called) for years now and never knew what I was doing.
I made one end of my sump into a 14x14x14 refugium, placed about 6-8" of well-established livesand for a DSB, added my old HOB skimmer for extra flow (and hence, no detritus) and whooolah! Zero Nitrates, baby!
Man, I gotsta start patenting these things

 

[john37]

does the sand have to be established or can i use new clean sand?

 

[slavearm]

You can use new clean sand, it will get established pretty quickly.

Slavearm