BB or SB or DSB

[mydeck07]

I am getting ready to set up my new tank and need help with pros and cons of the above. I love the look of sand but i dont know much about BB. Can you guys please through in your 2 cents. Thanks

 

[bamf25]

I personally run a sb in my tank and a dsb in my fuge. The reason I do this is I like how the shallow looks in the tanks, and may would argue the surface area of the sand provides alot of places of good bacteria to colonize. The reason I did not do the dsb in my main tank is they are reported to be sulfer sinks they could crash your tank if that sand is disturbed and released into the tank. I do run one in my fuge because if I am getting a sulfer smell indicating a problem may be brewing, I can cut the fuge off from the tank and in a pinch remove the dsb without killing my tank. The big advantage to the dsb is certian bacteria thrive under more anaerobic conditions, and these bacteria can break down nitrates. So the dsb is good for nitrate export.

People who run bb do so mainly because is is easy to clean, and with new sand or crushed coral there is no substrate to release phosphate, or trap unwanted waste products.

 

[mydeck07]

so the shallow bed in your tank is strictly astetic?

 

[bamf25]

so the shallow bed in your tank is strictly astetic?

Yes and no. Is is mainly astheric, but sand does provide alot of surface area for bacteria to colonize regardless of where it is located. Also having some sand makes certian fish happier, like gobies and wrasses who like to play in the sand.

 

[mydeck07]

im with you on this. So with your ssb do u have issues with nutrients? What type of coral are you raising? Do you vacuum the bed?

 

[bamf25]

im with you on this. So with your ssb do u have issues with nutrients? What type of coral are you raising? Do you vacuum the bed?

My tank is still young. I am having so cyano issues, but no other algae. On test my nitrate is near 0, and my phos is around 0.08, but I have not tested in a few days. It is a mixed reef. I have about 12 assorted lps, about 12 mixed softies, and I just added about 12 pieces sps in the last few days (my first). I do siphon the sandbed. I have a medium gain sandn that does not suck up my siphon. In my fuge I have sugar fine sand.

 

[Bosha]

I like the look and ease of cleaning a BB tank and will go that route when I get my tank going.
Also thinking of running RDSB.

 

[allsps40]

I just went back to BB from SSB. I also feed it looks cleaner and is easier to keep clean. Live rock has more than enough surface area for bacteria. Plus with BB you can have way more flow.

 

[karsco]

I run SSB in the main tank, with a RDSB (5 gallon bucket, w. lid) attached to my sump. I vacuum half of the SSB and alternate back and forth between each water change. I usually have to add a little sand to the SSB once a year to replace the sand that was siphoned out during the year. I am not a fan of the BB tanks but they are probably much easier to maintain. I just think the sand adds allot to give you a more realistic look.

 

[plankton]

+1 BB. Way easier to support high flow, siphon out detritus if it ever accumulates in corners. If/when you really, really have to have a SB then plumb a remote SB via your sump.

 

[mydeck07]

Ok so a question about BB. If i chose this route is it east to frag off your glass? I am sitting on 150 lbs of reef flakes right now and i want to use them so bad but am worried it will turn into a neutrient trap.:headwally:
Why cant reefing just be easy. LOL

 

[plankton]

IF you want to go SB or RSB then there are a number of people who have successfully keep reef tanks even with cucs, etc using reef flakes. And yes any SB can possibly develop into a nutrient trap if you don't provide a means of processing the detritus; either syphoning or active critters. And, don't feed your tank 'too' much.

It's all good. Just gotta keep the balance and go slow. Post pics of your setup when you're done!

 

[Dre59]

@Mydeck07,

What are your plans with this tank with corals?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I like the look of a thin sand bed in my tank.

 

[plankton]

Hey Randy - You know you need to follow that up with a picture or pointer to your tank right!

 

[TucanSam007]

I like the look of my dsb. I don't have to clean it and it always stays "white". Plus it helps keep my nitrates to almost zero and I can feed heavily. Anyways I think its more of a question of looks and what type of animals you want to keep. I make sure to have a lot of bio-diversity in my sand bed that helps keep it clean and provide the necessary functions with minimal to no maintenance. I have a mixed reef with 2 mp10's on 100% reef crest with sps on the top shelf and have no problems with sand blowing around.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Hey Randy - You know you need to follow that up with a picture or pointer to your tank right!

Here's a picture of it from November:

 

[mydeck07]

This tank is gonna be set up for a mix. I want sps on top, lps middle, and softies on the bottom. Its gonna be a challange to not just pick one but i am infatuated with all the above. I guess if i can make it work gonna have to by a new tank again. PS i just got my newest one yesterday . I do have a build thread going also if you guys want to see my progress. It is not the best but it shall get better

 

[tmz]

I prefer a shallow bed for a beachy look and ease of maintenace. . I use some pools of deep sand for wrasses and other animals that need them. Denitrificatiuon does fine without dsbs but they do provide extra surface area vertically which can be useful if enough nutrients laden move down through them via sand critters channeling. Difusion alone will probably result in anoxic areas overtime.

 

[plankton]

@Bryan - If you go bb then add an acrylic sheet or starboard to protect the glass bottom. A think layer of sand would look good so long as your flow doesn't 'sand dune' it. 100G rimless is a sweet tank.

@Randy - Wow, green and blue carpet anemones (or pin cushion toadies)? Very beutiful either way.