Deep Sand Bed -- Anatomy & Terminology
- Thread starter Whys
- Start date
elegance coral
They call me EC
You must really like that popcorn. At least it shows you're paying attention.
What I'm trying to say is that the mulm is part of the rotting organic matter that is causing the problems. which seems to be what you're saying. If it's removed from the system, it doesn't cause problems.
Yes but I don't think the organic matter and or precipitated phosphate is very easy to remove and will build up over time. Once it reaches a point where the flow of some oxygen is blocked that organic matter will contiune to decay and the heterotrophs will turn to sulfate for oxygen with consequent hydrogen sulfide issues. Sand beds need cleaning and replenishment of live sand replete with organisms to channel and move nutrients and some oxygen. Removal of some old sand at some point seems to be necessary as well. I like deep sand beds for the diversity of benthic fauna they support and for certain fish and invertebrates but they require significant maintenance, in my opinion. Shallow beds with live rock can denitrify adequately without the risks of anoxic areas forming and are easier to maintain as are bare bottom tanks, in my experience.
Aquarist007
New member
elegance coral
They call me EC
If your goal is to grow "benthic fauna" then keeping a sand bed clean would be counter productive. They need the rotting organic matter to feed on. If your goal is nitrate reduction and/or providing a healthy environment for delicate coral reef species, like stony corals and others, then allowing rotting organic matter to build up in the sand is counter productive. It's kinda hard to grow organisms that require very filthy environments (benthic fauna) and those that require very clean environments (coral reef species) in the same closed system together without running into problems. One group would have to sacrifice so that the other could flourish. This usually means that the benthic fauna prospers, with the accumulation of rotting organic matter, and our pets suffer. This leads to "old tank syndrome" or the need to replace the sand and start over periodically. For me, the choice is clear. I'm trying to create a coral reef tank, not a bristle worm tank. It's very simple and easy to keep sand clean. Most of us syphon water out of our tanks when we do water changes. It doesn't require much effort to place a gravel vac on the end of the hose and stick it in the sand. This removes the rotting organic matter before it can cause problems. If it's not there, it can't lead to old tank syndrome, the need to replace the sand and start over, or a steady decline in the health of coral reef species.
Whys
New member
Not much point to a DSB if your over vacuuming it tho.
I kind of figure benthic fauna can exist in balance with a low nutrient system. Less rot, less fauna, but they're still there so long as they have a habitat, ie: DSB. I prefer to have a few rather than none. But over vacuuming the sand will remove them and prevent the hypoxic zones necessary for denitrification. I keep my bioload low enough that vacuuming hasn't proved necessary.
I kind of figure benthic fauna can exist in balance with a low nutrient system. Less rot, less fauna, but they're still there so long as they have a habitat, ie: DSB. I prefer to have a few rather than none. But over vacuuming the sand will remove them and prevent the hypoxic zones necessary for denitrification. I keep my bioload low enough that vacuuming hasn't proved necessary.
jenglish
Marquis de Carabas
Cleaning it in sections can give hypoxic populations time to recolonize. Being that there is even some denitrification in a SSB, I think you can still see significant denitrification in a DSB that is regularly cleaned.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/6/aafeature/view?searchterm=denitrification
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/6/aafeature/view?searchterm=denitrification
Aquarist007
New member
This is why a prefer to have a dsb remotely. It is the best of both worlds IMO
You can keep the sand bed squeaky clean in the display tank but enjoy both denitrification and bethnic populations in the remote deep sand bed.
I am finding more and more that the owners of the tanks I service prefer a clean sand bed in the display tank despite one educating them on the benefits of it being a little less eye appealing but full of bristle worms
Whys
New member
3.) Why does this seem to keep happening? Seriously, I don't get who ever it is that has it out for me here. I mean if you don't like me, fine, I don't care, I don't even hang out here anymore. But why keep bumping off perfectly good information that newbies can benefit from? I don't care about recognition and have previously offered to remove my name from this diagram, as I don't believe spite should stand in the way of educating newbies. So WTH??? Someone at RC doesn't have the reefer's interests at heart. I'm sick of it. sc and rew you!
Aquarist007
New member
Its tucked away in waterkeepers new to the reef articles (as are my blogs) 
We can thank him for this otherwise they would have been lost in cyberspace backup when reef central was upgraded(or downgraded depending on your perspective
)
We can thank him for this otherwise they would have been lost in cyberspace backup when reef central was upgraded(or downgraded depending on your perspective
)
Sisterlimonpot
Premium Member
Well if it means anything.... I like you Brian.
I looked everywhere for it and had to do a search to find it... I didn't even think about looking in "capn log"
I think that the diagrams where so well done that they need to be a sticky of just the diagrams and description. that way people aren't so overwhelmed when they do find the thread.
I looked everywhere for it and had to do a search to find it... I didn't even think about looking in "capn log"
I think that the diagrams where so well done that they need to be a sticky of just the diagrams and description. that way people aren't so overwhelmed when they do find the thread.
Aquarist007
New member
If we only had water keeper back---the other supreme beings on here are as attentive to the general serfs requests as he was:sad1:
I am still peeved that they but all my hard work on 200 blogs into the dungeons without even asking me.Even now I can no longer edit them or upgrade them
I realize they belong to RC but its kind of disrespectful of ones efforts to do that to them
Sisterlimonpot
Premium Member
Yeah Capn, I noticed you have a lot of work to do to get your blog back to where it once was.
elegance coral
They call me EC
Can you educate me on the benefits of it being a little less eye appealing but full of bristle worms?:reading:
Aquarist007
New member
Certainly, for eg alot prefer to put sandsifting stars in their tanks. I find they will agitate the top layer of the sand bed which stirs some of the settling debris and nitrates and or phosphates so their sand bed stays a little cleaner.
As you are aware sand sifting stars can ravage the inverts in the the top layer of the bed and quickly dwindle their numbers which can affect the total effeciency of a sand bed
Korrine
You could get a ticket!!
This is a great read. However, I'm now confused as ever. To DSB or not DSB :hmm2:
I am setting up a 75g FOWLR aggressive tank and was considering doing a 16"x18"x6"H sand bed in the sump to help with nitrates. Also having cheato on top. Sounds like I should just go with cheato, eh?
I am setting up a 75g FOWLR aggressive tank and was considering doing a 16"x18"x6"H sand bed in the sump to help with nitrates. Also having cheato on top. Sounds like I should just go with cheato, eh?
