DSB and FOWLR

[chwattscaw]

i don't want to start an ugly debate. I have always had DSB's on my reef systems. I want to setup a large FOWLR, and was curious of experience with DSB's on these systems?

Thanks,
Chris

 

[jmccown]

many will say that nitrates are an issue with DSB's over a period of time. I think they look good IMO. Where in Ky you from? I'm in Pike Co.

 

[chwattscaw]

I am in Lexington. a 380 gal FOWLR, do you have pictures?

 

[mattsilvester]

In my view, DSB's are a lottery. I prefer to deal with certainties. It depends largely on what you want to keep. Personally, I like tanks where you can keep flow rates up...... I find that in FOWLR tanks, detritus becomes a problem after a couple of yrs. It tends to settle on the bottom and eventually works its way into the sand...... it might be harmless at that stage, but its ugly, and when you get a wrasse or an angel or a trigger blowing up the sand it goes everywhere and looks aweful, and in turn starts to block up the LR......

With a bare bottom, or with a small amoutn of sand, you require more regular maintainance, but you never really need to do a big overhaul.......

Thats my opinion - I like to know where I stand - and with a DSB, in my opinion you never "know".... you migh think you know, but you never actually do..... it could go bad at any time. Sure IF you look after it properly it won't go bad..... but you only realise you havn't been doing properly AFTER it goes wrong..... then its too late!

But they are great for keeping nitrates down, when working properly and thats something that cannot be ignored!

HTH - though its probably made things worse for you

 

[sean48183]

I agree with matt on that. It can be dangerous. I go with a small layer of cc 1-2". You can stir it up and the fish can stir it up without it blowing all over the rocks and everything. My fish literally rearrange it daily. There is piles all over the tank. If it was find sand it would be a real mess. In this pic you can see the pile in the left hand corner. Tommorrow that pile will be on the other side of the tank.

 

[chwattscaw]

Sean,

You are using CC, is this okay for a wrasse to dig into?

Chris

 

[sean48183]

My lunar is fine with it. He actually makes a little ditch and hides down it. But most of the time he hides in my big leather coral. I don't know about all wrasses though. That is something you would have to check into.