Also I meant low PH in regards the CC dissolving. I'm not sure whether this really matters anyway.
I have nothing to loose by trying the slow under gravel filter method (CPW). I might just set up a slow trickle through the sand bed then into the skimmer to aerate out any hydrogen sulfide. If the output is to putrid I might have to set it up like doc.
Anyway it will give me something to experiment with. Having a remote sand bed will limit the amount of detritus that can build up in it so I plan to use it mainly for denitrification rather than waste removal. The main tank has a shallow 2mm calcium carbonate substrate.
Dennis I don't think that the ph would be near that low to dissolve cc.
The ccd in the ocean (area were ph is low and all Calcareous oozes are dissolved) is somewere near 4000-5000 meters deep! If possable I would like to know the ph of the water below the sand bed. So this is why I pay all that money and go to school to learn how calcium reactors work!
thanks Nate D
Gregt do you ever sleep I feel like a wuss compared to you 12,000 posts:eek2: :eek1:
It has been suggested that the PH in the anaerobic zone of a DSB is low enough to gradually dissolve calcium carbonate. The point has been argued before I'm not sure if it is or isn't, so I just used CC anyway.
My 280 has been cycling for 3 weeks, I used my cpw for the first time today and drained 2 gallons of water. The water had a yellow tint and smelled moderately of hydrogen sulfide.
with this CPW sysytem a few pints is drained out every 8 hours continously. The system works great, But a "normal" DSB without a phlemun would give yopu the same results if one did small continuous water changes. a few pints every 8 hours adds up to one to two gallons a day. 60 gallons a month. any tank under going 40 to 60 gallons a month water change will have pristine parameters. You do have the advantage of removing your most nutrient desne water form the systme but a suagr size DSB would have the same effect keeping most waste and detrius on the surface for easy removal.
I used 3/4", since my system is a 280 gallon. However, I would use 1/2" if I had to do it over again. You are removing just a little bit of the total tank water, so you don't need large diameter piping.
I wrapped the pvc in two layers of drainage cloth, then put in 2" of crushed coral, placed two more layers of drainage cloth and then 4" of southdown sand. The siphon line is run up over my tank and has a tee and valve.
I drained 5 gallons today. The water had a very strong rotten egg smell and was tinted yellow. I tested the water for NO3 and Phosphates. The NO3 was undetectable and the PO4 was around .10. The Tank water has a NO3 reading of 5 ppm and PO4 undetectable. I guess that means the sand bed is processing all the NO3 in the bed.
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