DSB in a bucket for nitrate control

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12072259#post12072259 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reef_only
I just added a RDSB in a 5g bucket and my tank water gets cloudy over night; does anyone have the same problem? I washed the sand as much as I can before adding in.

just let it clear itself out. run some carbon and maybe a filter sock in the meantime.

my RDSB exits into a filter sock, so I never had the cloudy problem, but it's unavoidable even with thorough washings.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12072346#post12072346 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kinetic
just let it clear itself out. run some carbon and maybe a filter sock in the meantime.

my RDSB exits into a filter sock, so I never had the cloudy problem, but it's unavoidable even with thorough washings.

Thanks! it is 95% clear up now; lets see if Nitrate level is going down...
 
My recollection is that it takes about a month to see a drop in nitrates. Probably due to bacteria colonization times.
 
If the substrate is previously used stuff is rinsing (small portions at a time, of course) ok--or do I need to boil it before setting up in a RDSB?
 
Thanks!! I'll just rinse then, but I do like the suggestion I read earlier about putting a sock on return to minimize cloud. Anything that will help, right?
 
What I have noticed in my trial run with just running the RDSB through another bucket for testing purposes, a sock doesn't keep it from clouding up the water, it will only catch the sand in case it gets through but the stuff making the water so cloudy will go right through the sock. I even rinsed my sand and it was still pretty cloudy.
 
what do you reckon?

what do you reckon?

Ok so after reading the thread (great thread by the way)

- sandbeds should be 10-12" deep and at some stage going deeper is of no benefit.
- surface area is the most important factor.

I am putting together a denitrification filter for a big system. I have two containers to choose from.

- a 10' high 3' wide cylinder
- a 6' wide 4' high cylinder

My thinking was that going on surface area alone the wider one would be more effecive, but how about I let the water run down through the taller container. Due to its depth its going to become anoxic at some stage right?

Also as regards filter substrate. I have access to large quantities of maerl, similar to coral sand. would this be ok?

Any advice welcome
 
I have a highly stocked 180 gallon tank. with a 120 gallon sump. In the sump I have a 24 x 15 area 26 inches high. if I fill this up with sand will that work the same as a remote bucket? My pump room is quite small and I am out of room for another bucket.

Thanks in advance for any advice on this matter.
 
Why not but a bucket or other container in your sump full of sand. That way it will be kept clean and is easily removable. Just make sure the water level is high enough to cover the bucket.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12207331#post12207331 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snorvich
Why not but a bucket or other container in your sump full of sand. That way it will be kept clean and is easily removable. Just make sure the water level is high enough to cover the bucket.

I could do that really easily, but I won't get full flow over a pail as I would one whole section of the sump.

The other thing I am worried about is if I put it in the sump some light will get to it. does this matter? I also have hermet crabs in my sump to help eat the detrius. Should they be removed if I use the dsb method?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12212783#post12212783 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LockeOak
I put a bulkhead in the side of mine that drains through a flexible tube into the sump.

Mine was also on the side. It still overflowed.
 
I think the problem is that your outlet hole isn't big enough. I think your outgoing should be larger then your incoming as your incoming is under pressure and your outgoing isn't (unless the top is sealed).
 
Does it matter if the pail gets light? Can there be a couple of hermet crabs in the pail to remove any detrius that may settle in the pail.
 
yes it does matter. The bucket or pail should NOT get light, thus no algae build up.

no hermit crabs, they'll probably die in there.

you need enough flow through it so that no detritus builds up.
 
64 pages in... Sorry to do this but:
I don't know if this was mentioned earlier or not, but..

Has anyone experimented with different depths?

At what point does the depth to efficiency ratio plateau?

Is the surface area:
a) As important as the depth.
b) Less important than the depth but still important.
c) Not a factor at all.

I am thinking of utilising 100mm PVC drainage pipe in a bank of four 2.5ft tall columns passing water over the top of it. Can anyone see any major problems?
 
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