DSB in a bucket for nitrate control

[prezioso73]

Mine has been running since the beginning of this thread, a couple of years.

I don't get any hair algae. I do get some red algae...that is a fuge issue.

I open it every 6 months or so, and there is just a little detris on top of the sand along with some filter feeders and a few snails just passing through.

I would reccomend having a RDSB.

 

[aiannar974]

Hello - I have read that once in a while a dsb will crash. Not sure if this is an issue with a rdsb or not or even if it should not happen in a reagular sb if maintained properly. But, would one option be to setup 2 or 3 rdsb in series and then every year or so, pull one out of line and replace it with a new one? First off, this would not be real expensive and also 2/3 of the rdsb would not be taken off line and would be able to still deal with the current bio load.

 

[aiannar974]

Hello - I have read that once in a while a dsb will crash. Not sure if this is an issue with a rdsb or not or even if it should not happen in a reagular sb if maintained properly. But, would one option be to setup 2 or 3 rdsb in series and then every year or so, pull one out of line and replace it with a new one? First off, this would not be real expensive and also 2/3 of the rdsb would not be taken off line and would be able to still deal with the current bio load.

 

[Alan Strauss]

I guess if you have the room the concept sounds good. this would allow for a controlled rotation. I would appreciate any discussion from others, too.

Alan

 

[OCEAN SIZE]

tested results please?

tested results please?

I'd love to hear tested results, especially from the "effluent" of the RDSB. The denitrator guys post results a lot, and test a lot, as well as share regular feedback. Then again, that method requires dialing in a piece of gear.

I'm planning a couple rdsb buckets but would really like to hear testable, current results from users....

 

[LockeOak]

I've been running a 5G RDSB for my 50G bare bottom system for a few months, sand depth ~10". Two major things I've noticed:

1) The input and output tubes to the bucket are both transparent flex hose, exposed to some light from the fuge and display lighting. The tube into the bucket has a lot of algae lining it, the output hose has very little. I have a pic that I'll post later.

2) The past two weeks I had a major cyanobacteria and hair algae outbreak. While checking the skimmer etc. a few days ago to find the cause, I discovered that the powerhead that pumps to the RDSB had become clogged and was no longer running. The timing between the cyano/hair algae outbreak and the RDSB going down were pretty close to one another, but I can't say that there was a causal relationship. Definitely suspicious, though.

 

[CyanoMagnet]

Hey guys.. Joining in .

Im thinking about doing this.

Basicaly what I wanted to do was Add the bucket DSB between the chiller and tank.. Its about 8 feet there. A mag 12 pushes everything. Would this be ok? Sounds pretty easy. Almost too easy.

Also I want to use used sand to do this with.

 

[CyanoMagnet]

Hey guys.. Joining in .

Im thinking about doing this.

Basicaly what I wanted to do was Add the bucket DSB between the chiller and tank.. Its about 8 feet there. A mag 12 pushes everything. Would this be ok? Sounds pretty easy. Almost too easy.

Also I want to use used sand to do this with.

 

[CyanoMagnet]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12758057#post12758057 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LockeOak
I've been running a 5G RDSB for my 50G bare bottom system for a few months, sand depth ~10". Two major things I've noticed:

1) The input and output tubes to the bucket are both transparent flex hose, exposed to some light from the fuge and display lighting. The tube into the bucket has a lot of algae lining it, the output hose has very little. I have a pic that I'll post later.

2) The past two weeks I had a major cyanobacteria and hair algae outbreak. While checking the skimmer etc. a few days ago to find the cause, I discovered that the powerhead that pumps to the RDSB had become clogged and was no longer running. The timing between the cyano/hair algae outbreak and the RDSB going down were pretty close to one another, but I can't say that there was a causal relationship. Definitely suspicious, though.

It could be that, I think its unlikely. The algae that broke down your loop is there for the same reason as cyano I bet. Maybe your skimmer broke down? Same thing happened to me when my skimmer broke down and I didnt know it.

 

[LockeOak]

The skimmer was functioning normally (for my skimmer). The skimmer (Tunze 9010) doesn't produce very much, I think primarily because I only have two clownfish and I don't feed them very much, a few pellets or flakes every 2-3 days.

 

[CyanoMagnet]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12766751#post12766751 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LockeOak
The skimmer was functioning normally (for my skimmer). The skimmer (Tunze 9010) doesn't produce very much, I think primarily because I only have two clownfish and I don't feed them very much, a few pellets or flakes every 2-3 days.

If I had to guess , I would guess your skimmer.
The fact that its not pulling out much and you have enough nutrients to have a cyano bloom.

 

[LockeOak]

I use a phosphate reactor, carbon, chaetomorpha fuge, RDSB and of course live rock. Combined with the very little feeding I'm inclined to think it's leaching out of the rocks themselves, which I purchased as dry marcorocks. The tank's only 6 months old, so they might not be completely cycled. I've been experimenting with water levels, movement etc. in the skimmer chamber to see if it improves the production. If it's nutrients leaching out of the rocks as NH3, NO3 or PO4, the skimmer won't help.

 

[CyanoMagnet]

I am not familiar with liverock leaching nitrates. Im sure its possible thoe.

On another matter.

I could not find the exact schematics for building this rdsb, but seems simple enough. Please correct me if I am wrong here.

I have 3/4" hosing going from chiller to tank. I plan to put the RSDB in this loop.

Getting 2x 3/4" bulkheads with 3/4" inch male adapters and hosebarbs to fit it. 10"sand bed. 5 gallon bucket.

Questions.

How high do you drill the bucket? Are the bulkheads I am getting the correct ones (I mean, since the bucket has curvature will using flat bulkheads work?). And lastly, how much water flow is too much or too little? My return is a mag12 that pushes to the chiller ,8 feet( with elbows included( and 8 feet back to the tank
(with elbows included. So Im looking at 14 feet of travel before hitting the rdsb..

Could someone give me a answer on these questions?

 

[LockeOak]

Sure! I used a flat bulkhead (1/2" or 3/4", not sure) on a curved bucket wall. Be sure to use the rubber gasket and teflon tape on the threads, otherwise it leaked for me. The bucket plastic deforms easily enough. I also have 10" of sand, the bulkhead is about 1 1/2" above that. I had to use a rotary tool to grind down the plastic ridges in the bucket (the ones near the top) to make it flat. I use a powerhead (maxijet 600) to power it, since it sits right next to my sump.

 

[snorvich]

CyanoMagnet you want your output bulkhead to be slightly larger than your input bulkhead. You want about 3 inches of water above the sand bed. Ideally the bucket should be dark (keeps algae from growing). Flow should be 300 gph or there about.

 

[OCEAN SIZE]

Flow should be 300 gph or there about.

Hey snorovich - I thought you wanted maximum possible flow over the top to minimize detritus buildup?

I ask because I'm planning to use my overflow to gravity-feed mine.

 

[snorvich]

You can get a fair amount of flow but you do not want to blow sand. I have mine set up with a little over 300 gph and it works just fine. No detritus and since it is dark, no algae.

 

[CyanoMagnet]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12780056#post12780056 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snorvich
CyanoMagnet you want your output bulkhead to be slightly larger than your input bulkhead. You want about 3 inches of water above the sand bed. Ideally the bucket should be dark (keeps algae from growing). Flow should be 300 gph or there about.

This could be a problem for me then. I realy just wanted to put this in the chiller tank loop, which is all one size hose. Not sure I could get the one bulkhead to be larger without different size hose.

Do you think I can get away with same size? Is it a big deal?

 

[snorvich]

I worried that somehow if they were equal a circumstance would occur where it would overflow. Unlikely, perhaps, but possible. I am paranoid about possible bad scenarios and always, if possible, try to avoid them with forethought. As a general rule, I always make output capability greater than input capability.

 

[CyanoMagnet]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12793067#post12793067 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snorvich
I worried that somehow if they were equal a circumstance would occur where it would overflow. Unlikely, perhaps, but possible. I am paranoid about possible bad scenarios and always, if possible, try to avoid them with forethought. As a general rule, I always make output capability greater than input capability.

I plan on completely sealing the bucket, container with silicone. Hopefully that works.