DSB in a bucket for nitrate control

Another application I ran for almost 2 years:

I had a holding reef in the basement with a 42g trash can as the sump. I built a pvc frame 12" high to hold a 5 gal bucket in teh middle of this can. I drilled 2 dozen 1/2" holes around the top rim of the bucket at varing heights for out flow, then filled the bucket with sand to 2" below the lowest holes. I directed the skimmer output and tank drain[filter sock] into the top of this bucket. The sand stayed in, the nitrates were <10 for the duration of the reef.

Just another twist on this great idea!
M
 
rutz81,
I've been using rubbermaid type totes for at least 12 years, Originally when I converted to a wet dry system on my 240g fish only set up. That tank was an under gravel syst. for a few years. When I set up my first Reef in 2001 I used the tote for the sump and then a few years later I added another tote for a refugium. This also has a deep sand bed with a lot of macro which I firmly believe has kept my Nitrates to zippo. I've used different brand totes with no adverse effects.
 
morbid0000 - how long did you have the DSB implemented in the trashcan set up before you noticed the nitrates drop to <10? thanks in advance.
 
Note:
I Have a 6" sand bed in my main as well as in my refugium. I dosed sugar to reduce nitrate from 200+ PPM to < 20 PPM. What I noticed during my sugar dose was that the sand was producing nitrogen in large qnty after about a month of dosing. So from my exp, if you have a DSB and need a boost in anerorbic bacteria production within your DSB, perhaps dose sugar for a month. My dose amount has been two tablespoons every night in a 90g, 130g total volume. When my wrasse kicks up the sand, "large" nitrogen bubbles float up every night -- this is my indicator that the DSB is kicking in.
 
Would a RDSB help seed base rock with nitrifying bacteria? My new tank is entirely dry rock, and due to my aquascaping in my old tank I can't take out any individual pieces for seeding. The other option is to buy a piece from the LFS, but I'd rather not in order to avoid contamination from the unknown. There are lots of nasties out there that I don't and never have had and I want to keep it that way. Thoughts?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11468828#post11468828 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LockeOak
Would a RDSB help seed base rock with nitrifying bacteria? My new tank is entirely dry rock, and due to my aquascaping in my old tank I can't take out any individual pieces for seeding. The other option is to buy a piece from the LFS, but I'd rather not in order to avoid contamination from the unknown. There are lots of nasties out there that I don't and never have had and I want to keep it that way. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

If it is dry sand, it would likely "seed" at the same rate as the rock, so I can't see why you would use it for your particular application.
 
No, the sand is live, though the RDSB may be 2/3 live and 1/3 new, dry sand just to fill the bucket, I don't have quite enough yet.
 
by LockeOak
Would a RDSB help seed base rock with nitrifying bacteria? My new tank is entirely dry rock, and due to my aquascaping in my old tank I can't take out any individual pieces for seeding. The other option is to buy a piece from the LFS, but I'd rather not in order to avoid contamination from the unknown. There are lots of nasties out there that I don't and never have had and I want to keep it that way. Thoughts?

LockeOak- Interesting, but you really didnot give much info on the new tank, like what is in it..live stock ?? or this a "new" setup. If no fish or what you, are in the tank, why not cycle it "fishless". Use some of your "old water" from a water change from your old tank and then feed the bacteria that comes along with this water with household ammonia this well seed the whole system including the RDSB..

Your thoughts???
Dick
 
Ok. The new 50G tank (mentioned a few pages back in this thread) has a 20G sump and the aquascaping is all ready to go, ~45lb. dry rock pinned with rods, some of which is in the sump. Just need to add water. I'm expecting it to take 1-2 months to cycle. My existing tank is a 10G, the livestock will all stay in that until the new tank is cycled and ready to go. Using water from the nano in the new tank is a good idea. I'll add a bit of ammonia and maybe some sugar in the beginning to give the bacteria a boost (might as well, nothing in the tank to hurt if I accidentally OD either one) and get the RDSB online to beginning seeding with that as well. Thanks
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11471848#post11471848 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by LockeOak
Ok. The new 50G tank (mentioned a few pages back in this thread) has a 20G sump and the aquascaping is all ready to go, ~45lb. dry rock pinned with rods, some of which is in the sump. Just need to add water. I'm expecting it to take 1-2 months to cycle. My existing tank is a 10G, the livestock will all stay in that until the new tank is cycled and ready to go. Using water from the nano in the new tank is a good idea. I'll add a bit of ammonia and maybe some sugar in the beginning to give the bacteria a boost (might as well, nothing in the tank to hurt if I accidentally OD either one) and get the RDSB online to beginning seeding with that as well. Thanks
Click to expand...

LO-Sounds like a plan to me and by all means start the RDSB ASAP !! good luckon the project, and Happy New Year !!!:rollface:
 
mille239:
3 months for the 55gal to drop to <10, but in 6 weeks or so the output water from those bucket overflows was already lower.
 
well.. i am having a heck of a time getting my nitrates down.. they are around 50ish.. I have around 1000 gallons.. main tank is 315 reef.. lagoon is 12'x4'x2' with a 6" sand bed. sharks and rays.. how much or what size tank would i need for a RDSB... also what type of sand???
 
I am planning on using a 30G tall (18x12x30) for my DSB, going with around a 12" bed (~130lbs). I was planning on having an area of cheato growing over the top lit 24/7, which would for the most part keep the dsb dark.

My display is 75G with a 1"-2" bed of sand.

Anyone see any issues with this type of setup?
 
I am setting up a RDSB, how deep does it have to be? I am using a 23G tub with a lid, and have 60 lbs of sand, it'll probably end up being a good 3-4". Should I get another 20-30 lbs.? Or will that be enough?

Thanks.

Dave
 
OK so I am considering setting this up in my sump which consists of 2 55 gallon barrels plumbed together to assist with skimming. So I guess the question is how often do I need to change the sand... in other words I don't want to fill two barrels with a foot of sand if I have to swap it every 6 months... too much hassle. Also any recent updates on readings after adding this ??
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11492316#post11492316 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by widefx
In my opinion 3-4" is not really worth the effort. I would go minimum 6" up to 12"
Click to expand...

Thanks, maybe I'll get another 2 x 30lb bags, then.

Dave
 
If you have aragonite sand (which is preferred), it will, over time buffer your water by dissolving. I seem to recall the half life is 18 months. In my case, I have a full 11 inches of sand.
 
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