DSB in a bucket for nitrate control
- Thread starter JohnL
- Start date
2.5' "feet" he has it in a 55g trash can. I was going to ask if anything had changed with his tank but then I just read through alot of his build page. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1097194
One thing i've noticed is not alot of people who have tried a RDSB come back and post results a few months down the road.
One thing i've noticed is not alot of people who have tried a RDSB come back and post results a few months down the road.
mis read on my end lol
waynem
New member
That alone should tell you this concept is a total dud
How many hundreds of people have tried this setup with next to no success stories??
People cant help but drawn in by the apparent easy to set up and low cost.....well how much are those same people now spending on salt to do water changes ?? its false economics ....move on people
fade2black
Premium Member
Just because there are no success stories doesn't mean it is a failure. It could just mean it is working so they have moved on to other things with no need to discuss it anymore. I mean, the setup is extremely simple. How many times can you hear the same questions asked over and over before you move on to another thread? it's not like this idea is rocket science and needs 200 pages of discussion. I am very interested to hear some stories though (good or bad). Maybe that would be better discussed in another thread.
fade2black
Premium Member
I completely agree with you gig. That is so true.
goodreef
New member
For my setup, my NO2 & NO3 is already not measurable ... I just set this up as a buffer.
From personal experience, this setup should not add anything bad, and should work well to reduce NO2 & NO3. Only question I have is if it works as well as advertised ... regardless, I very confident that it does work!!
Since it's cheap & easy to setup, I'd take the risk!!!
From personal experience, this setup should not add anything bad, and should work well to reduce NO2 & NO3. Only question I have is if it works as well as advertised ... regardless, I very confident that it does work!!
Since it's cheap & easy to setup, I'd take the risk!!!
saltydog64
New member
Waynem....Now let's see...where did you post your results after setting a RDSB...where ???:mad2:
calling it a dud dude is.... well just your opinion :lol:
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
waynem:
1) Most folks have the attention span of a gnat. A majority are not going to say another word once their problem goes away. Out of sight, out of mind.
2) Most folks implement the RDSB along with several other abatement measures. Nitrates do go down, but nobody can be sure what did the bulk of the work.
3) Some of the effects of a DSB are fairly well documented. Being remote may affect SOME of the operating parameters. However, as noted above, not many folks take the time to implement changes in a controlled and measurable manner. That does not mean that the idea behind a RDSB is not sound.
It is frustrating to not have firm evidence either way... but you just can't label the concept as a dud.
1) Most folks have the attention span of a gnat. A majority are not going to say another word once their problem goes away. Out of sight, out of mind.
2) Most folks implement the RDSB along with several other abatement measures. Nitrates do go down, but nobody can be sure what did the bulk of the work.
3) Some of the effects of a DSB are fairly well documented. Being remote may affect SOME of the operating parameters. However, as noted above, not many folks take the time to implement changes in a controlled and measurable manner. That does not mean that the idea behind a RDSB is not sound.
It is frustrating to not have firm evidence either way... but you just can't label the concept as a dud.
Kinetic
Active member
Mine test is pretty good.
I'm starting from a completely* sterile tank, using dry reeferrock and some dry marcorock. Completely 0ppm (undetectable at least) RO/DI water and reef crystals, I've chemically cycled the tank using ammonia chloride dosages of 8ppm daily.
Currently my ammonia and nitrites become undetectable within 24 hours, and my nitrates grow steadily. Right now all I have is off the charts nitrates and a RDSB with NO other form of filtration. My water is clean enough so my skimmer won't pull anymore, and I have no other form of filtration.
I'm thinking any reduction of nitrates must be from the RDSB. Currently the levels are off the charts. I'll probably do a 90% water change soon to drop them within the measurable amounts and see what the RDSB can do.
I'm starting from a completely* sterile tank, using dry reeferrock and some dry marcorock. Completely 0ppm (undetectable at least) RO/DI water and reef crystals, I've chemically cycled the tank using ammonia chloride dosages of 8ppm daily.
Currently my ammonia and nitrites become undetectable within 24 hours, and my nitrates grow steadily. Right now all I have is off the charts nitrates and a RDSB with NO other form of filtration. My water is clean enough so my skimmer won't pull anymore, and I have no other form of filtration.
I'm thinking any reduction of nitrates must be from the RDSB. Currently the levels are off the charts. I'll probably do a 90% water change soon to drop them within the measurable amounts and see what the RDSB can do.
saltydog64
New member
Kinetic- Excellant approach and most of us here await your updates and as we all know any system will require a cycle period and in this case with the RDSB (from what I have read) it is 4 to 6 weeks.
Mine has been running for 4 1/2 weeks and results are looking very good and when I started my trates were off scale but my where due to...well just plain neglect on my part :mad2: :mad2: (tank is a 70 G FOWLR), but I want to step up to corals, etc. I have done several water changes, 13 since 11/27/07, go slow don't you know!! and have added a EV-120 skimmer, so you see my reduction in trates which are still at Nitrate 'N' 80 (way to high) cann't be totally due to the RDSB, BUT once down to acceptable levels we'll see if it can help it to remain there.
So your study will be worth watching (good job on fishless cycling) keep us informed and good luck !!
I have read all 63 pages of this great thread and am ready to setup an RDSB. I have a couple of questions regarding this setup.
My first question (and this may have been answered over one of the many nights I read this thread and I just missed it) is whether it is better to have the intake higher or lower than the outake? I have ordered a 3/4 bulkhead for the intake and a 1 inch bulkhead for the gravity drain into my sump chamber.
My thought would be to have the drain hole a little higher than the the intake so that the water coming in would be pushing the water around more and it would make less noise since the bulkhead would be submerged reducing the noise of the water splashing down on existing water?
My second question is how to obtain the most surface area usage without an area for anything to settle in a 5g bucket? Should the intake and outake be at 12 o'clock / 2 o'clock with elbows to run the water around the rim or just run the water straight across the middle of the bucket by placing them directly opposite sides of the bucket?
My first question (and this may have been answered over one of the many nights I read this thread and I just missed it) is whether it is better to have the intake higher or lower than the outake? I have ordered a 3/4 bulkhead for the intake and a 1 inch bulkhead for the gravity drain into my sump chamber.
My thought would be to have the drain hole a little higher than the the intake so that the water coming in would be pushing the water around more and it would make less noise since the bulkhead would be submerged reducing the noise of the water splashing down on existing water?
My second question is how to obtain the most surface area usage without an area for anything to settle in a 5g bucket? Should the intake and outake be at 12 o'clock / 2 o'clock with elbows to run the water around the rim or just run the water straight across the middle of the bucket by placing them directly opposite sides of the bucket?
Thanks for the info, so your water is actually shooting out above your water level? I assume my water level is going to stay just under the top of the outake bulkhead since i am using 3/4 inch in and 1 inch out gravity flow? when you say slightly higher, say maybe line up the bottom of the intake bulkhead with the top of the outflow bulkhead? Then just have the sandbed come up 2-3 inches below outflow?
Also, did you do your in/out directly across from each other in your tank/bucket?
Also, did you do your in/out directly across from each other in your tank/bucket?
