DSB in a bucket for nitrate control

[Spuds725]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7455747#post7455747 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scrager
overflow the rim, around your elbow, through your legs, over the river and through the woods and into the bucket....

ROFL... :rollface:

Well said...

I agree-- nothing too elaborate needs to be used-- whatever you have available to plumb it--- no set up is better then any other-- just try to minimize detritus buildup using cleaner water (skimmer effluent) and/or fast moving water so it doesn't have time to settle in the sand bed...

its relatively idiot proof (unless they come out with a better brand of idiot)

+++++++

Welcome back Anthony..... :wave:

 

[jpmcca01]

b

 

[Savatage]

Welcome back Anthony

 

[psimitry]

Another question - are there any signs to spot if there are particles settling on the sand bed once it is running?

I've been running for about a week now and the top of the sand is still white so I think it's fine - but I wanted to know if there's any obvious signs that I need to increase turbulence inside the bucket (and yet still keep the bed from being disturbed.

 

[fxmiau33]

goshhhh this thread really long but really worth reading it....took me 4 days to finish it. will start my RDSB this week since this method really work and most important is cheap.

 

[Spuds725]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7466162#post7466162 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by psimitry
Another question - are there any signs to spot if there are particles settling on the sand bed once it is running?

I've been running for about a week now and the top of the sand is still white so I think it's fine - but I wanted to know if there's any obvious signs that I need to increase turbulence inside the bucket (and yet still keep the bed from being disturbed.

I just moved mine and took the top off for the first time in months... I couldn't see any detritus but I think I had some in the sand as I saw a few bristleworms that somehow migrated into the bucket DSB (and they have to be eating something)--- so there must be some detritus settling..

There were also a bunch of filter feeders attached to the side of the bucket-- I don't consider these indicative of a problem as they would be pulling out stuff suspended in the water-- evidenlty they like the high flow.... ~300 GPH..

Mine has been installed almost 5 months..

 

[danish]

soo... i have a 100 gal fish-only with a 29 gal sump, G3 skimmer, filter sock, refugium 24 hrs w/ miracle mud...could i achieve a DSB bucket system by putting a small bucket after the prefilter, filled with sand, with a couple inches of water above the top? there is very fast movement. does the grain size of the aragonite matter, or would something besides aragonite be better?

 

[danish]

larger grain size= less oxygen penetration, right??

 

[fxmiau33]

guys i would like to know how long will it take for this RDSB kick in and do its job to reduce NO3.

 

[scrager]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7475420#post7475420 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by danish
larger grain size= less oxygen penetration, right??

larger grain size=less surface area. i don't think it has anything to do with oxygen penetration.

although if you want to get technical...less surface area means less bacteria means oxygen lasts longer, so in theory the oxygen could penetrate deeper before it is used up.

guys i would like to know how long will it take for this RDSB kick in and do its job to reduce NO3.

every tank is different. most are seeing results in 4-6 weeks.

 

[brett_mil]

Hi!

This is one awsome thread! Really sounds so easy and cheap and probably is. To help everyone out, I have created a thread where you can go and post your RDSB details so they are all together and easy to get to.

I thought this may help with some of the same repeated question in this thread as well as having a easy to find thread with everyones differing RDSB setups and what seems to work and how long it took to begin working etc.

Perhaps we could unearth a patten that would help grow this fantastic idea!

Thread is here:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=856761

Thanks to Anthony and everyone else who have put time and effort into this great idea, it's really interesting, and I bet that just about everyone who has read this, will be wanting set one up asap!

Brett

 

[critmin]

I'm sorry if someone has asked this question already but this thread is so long. What do people say is the minimum depth that the rdsb should have? I currently have a 30g hex refugium for my 25g display and the sand bed is 6-7 inches deep. Does this count as a rdsb? Should I add more sand? My nitrate level is about 12ppm. Heavy bioload though. Thanks.

 

[scrager]

a refugium and a RDSB are different. in a fuge you have to deal with detrius and lower flow and critters living in the sand.

an RDSB is that...a remote sand bed. bucket sand and high and/or filtered flow.

 

[Spuds725]

There is no minimum depth for it, deep as you can get in your container...

The idea with an RDSB is to minimize the life and detritus in it so you can avoid the problems commonly associated with DSBs (mainly from detritus buildup)-- done by feeding water to it via high flow (no time to settle out) and/or filtered/skimmed if possible.... maintain the bucket/container dark to prevent algae growth-- where there is algae growth you will get life.. in theory, the only live things you want in your sand are bacteria (although you will probably find it impossible to keep all life out of it).

 

[critmin]

How does an rdsb compare to a refugium in terms of nitrate reduction? If it is significantly better I may switch. Thanks.

 

[psimitry]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7488474#post7488474 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by critmin
How does an rdsb compare to a refugium in terms of nitrate reduction? If it is significantly better I may switch. Thanks.

I don't think it's really meant as a replacement. I think it's meant to work hand-in-hand with a 'fuge.

A 'fuge remember, isn't just for nitrate reduction. It's also for plankton breeding and serves other purposes as well.

In addition, the macroalgae in the sump reduces phosphate as it grows (something that the RDSB doesn't do).

 

[Savatage]

What about running a DSB in your tank, a fuge down in the sump, and an RDSB????

Would any of them clash with each other and/or make another crash????

Right now I have a 6" DSB in my main, a sump with Cheato, and an RDSB bucket on the side of my tank. What do you think.

 

[eshook]

They should not clash nor be the cause of a crash.

The only cause for concern would be removing the RDSB because after it is removed the bacteria count will be dropped instantly and your tank will no longer be balanced. This is why some people are suggesting multiple buckets and rotating them such that the impact wouldn't be too bad.

 

[Ereefic]

I've got a 33 gal. brute can and thinking about making a RDSB. Has anyone uses a can like this? I'm wondering how many pounds of sand I would need to just about fill it up?

Got roughly 300 gal. system. How much sand would you recommend? I would like to keep it all in one container if possible.

 

[kwirky]

ok, water treatment plants, with their HDR's (heterotrophic denitrification reactor), actually run the water through the media. What if one was to RUN your water through a larger grained medium that won't be as likely to clog up, let's say... carbon or gravel (although carbon has a wonderful surface area), and go for oxic denitrification?

this article here shows that there are LOADS of different bacteria involved in denitrification, some oxic, some anoxic... it's just that the oxic bacteria produce nitrites along with nitrogen, usually.

http://www.wrc.org.za/archives/watersa archive/1999/July/jul99_p357.pdf

if you were to follow Hiatt's example (link here) and place your denitrifying medium in PVC tubing, horizontally, and run your water very fast or very slow, through a series of these tubes, it could possibly denitrify...