I am starting my first salt water reef set up. I like the idea of the DSB and was sure I would have one in my main tank mainly because I didn't even consider it in my sump. Then about 30 minutes ago had the revelation that it was an option. The tank I am going to be using is a 75G predrilled with an overflow. I will be using a 55 from my FW collection that was disabled about a year ago when I was packing for a relocation. It almost seems like a no brainer to only put it in the sump. I will also have LR in the sump and lighting to accomodate it. Would it be in my best interest to have a DSB in both my main tank and sump? As far as animals in the future I haven't really settled on anything yet. I did buy lighting rated for almost anything. Any advise is welcomed.
DSB in main or sump?
- Thread starter Squidhead
- Start date
K' Family Reef
New member
hey since no one has replied will jump in for atleast a free bump for you!
but would also say that have a dsb in BOTH
125dt and the 50gal display fuge... wasnt necessary but did it anyway and well believe it has worked very well!... only one drawback is getting detritus build up on the dsb in the fuge - but have finally come around to deciding to use a filter sock!
all that said... in our next tank
will be going w/ DSB in fuge only and/or RDSB (remote dsb)... that way the DSB can be taken offline for maintenance (or removal) and the shallow sand bed in the dt can be gravel vac'd and replaced as needed ( to keep all the garbage out!)...
might read up on RDSB
somewhere around here is a really long thread discussing using one... in a nutshell its a 5gallon bucket filled w/ cheap sand (more or less) fed w/ a simple pump and gravity fed back into either your sump or dt... supposed to work wonders at getting rid of nitrates and for what investment??? maybe 20bucks for 5gal bucket and some sand then a pump on top of that... seems many are having good luck w/ these but might want to read up on it bec no expert on the subject.
good luck setting yours up!
regards
but would also say that have a dsb in BOTH
125dt and the 50gal display fuge... wasnt necessary but did it anyway and well believe it has worked very well!... only one drawback is getting detritus build up on the dsb in the fuge - but have finally come around to deciding to use a filter sock!
all that said... in our next tank
will be going w/ DSB in fuge only and/or RDSB (remote dsb)... that way the DSB can be taken offline for maintenance (or removal) and the shallow sand bed in the dt can be gravel vac'd and replaced as needed ( to keep all the garbage out!)...
might read up on RDSB
somewhere around here is a really long thread discussing using one... in a nutshell its a 5gallon bucket filled w/ cheap sand (more or less) fed w/ a simple pump and gravity fed back into either your sump or dt... supposed to work wonders at getting rid of nitrates and for what investment??? maybe 20bucks for 5gal bucket and some sand then a pump on top of that... seems many are having good luck w/ these but might want to read up on it bec no expert on the subject.
good luck setting yours up!
regards
ManotheSea
New member
I think a DSB in the sump is best. You can also ad remote DBS in rubbermaids or 5 gal buckets. This leaves you many more options for asthetics and design in your display. Go bare bottom, go shallow sand, blacksand, what ever you like and you wont have to see the DSB action against the front glass. It often gets discolored and should have worms and stuff that detracts from the rest of the display.
In a sump you can get as deep as you like but 4" is the minimum target depth where the bacterial filter action begins to work.
In a sump you can get as deep as you like but 4" is the minimum target depth where the bacterial filter action begins to work.
ryan_paskadi
New member
I personally like a DSB in the display. I use a loose gravel topped with sand because I actually like to watch the life that lives in the sediment as well as the rest of the tank. At any given time I can look at the gravel areas of my DSB and see bristle worms, mini brittle starts, pods of all sorts, baby snails, and a variety of larvae moving around doing their thing. I also have a DSB in my sump made of refugium mud and fine sand for traditional reasons of having a DSB.
mattsilvester
Team RC
As a newbie you need to realise also that DSB can do one of three things.....
Work incredibly well
Work ok
Not work at all
.....and the latter is bad news.
Personally, I would urge a begginer to go with a traditional Berlin set up...... Cured LR, big skimmer, plenty of flow (and a scattering of sand on the bottom)...... and tag a remote DSB / Refugium on the system......
If after 12 months or so experience you love DSB's and think its the greatest thing since sliced bread, or if your system is having some small nitrate problems, then you can slowly add sand to your display to increase it to 4" if you so desire........ if on the other hand you are a bit nervous about sand (like me), then you have played it safe. And you might find that with good Lr, a good skimmer, and a refugium that a DSB is surplus to requirements..... your tank might run with zero nitrates anyway.... without it.....
Remember, it is easier to add sand to yoru tank than remove it (in my opinion)...... and if you have a decent set up (i.e. a good skimmer and good flow) and a refugium then you have more than enoguh to get a good start in the hobby, without drawing the possible complication of DSB probelms on yourself.......
Just my thoughts......
Matt
Work incredibly well
Work ok
Not work at all
.....and the latter is bad news.
Personally, I would urge a begginer to go with a traditional Berlin set up...... Cured LR, big skimmer, plenty of flow (and a scattering of sand on the bottom)...... and tag a remote DSB / Refugium on the system......
If after 12 months or so experience you love DSB's and think its the greatest thing since sliced bread, or if your system is having some small nitrate problems, then you can slowly add sand to your display to increase it to 4" if you so desire........ if on the other hand you are a bit nervous about sand (like me), then you have played it safe. And you might find that with good Lr, a good skimmer, and a refugium that a DSB is surplus to requirements..... your tank might run with zero nitrates anyway.... without it.....
Remember, it is easier to add sand to yoru tank than remove it (in my opinion)...... and if you have a decent set up (i.e. a good skimmer and good flow) and a refugium then you have more than enoguh to get a good start in the hobby, without drawing the possible complication of DSB probelms on yourself.......
Just my thoughts......
Matt
Thanks for the replies and bump. I was begining to think no one had an opinion ( yeah right in this hobby ). I am leaning towards just a DSB in my sump/fuge. It is going to be a 55G sump so I should have the room. If it does crash in a few years because of the DSB, I would think I would have a better fighting chance with it in the sump. At least I wouldn't have to do a total tear down ( or at least hope) of the main tank. Well I have a couple weeks to ponder this as I have to make the tank stand and still decide on it's location in the house. I need to order the sand and the salt mix (I still can't believe I lost the 160G bucket in the move) and get the LR, aside from a dedicated circuit for the tank and plumbing. Anymore opinions are welcomed. It always helps to hear from experience.
Thanks Matt, that is sound advise. I will have a skimmer. I bought it 2 years ago when I actually started collecting supplies for this project. I have a coral life super skimmer with the needle wheel rated for 220G. At the time this was supposed to be a very good skimmer. Eventually I will buy or DIY a calcium reactor. I allready have 1/2 the deal a with CO2 set up I had for planted FW tanks. There are just a few grey areas that because of the lack of experience is hard to make a decision.
I am just about finished with stocking my 180 with live rock and I had similar thoughts as you. I wanted a DSB to add the greater biological/natural filter to my system - but I also wanted serious flow thru my 55gal sump. I chambered the 55g to include a live rock rubble space - what I thought was a large enough space for dsb - a skimmer, heater, reactor pump space - and a return area. But the high rate of flow I wanted to my Dart pump wouldnt allow the sand bed to settle and made it hard for any algea to grow.
After much research and debate I decided to fill my DSB chamber with all live rock to keep the maximum flow and will design a remote dsb area maybe out of a 5.5 tank I have sitting around - this would give me more control over its flow and also act as a secondary tank.
Good luck and make sure you look at all your options.
After much research and debate I decided to fill my DSB chamber with all live rock to keep the maximum flow and will design a remote dsb area maybe out of a 5.5 tank I have sitting around - this would give me more control over its flow and also act as a secondary tank.
Good luck and make sure you look at all your options.
all valid points, I guess if their wasn't so much to ponder this would be boring. The chaeto is in the possibilities. I have tons of lighting I can use for it. The flow didn't occur to me in the sump w/dsb. A remote DSB is easy enough. Since I am making my own tank stand maybe I'll leave some room for one in case I don't do it in the main. People experience, thoughts and possible regrets are always usful, thanks again.
