DSB maintainance

[bigacre]

I have read plenty of threads where people speak of there dsb's crashing, and Dr. Ron stresses the point of maintaince of the dsb in order for success.

I see how people speak of maintaining there dsb, but they never go into much details on what they are doing to maintain it. Can people in this forum that use dsb's in there setups chime in and go into some detail on what they do to maintain there dsb's?

Do you feed them? do you get critter packages on a set schedule? Do you just let them function with not outside intervention? I am interested in what others do.

Thanks
Eric

 

[menard]

DSB........whats really maintains its potential is the creature that lives in it ...all sorts of worms , mini stars. pods, bacterias and more........Add bunch of nasarius, bumble bee snails, hermits into the mix' fighting couch are good also........do not add anything that will eat your faunas....like sand sifting stars, engineer gobys which they will eat whats in the sand...And a yearly task of replacing part of the sand bed w/ new live sand.....i know I have few more to this, just not coming out for me at this moment.

 

[hansnfrans]

menard - So, if I've got a 4" - 6" DSB, then I should get rid of my sandsifting starfish!?!?

 

[bigacre]

I believe the sandsifting starfish eat the benificial life in the sandbed.

 

[Pufferpunk]

It's always a good idea, whever you're at someone's home that has a reef tank, to ask for a handful of their sand (I keep forgetting to do that). It will give you all different sorts of new sand critters.

 

[menard]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8391583#post8391583 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hansnfrans
menard - So, if I've got a 4" - 6" DSB, then I should get rid of my sandsifting starfish!?!?

No, if youre willing to recharge the sand bed over and over, if its too much hastle for U then give the star to someone that runs FOWLR........Thats all

 

[menard]

Sorry double post

 

[bigacre]

Anyone else have certain chores they do to maintain there DSB...

We have
- recharge the snails, worms about once a year,
- change out small portions of sand
- gather mixtures of sand from other tanks to different types of sand critters.

I should get into the practice of gathering different sand from others tanks...

Anyone have certain practices that they perform to maintain there newer or older sandbeds.

Thanks
Eric

 

[craftytony]

I would ask Rod who is very knowledgeable in this area:
he did say that you shoudn't use sand sifting stars, and maybe use a cucumber or two. Sand bed should be about 4-5 inches or so. i'm sure he's out here somewhere...

 

[nodea717]

I have a FOWLR and still use a 4" DSB... I believe that leaving the sandbed alone is more beneficial than screwing with it... occasionally adding some more sand will be neccesary because the calcium will break down over time. "reefbugs" will reproduce in the sand so adding more critters often shouldnt be neccesary. I like to let the DSB do its own thing and try not to disturb it. But thats just me...
R,
Don

 

[ReefWorld03]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8391019#post8391019 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by menard
DSB........whats really maintains its potential is the creature that lives in it ...all sorts of worms , mini stars. pods, bacterias and more........Add bunch of nasarius, bumble bee snails, hermits into the mix' fighting couch are good also........do not add anything that will eat your faunas....like sand sifting stars, engineer gobys which they will eat whats in the sand...And a yearly task of replacing part of the sand bed w/ new live sand.....i know I have few more to this, just not coming out for me at this moment.

Very well said Menard, can't wait to run a 4-6 inch sand bed in my 210.

 

[jcm1229]

It's always a good idea, whever you're at someone's home that has a reef tank, to ask for a handful of their sand (I keep forgetting to do that). It will give you all different sorts of new sand critters.

In general this is a good idea, but as I posted in another thread one time, ask and examine before you add to your tank. I have some sand anemonies in my main that although not detrimental in small numbers have reproduced and consume some of the sand fauna. I wont even propogate my own sand to another tank of mine. I also added sand a few years ago from a local that was leaving the hobby, and that sand happened to have some sundial snails in it which to this day may still be reaking havoc on my zoas!

 

[Sullyman]

DSBs don't crash over night, easy to stay on top of. I don't recomend sand sifting stars, cukes are #1 in my opinion.
If you start getting sand from other's tanks, be careful what you may be adding to your tank.
Going with a dsb and a Plenum(Menard's design) in my new tank.
Will be making a run out to the quarry in S. Elgin for crushed dolomite. I've got some 3/4" rocks of dolomite now if anyone wants some for their calcium reactors, let me know.

 

[aiko670]

Let me know when you're going to the quarry, I'd defiantly be interested in some dolomite for my CA reactor.

Thanks
Adam

 

[Sullyman]

Adam, I've got plenty of 3/4" dolomite now if you want some. I paid under $2 for a 5 gallon bucket full, so if you want some it's here in BG. The dolomite won't break down like normal arm media, so it looks like it will last a long time in your reactor.